SAN DIEGO — Loud motorcycles with modified exhaust systems are a source of frustration for some residents in the downtown area, one woman told CBS 8 the noise has been waking her up at all hours of the night.
“They’re making this insane racket that wakes you up out of bed, makes your dog go crazy, can frighten your children, it’s really awful,” said Lisa, 35, who only wants to be identified by her first name. “It’s insanely loud. I live really high up, I live on the 12th floor of the building, and I can hear it like I’m almost right there with them.”
She sent CBS 8 cell phone video clips of obnoxiously loud motorcycles during overnight hours from her apartment on Market Street.
“I think they’re attention-seekers and I think they need to seek attention in a way that doesn’t disturb an entire community,” said Lisa.
She moved to San Diego in July and immediately noticed how loud some riders were, day or night, including one time when three in a row passed by her on the street.
“They made the car alarms go off and it was like some kind of torture, it was like putting an air horn next to your ear,” described Lisa.
According to the California Vehicle Code, motorcycles manufactured after 1985 cannot exceed 80 decibels of noise, and they must have an adequate muffler to prevent that. It’s illegal to “modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted,” according to CA Vehicle Code, Section 27151.
So how can these laws be effectively enforced?
“New York City has installed decibel meters and cameras by the stoplights,” said Lisa. “Whenever someone goes by making too much noise to the point that it’s illegal, they get filmed by the camera and it goes to a committee, who then reviews the video and sends a notice to the vehicle owner.”
According to the Associated Press, vehicle owners in New York could face fines of $800 for first noise offenses and a penalty of $2,625 if they ignore a third-offense hearing. To implement a similar program here in San Diego, it would require city council approval first. Lisa plans to attend the next Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee meeting on November 15 to advocate for such a program.
“I would love to see the City of San Diego install those decibel meters and video cameras like New York did and it’s so easy to solve the problem that way,” said Lisa.
Watch Related: East Village residents sound off over loud concerts at Gallagher Square (Jun 30, 2023)