Motopsychoz MC

Boston Biker fights Boston noise law

Sept 23, 2009 – Massachusetts – By Lynne Hendricks – Paul Cote works in the legal Dept of an insurance company by day, and by night heads home to Amesbury, where he has lived for the past 12 years.   In his free time, however, Cote’s known around the state as a high-profile Freedom Rider, one of a large group of motorcycle enthusiasts seeking to protect bikers’ rights and ensure continued enjoyment of their favorite pastime.

In his work as a Freedom Rider, Cote organizes fundraising rides for those in need, brings bikers together to honor American war veterans, and is the man to see about all things related to the world of motorcycles.   Since June, however, Cote has been fighting tooth and nail to repeal an ordinance enacted in Boston that threatens to slap motorcycle owners who rev up too high in the city with a $300 noise-pollution fine.

As a current member of the American Motorcycle Association and 1 of 5 plaintiffs listed in a lawsuit filed against the city of Boston for enacting this ordinance, Cote is one of the most vocal opponents of the measure, which he and AMA members feel is just another instance of the state trying to infringe on the rights of all to deal with the few who are a problem.   “Motorcycles have to be inspected once a year — I have an inspection from Seacoast Cycles up in Newburyport,” said Cote, who said the inspection found the noise from his bike was “not unreasonable.”    “They put the sticker on my license plate, and that gives me the right to operate my motorcycle in all 352 cities and towns in Massachusetts, as well as other states because there’s reciprocity. The city of Boston doesn’t have the authority to do what it did.”

The legislation began as the pet project of North Boston City Councilor Salvatore LaMattina, District 1, who in May claimed to be hearing from constituents on Beacon Hill that hot-rodders were frequenting the district’s cafes and bars, disrupting customers with their loud engines.   With little opposition to LaMattina’s proposed ordinance, it passed easily and was endorsed by Mayor Tom Menino, leaving bikers like Cote, who rides a 2005 Yamaha V Star Classic, shaking their heads.

The ordinance requires riders to have a “readily visible” Environmental Protection Association sticker/imprint on their cycle’s exhaust.   Cote has one located on the underside of his exhaust, which he said would probably result in him being slapped with the fine since it’s so hard to locate.

And he said he’s not alone.   “The label can be on any part of the bike,” Cote said.  “We expect Boston police to be fighting crime on the street, not on their knees on the street looking for stickers.”

Besides the labeling issue, bikers who alter their exhausts to “up the volume” on their motorcycles can easily avoid the fine by making changes to their exhaust without removing the EPA sticker, he said.

The stickers aren’t reissued every year but provide assurance that at the time of manufacture, the decibel level didn’t exceed 82 or 86 decibels, depending on the speed, in a controlled environment from within 50 feet of the tailpipe, Cote said.

The state limit is set at 99 decibels (102 for bikes manufactured before 1996) from within 20 inches of the tailpipe.  For those bikers who like the thundering sound of a motorcycle’s engine, it’s not hard to make minor adjustments to take that level well past the state standard.   Some bikers have been known to switch out their existing exhausts for a straight pipe, which produces the roar offensive to even die-hard bikers like Cote.

But Boston’s new law won’t stop the kinds of bikers who love making noise, Cote said.   “People can take out the baffles (mufflers in an exhaust pipe) and still have the imprint, and they won’t get a ticket,” Cote said. “How crazy is that? It’s just bizarre and convoluted using this standard.”   Cote is worried about the precedent this ordinance will set if allowed to stand.   “If we don’t stop it in Boston, it’s going to come to Amesbury,” he said. “And I think it’s improper. In my work as an insurance claims consultant, I go into Boston two to three times a week. And during the riding season, I ride my motorcycle in. So I’m subject to this fine.”

Popularity: 1%