Calif. lawmakers pass bill to quiet motorcycles

By ROBIN HINDERY, Associated Press Writer
Associated Press August 30, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010

California, birthplace of Hells Angels and home to legions of weekend motorcycle warriors, has taken its latest step to subdue the state's boisterous two-wheeled culture.

The state Senate on Monday voted 21-16, the bare majority needed, to pass a bill aimed at quieting the earsplitting roar from modified motorcycles.

SB435 would modify the California Vehicle Code to make it a crime to operate a motorcycle manufactured after Jan. 1, 2013, that fails to meet federal noise-emission control standards.

Motorcyclists whose vehicles lack the proper U.S. Environmental Protection Agency label would be subject to a fine of up to $100 for first-time offenders.

California is home to more than 10 percent of the country's registered motorcycles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Supporters of the bill say many motorcycle owners modify their bikes to make them much louder, which in turn creates a public nuisance. Those modifications also allow the motorcycle to produce more harmful emissions.

"Basic common sense and decency dictates that when a motorcycle drives by and sets off every car alarm on the street, that is too loud," said the bill's author, Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills.

"This is just an extra layer of bureaucracy," said Wayne Harter, an owner of a Harley-Davidson dealership in San Jose. "Our scarce police resources could be better utilized."

Harter, who has been riding for more than 40 years, said adequate laws already are in place to deal with motorcycle noise and illegal mufflers.

Pavley said enforcement of existing federal noise regulations is lax because there is no uniform statute that gives state and local law enforcement officers the ability to write citations. That's what her bill aims to change.

The measure now goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who owns multiple motorcycles. Matt Connelly, a spokesman in the governor's press office, said Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on Pavley's bill.

The legislation isn't the first motorcycle-related bill to draw fire from California's biker community. A helmet law took effect in 1992 after extensive debate and publicity.

What the Fuck--------------better get some new mufflers on those chainsaws and lawnmowers too California...

Maybe with a little luck the terminator will terminate it when it hits his desk!
California already has the toughest emission laws in the country.. Here in washington our emissions program is run by the state d.o.e. in an effort to keep the epa out of it..Back when I was an emission specialist it was run by a handfull of guys that were pretty reasonable to deal with... but that was back in 97' I have no idea what is on the horizon for us now..
I would think that this will dampen sales of new models after the law kicks in and more poeple restoring older bikes... I wonder of the law still pretains to home build ups?

Flatdog they already passed the chain saw lawnmower b.s a long time agoe,they have catalytic mufflers on them since around 05.,this a b.s law so the state can make money on righting tickets,if they really wanted to enforce the law as we all now it against federal law to remove or modify any emission related component,but typical cal.they don't want to enforce federal law or they would then have to deal with the illegall aliens to,,david in nor cal.

Status Update?

Knotso the bill has passed and was signed into law by Govenor Swarznegger... Talking to someone that ridden with Arnold before i understand he has fairly loud after market pipes but who is going to give him a ticket for it?
The Oakland PD intalled louder aftermarket pipes on their officers bikes when one of them was killed and the driver stated that they did not hear the officers biker when he pulled up next to him.. Will be interesting to see if when they update their Bikes in the future it will include legal pipes or not.

the cops will get by with it with the grandfather clause.

Great mopeds are now louder them Motorcycles. what next. fucking sad, that's what this is, Just fucking sad.

There are rumors that the next thing they will go after here in California is lane splitting. I can't live without it.

Its already illegal up here in washington

A.B.A.T.E.......... Might help

The Law states it require
that a label SB435 be affixed onto the motorcycle or exhaust emission
system indicating that the motorcycle or exhaust emission system
meets the noise emissions standards of the Existing federal regulations passed in 1983, so as far as noise, nothing changed. THIS IS ABOUT EMISSIONS, so
This bill would only make it a crime for a person to park, use, or
operate a motorcycle, registered in the state of CA, that is manufactured
on and after January 1, 2013, or a
motorcycle, registered in the state, with aftermarket exhaust system
equipment that is manufactured on or after January 1, 2013 , that does not have an EMISSIONS sticker SB 435 on it. (1) this law discriminates agians bikes only making it ilegal. (2) it did not change any noise law at all. It's just that the SB 435 inspection sticker is given only if you pass the NEW LAW SB 435 EMISSONS, and to curently do that, the cleaner exhaust systems are quieter, SO MAKE A NEW AFTER MARKET ONE THE IS CLEAN AND LOUD and your not braking any law. LOOP HOLE. Remember the Law was still made ONLY for motorcycles, not cars, trucks, bus, rv, or anything but a bike, thats 100% discrimanation. The newer law, however, now makes it a state crime to operate any motorcycle that was built from the 2013 model year on, that doesn't carry a federal Environmental Protection Agency exhaust system label (this includes aftermarket pipes). The violation is considered a secondary offense, meaning a police officer can't stop a motorcyclist solely because the cop believes the motorcyclist is breaking the sound law, but riders pulled over for other violations could also be cited for noisy pipes. First-time offenders would be slapped with a fine of $50 to $100, but that would likely mean a fix-it ticket that could be dismissed once corrected. After that though, fines would go up progressively, to $100 - $250.
SB 435 is called the Anti-Tampering Act because it mandates that motorcycles maintain federally-required emissions equipment on both original and aftermarket exhaust systems, including the EPA stamp that certifies compliance (that the exhaust is clean burning and doesn't exceed 80 decibels)so the sound can still remain the same as it is now since 1983 and 86 updated law. HERES THE LINK TO THE LAW http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0401-...

"Remember the Law was still made ONLY for motorcycles, not cars, trucks, bus, rv, or anything but a bike, thats 100% discrimanation"

This is not totally trur. In Kali, they now have tougher emission standards for Tractor/trailer rigs and the toughest emission standards are around the Ports of LA where no truck older than (I want to say 8 years old) will be allowed into the port area. Reason being all the new trucks must have this fancy (Read: expensive) new exhaust emissions system.
The new emission standards in Kali are the reason Banshee quads are no longer sold in the USA. The 2 stroke quads were essentially never going to be emission compliant and the sale of these new smoggers was put on a "not for sale" list in Kali, thus YamaHaha quit making them.
So, the new law is not just geared to the Bikes, it is just the latest target.