Is NY’s “SLEEP” BS a real thing?

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Jun 1, 2025 | 12:00 PM

#31

24Breakout

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Quote:

Originally Posted by dynoking

Where is this? I've heard they were using them but I never noticed. BTW, I'm in Queens County.

They're scattered around the 5 boroughs... not sure how many they've got or where they all are, but there is one at the entrance to the Queens tunnel on the Manhattan side. They work like the redlight and speed cameras... you getthe ticket in the mail. Then you have to show up at a sewage treatment plant (don't ask me why) somewhere in Brooklyn where they will measure the volume of your pipes w/a dB meter @ 50 feet away. If you're over 85 dB, you pay the fine. There's been some news articles about them too, with stories of certain sports cars with OEM exhausts setting them off. Welcome to the People's Republic of NY...

So if you're anywhere in NYC you'll probably get dinged sooner or later unless you can find out where they all are and actively avoid them. Outside NYC nobody seems to give a $h*t, at least not currently. Some shops did get spooked when the law passed a couple of years ago, but that seems to have largely gone away... I've had no issues getting inspected. This is one of those feel good/do nothing laws that politicians love for the initial publicity, but after the buzz wears off it's mostly unenforced, because unless they put these ridiculous dB meters/ cameras on every street corner they'll never catch most offenders... but the fines would have to be so absurdly high for that to be be cost-effective, that it's highly unlikely they'd ever go that far. Another saving grace according to one article I saw, is that these cameras don't work very well, lol... meaning that if more than one vehicle is on camera when the alleged "offense" occurs, they can't always pinpoint which one was responsible, so no ticket can be issued. Apparently that happened a lot during the pilot program. 🤣 Since these cameras are really about revenue and not noise, if they can't issue enough tickets to pay for themselves, they'll never see widespread use.

Last edited by 24Breakout; Jun 1, 2025 at 12:53 PM.

Oct 17, 2025 | 08:12 PM

#32

bklynbob

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From: bklyn,ny

$$$$$

Oct 17, 2025 | 08:37 PM

#33

Paintslinger16

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From: Milwaukee, WI

Can you imagine a invisible sentry sending out first time fines at 800 bucks a pop for a first time

Oct 18, 2025 | 11:49 AM

#34

24Breakout

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Paintslinger16

Can you imagine a invisible sentry sending out first time fines at 800 bucks a pop for a first time

I don't have to imagine it... it's here, in living color. Welcome to the People's Republic of NY.

Oct 18, 2025 | 12:12 PM

#35

Paintslinger16

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From: Milwaukee, WI

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24Breakout

I don't have to imagine it... it's here, in living color. Welcome to the People's Republic of NY.

I moved from NY, I can’t imagine ever living in NYC

Nov 2, 2025 | 05:48 PM

#36

Qdog002

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From: Upstate New York

No problem getting my bike inspected here. SuperTrapp Supermeg.

Mar 28, 2026 | 02:30 PM

#37

canoli

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From: NYC

I know this is a year-old thread but if anyone is having trouble getting their bike inspected ...

NYC inspections are easy if you know where to go. Sunset Park has a handful of shops on 3rd and 4th Ave. A valid registration and $10 (sometimes $20) = new sticker, good for another year. If you need the location just PM me I guess...maybe I shouldn't post it on an open forum.

btw NYPD will tow bikes if the inspection sticker is expired (or non-existent). I came thisclose on a Sunday morning 7am, lucky the super spotted the tow truck by my bike and got me in time. The sticker was partly washed away from power-washing the day before - the cop was easy about it and let it go.

But these noise cameras worry me. The State has effectively scared me into leaving my shovel (w/drags) in Brooklyn and riding a quieter XLH around town. Working on the UWS I assume that's prime area for noise cameras. If there's enough NYC riders maybe we can post locations as we spot them. Supposedly they move them around but knowing this city that probably takes them awhile.

Meanwhile a shovel with drags is nowhere near as loud as the "cats" guys modify to get that machine-gun sound, that BLAT BLAT BLAT or whatever they're going for.

Last edited by canoli; Mar 28, 2026 at 02:38 PM.