NY pipe/exhaust laws

[shadango]

I am still contemplating an early April trip from Pittsburgh to NYC.....

I was watching American Chopper today and notced that the last couple bikes they built have supertrap mufflers on them..the one tech at OCC was commenting how they have to do it now to be street legal......

So I got online to see what the NY lawwas and found a reference to this:

"Among the new ordinances, the articles mention that a New York law passed on July 1, 07 will fine riders a minimum of $440 if their mufflers or exhaust systems can be heard within 200 feet. "

My VTX has Speedster Longs on it...just a little louder than stock, for sure.... :wink: are they talking about reviing at 200 feet or just idling?

Am I lookingfor trouble riding into NYC with my pipes?

Have you guys with pipes been hassled much yet?

[HOOKY]

Wide open V&H bigshots here. Thunder Monsters, no baffles, no problems.
Just don't go reving them up.

[1badassX]

I got a ticket for loud pipes once at Americade. I was sitting at a stop light on the old VMAX and revved the motor... well a ticket I got. BUT, it was Americade and they write you up for anything there. ( 3 yrs ago I saw a cop measuring a guys handle bars to make sure they were legal height!!???)
I dont think you'll have a problem with NYC or anywhere else providing that you behave yourself. And 200'???? Give me a break. You can hear any bike with pipes from a measley 200'!!
Might want to ask Mick how serious NY will be cracking down on this issue. He's an officer. And yes he has loud pipes too :!: :shock: :shock: :D :wink:

[shadango]

Ok....so no need to panic on my part then I guess....

A $440 MINIMUM fine would ruin the trip, for sure.

I try not to be obnoxious with my pipes and I also try to behave myself, so hopefully will be OK.

[dabeard]

being from dabronx and having never gotten hassled over pipes for 35yrs let me give you some info.mayor mike "billionaire" blomberg decided in 03 or 04 to tell the cops to crack down on loud pipes.they came up with new noise regs,& other rules.unless you do something really stupid no one will hassle you.the cops mainly hassle crotch rockets with motorboat exhausts.me and friends went to gracie mansion to break balls with our bikes & the cops thought it was great.dabeard :orac:

[dabeard]

being from dabronx and having never gotten hassled over pipes for 35yrs let me give you some info.mayor mike "billionaire" blomberg decided in 03 or 04 to tell the cops to crack down on loud pipes.they came up with new noise regs,& other rules.unless you do something really stupid no one will hassle you.the cops mainly hassle crotch rockets with motorboat exhausts.me and friends went to gracie mansion to break balls with our bikes & the cops thought it was great.dabeard :orac:

[New York Reaper]

I think it is time for Mick to start handing out PBA cards to all his buds, this way if and when, we can plead inocence. Or at least say Mick told us we were good to go with our pipes!!!!! Cliff

[mick114]

i'm actually changing my pipes to a supertrapp exhaust but not because of the noise, just performance. As I stated on the general board use commom sense, just don't get on it and don't attract attention to yourself.

As for the PBA cards they don't do much for you upstate. I kinda laugh when the cards start falling out of
wallets when they're stopped for something. "it's my sister's uncle's cousin's neighbor's best friend's boyfriend who is a cop somewhere"

[av8r]

Remember that any law is written with ambiguous language so that it leaves the interpretation up to the individual officer or judge. This can be good or bad, but it's done that way on purpose.

[New York Reaper]

Yeh Mick it's funny how many PBA cards are floating around down here!! I saw a 13 year old kid get pulled over on his bicycle for crossing against the light and I swear he was pulling cards out of his book bag!!! Ya know I is a jokin,,,, Your right common sense tells us if we want to enjoy the safety of loud pipes, don't make a scene or harass the public revving them up... REAPS

[av8r]

"Among the new ordinances, the articles mention that a New York law passed on July 1, 07 will fine riders a minimum of $440 if their mufflers or exhaust systems can be heard within 200 feet. "



OK..I did some research on this and came up empty. Called 2 friends who are NYS police, one a captain and they looked at their 2008 vehicle and traffic lawbook and a 2001 version. The laws regarding exhaust hasn't changed according to these books. The law states:

Muffler - Required; no straight pipes; no removal of baffles; no modification of exhaust system that increases noise beyond exhaust system originally installed. Ref: NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law, Article 9, Section 381

Maximum Sound Level - Maximum Allowable A-Weighted Sound Levels at Speed: 35 mph or less, 82 dB(A); over 35 mph, 86 dB(A), measured at, or adjusted to, a distance of fifty feet from the center of the lane in which the motorcycle is traveling. Ref: NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law, Article 10, Section 386.

Can someone point me to this new "law" that folks have referenced? No one, including the police seem to know about it's existance.

Thanks

[mick114]

that's because there isn't a new V&T law on exhaust as of yet. NY state may come up with some overtime grant money to enforce equipment defects aka loud exhaust and other broken crap patrols or roadblocks like the cell phone and seat belt campaigns.

I have not heard of a new initiative to single out loud exhausts, doesn't mean it's not possible or already in the works. I used to have Harleys with drag pipes and no baffles and my X with cobras that have the V&H quiet baffles have all passed inspections. I've yet to be stopped for loud exhaust or any other issue.

Enjoy your trip, rest assured there isn't platoon of police waiting at the NY border for your arrival. I'm due to return to patrol in May after almost a year in CID. I will update this thread if I hear something from our traffic division regarding a new initiative.

[shadango]

Sorry, should have posted this earlier....its the link to the article that mentioned the "new ordinance"....

http://motorcycles.about.com/b/2007/08/30/new-laws-seek-to-stifle-noisy-motorcycle-exhausts.htm

[mick114]

I'd have research that law since it came into effect after I was off patrol. As earlier stated this wording leaves a lot of wiggle room if they copied it verbatim from the V&T law. There's no section mentioned so it's obvious the About.com journalist didn't do their homework.