Police need to crack down on noisy motorcycle exhaust pipes

By Letter to the Editor on July 10, 2021.

Editor:
Another Street Wheelers weekend upon the city of Lethbridge and it is a welcome event – two days of watching and listening to cars.
What does the city police do? Announce they wiil be watching for stunting and noisy cars. Noisy cars?
Have the citypolice ever enforced Alberta Highway Traffic Act 61(1)? Not that I know of. It states that mufflers are required for internal combustion engines – that includes you lawn mower and yes motorcycles.
For six – eight months of the year, we get to ‘enjoy’ the sound of motorcycles with straight pipes and boy do they love to rev those big boys up. The more noise they make the happier they are.
Do the police ever ticket a biker for no muffers? No, but this weekend they will be after any car that they feel is too loud.
I once asked a police officer about enforement of the muffler law and he said he didn’t care about it – not high on his priority list. He further stated that some officers have issues that they aren’t willing or care to enforce. If you are going after noisy cars then go after motorcycles with straight pipes. PS. To those that follow the biker mantra that “loud pipes save lifes,” how about wearing a bright, colourful safety vest and mounting a flag pole on your bike with a flag for visibilty.
In closing, let the Street Wheelers enjoy the weekend or start inforcing the law for all.
Reed Spencer
Lethbridge