Very true, they have been going after trucker on the west coast. The news reported them having 14 trucks and buses stopped per minute from Canada to Mexico during one of their campains. It wasn't reported real clearly so I don't know which states were involved but it goes to show they are generating some revenue.

 

Just reading some of the response's people wrote, including the OP - and, most likely, the officer wouldn't have issued a ticket for violating a noise ordinance, had he cited you. State patrolmen generally don't cite for those types of things - those are handled by local police & fall under city noise ordinance's & disturbing the peace violations. No "decibel meter" will ever be required. It's a judgement call & easy to cite someone for violation be it with music, motor vehicle exhaust, barking dog, etc. Example - if I'm a cop - I can easily cite you for disturbing the peace for just about anything. The key part of the ordinance is that you must be affecting at least two people; guess who the two people can be? YOU, the violator, and ME, the cop! Cute, eh?

What the OP probably experienced was more likely the following:

In Ohio, what the patrolman can site you for is a violation of Ohio Revised Code 4513.22. - link to it: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4513.22 The verbage has nothing to do with noise or sound levels. However, it DOES specifically state: "Every motorcycle muffler shall be equipped with baffle plates". Hence, they stick a rod feeler down your pipe to see if it "hits" anything.

Now - as for what the reason is for the officer pulling you over in the first place, again - it can be for practically ANY reason, but the one often cited for use in motorcycle stops is 4513.02 - link: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4513.02 Basically, it says that a patrolman may, at any time, stop a vehicle to perform a motor vehicle safety inspection. This includes all motor vehicles, not just motorcycles. Of course, everything in 4513 after .02 is what can be checked/verified as part of the officer's testing/inspection and what you can be cited for.

So the only probably cause for a state patrolman to pull you over is to see if you're vehicle is safe, as defined in all of 4513. The Ohio patrol have made many significant drug busts this way. Also keeps the whole "profiling" issue out of cases too.

Crazy, eh? Its bullet proof as far as the law is concerned too. Has been challenged many times & is still holding strong.

PS: I also know that locally, different cities have different ordinances that refer to "sound issues" - like loud car stereos. Again, no decible meter is required at all. Instead, sound simply has to be heard from the originating source from a distance of like 200 feet or something like that. I've heard of that type of ordinance (distance heard from) often - but never any sort of actual "measured" decible reading.

 

I was in one of those click it or ticket checks in Connecticut on the Shoreline last weekend in my car and they where also pulling bikes over with loud pipes and giving tickets for the local quality of life ordance.

I avoid the shoreline in the summer on weekends on my Fat Bob with Short Shots QB's it is a such an easy way to get pulled over for doing nothing but enjoying a nice ride.

 

Yup, here in Yakima county its if it can be heard 250 feet away. And that's based on the officer's judgement. The primary context are those young males with a back seat/trunk filled with speakers sharing his love of 'Fiddy Cent' with the world.

Steve

 

Actually Ackman they are targeting riders. A buddy was pulled over by Officer Gains (Really likes HD and HD Riders, NOT) and was given a ticket for exhuast modification. This from what is understood and stated from other LEO's is from out wonderful city council member PAUL PERRISH, who is a known motorcycle hater and is complaining that he hears motorcycles outside his house, and lives around 12th and Vancouver, so be aware!!!

 

Not surprising. If I get one for my exhaust it's only because I deserve it. It's more noise than I was looking for (planning on doing something there soon). I got a ticket from Gains once. Backed out of 9 to 9 when it was on 10th and Washington and proceded to do a real nice burnout in my GTO. When he stopped me he asked if it was my tires he heard and I said yes. Since I didn't feed him any bull he wrote me for not being able to find my registration.

 

That has to be my biggest pet peeve when riding.

 

I believe thats;, DOSIMETER, used to measure DB's

definition
deciˇmeter (des′i mēt′ər)
noun
one tenth of a meter (3.937 inches): abbrev. dm
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright Š 2005 by Wiley Publishing, .

 

not being an a$$ diff helped but the other was if he didn't see the burn out he should not have given U one anyway.

 

Hey Guys,
I don't know what the cops are like in the states....but in Canada, and British Columbia in particular you would have to be riding like an idiot or wearing Biker Colours in order for the cops to harrass you....not sure about Quebec as the cops out there are a bit different. I can say this confidently as I am a cop up here....there are tons of us that ride and have loud pipes...we ride them to the office and the chief could even care less. There is one city department whose traffic cops will ticket you for loud pipes....but generally only the traffic guys will bother with you....the regular patrol guys could care less...unless you are riding like an idiot. I wouldn't worry about putting aftermarket pipes on the bike, at least not up here.
Just my two cents....