Ordinance would muzzle loud motorcycles

18-Dec-13 – Loud motorcycles have been a bugaboo for Brendan Reilly for years. The 42nd Ward Alderman has introduced an ordinance that would make it easier for Chicago police to issue citations to drivers of motorcycles with missing or rudely modified mufflers.

Reilly called it “a major quality of life issue that impacts downtown residents” in his newsletter to constituents on Tuesday.

“Many motorcyclists alter their mufflers to be much louder than legal decibel levels,” wrote Reilly, “which contributes to noise pollution throughout Chicago, especially in downtown Chicago’s skyscraper canyons.”

Altering a muffler to be loud or smoky is already unlawful but currently only Illinois State Police can issue citations. The new ordinance, if passed by the city council, would allow Chicago police to issue a citation after visually inspecting a muffler. The fine for operating a motorcycle without a muffler would increase from $100 to $1,000.

Reilly says he receives hundreds of complaints every year of motorcycles racing through downtown or congregating in large groups to rev their engines.

Photo: Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper search for America in the 1969 Columbia Pictures film Easy Rider.