Vehicle noise law hits speed bump at Fort Dodge council meeting
Motorcyclists say proposal could deter bikers from visiting cityBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Bikers worried that a proposal to crack down on vehicle noise would target them filled the Fort Dodge City Council chambers Monday, prompting elected officials to back away from the plan.
Council members seemed surprised by the plan, drafted by City Attorney Maurice Breen at the request of the Police Department. Several of the elected officials said they hadn't received any complaints about motorcycle noise.
After about 45 minutes of discussion, the plan was set aside. However, council members said they'd like to draft a law to address noisy engine brakes on semitrailers.
Under the proposal unveiled Monday, vehicles that weigh less than 10,000 pounds would be in violation if they could be heard 300 feet away.
Vehicles that weigh 10,000 pounds or more would be in violation if they could be heard 600 feet away.
''Is this a perfect solution? No,'' Breen said. ''Does it give the officers a better opportunity to deal with the noise? It probably does.''
When questioned by Councilwoman Cindy Litwiller, Assistant Police Chief Kevin Doty couldn't say how many vehicle noise complaints the police force has received.
About 65 people, many wearing clothes bearing Harley-Davidson logos, attended the meeting. Some of them, fearing their beloved ''Hogs'' were the target of the plan, spoke against it.
Harley-Davidson owner Kelly Moore, of Fort Dodge, said the few noise complaints seem to come from a couple of spots in town.
''Why should most law-abiding Harley owners have to suffer for problems in a specific location?'' he asked.
Doug Smith, the district director for the motorcycle group A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education, told the council that the proposal could deter bikers from visiting For Dodge.
'We do a lot of good things with the motorcycle runs,'' he said. ''This ordinance would maybe cause my district to not play in Fort Dodge anymore. Let's promote Fort Dodge, not put down a bunch of rules that say we don't want you here.''
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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dontuwannaknow
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08-23-08 1:09 AM
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ridered: talk about "LOW CLASS" , go take a good look in the mirror!
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ALAN50501
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08-22-08 1:10 AM
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harleys and bikes dont bother me one bit.. give the harleys a break.... you get more vibration off a car/truck with there bass turned way up..this loud stero needs to stop way before the harleys/bikes
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ridered
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08-21-08 4:11 PM
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yeah low class
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ponders
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08-21-08 12:46 PM
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300-600 feet. 1-2 football fields. About a block? Street sweeper, diesel engines, lawn mower, leaf blower, skill saw, Dodger Stadium, repair trucks with outside speaker, mopeds, my bike with baseball cards as a kid, dogs, school bells, church bells, church chimes, snow plow, garbage trucks, sidewalk edger, probably plenty more. Might want to exempt all these things from the noise ordinance.
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dontuwannaknow
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08-20-08 7:19 PM
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jaysmom: Thank you too! probably will see you on these poker runs! you and us are in the same "CLASS" of riders! we do it to benifit the people or person, these runs are for!
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dontuwannaknow
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08-20-08 7:17 PM
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bukfush: WOW i finally agree with you! THANKS!
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dontuwannaknow
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08-20-08 7:17 PM
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lucie1 08-20-08 12:14 AM »Report Abuse This whole discussion is rediculous....I thought we had something in regard to noise, especially loud bass in vehicles....these kids driving around with their bass turned up and vibrating all over the place cause my windows to rattle more than a loud motorcycle going by and they tend to linger longer than a motorcycle in the are. Motorcyclist are only out in good weather but loud bass in vehicles is around all year. Maybe the officials should work on that problem first. Quit picking on the motorcycle riders....they are not hurting anyone....as far as the comment about sobriety of the riders...you obviously know nothing about the common rider...many have worked hard to get their bikes and would not do anything to jeopardize their investment THANK YOU! WELL SAID! i appreciate people like you!
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dontuwannaknow
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08-20-08 7:07 PM
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cont" of your assanine comments like this! how DARE you judge people who can have the leisure of owning a "HARLEY" , and taking a nice ride as long as the summer days allow! And yes we do do poker runs, and you would not catch us drinking "from bar to bar" as someone has said, if you didnt know, you CAN drink POP or water at Bars Also! get your head out of you******and STOP blaming this noise on Harley Owners! Like i said, you have to work hard to have the money to own a HARLEY to begin with!
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dontuwannaknow
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08-20-08 7:02 PM
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think all harleys should be banned and their owners tossed in jail and the key thrown away!!! how many of these dorks would pass a sobriety test at the conclusion of a poker run? ridered..... How DARE you post such an assanine comment like this???!!!! WE own a HARELY and have worked VERY hard to be able to finally get one after raising our children! Lets take a look at WHO rides Harleys... Attorneys, Doctors, Nurses, ECT. so how can you comment that we ALL need to be thrown in jail and the key tossed? WHO exactly are you? maybe someone Jealous that they cannot afford a HARLEY? and WHY is this noise ordinance being blamed on HARLEYS??? I hear MORE loud stereos in cars, than i do harleys, and as for the comment about "REVING at stop lights and signs, well no it is NOT to keep them running, it is how one is TAUGHT to ride! jaysmom nothin says STUPID like you morons dressed up like pirates on your slow loud harleys. as for this comment red, nothing says stupid like the likenes
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ridered
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08-20-08 1:52 PM
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jaysmom nothin says STUPID like you morons dressed up like pirates on your slow loud harleys.
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lucie1
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08-20-08 12:14 AM
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This whole discussion is rediculous....I thought we had something in regard to noise, especially loud bass in vehicles....these kids driving around with their bass turned up and vibrating all over the place cause my windows to rattle more than a loud motorcycle going by and they tend to linger longer than a motorcycle in the are. Motorcyclist are only out in good weather but loud bass in vehicles is around all year. Maybe the officials should work on that problem first. Quit picking on the motorcycle riders....they are not hurting anyone....as far as the comment about sobriety of the riders...you obviously know nothing about the common rider...many have worked hard to get their bikes and would not do anything to jeopardize their investment.
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Gman77
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08-19-08 8:09 PM
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I live downtown and I tell you this loud motorcycle issue has been driving me nuts. It is a constant roar of reving engines. I kid you not some of these bikes are louder than a semi! Only one carries out an important purpose and the other is some guys toy. The other thing is they tend to travel in groups making the noise level so loud that you can't even hold a conversation. Why do they have to rev the engines at stop lights? Do they need a tune up so they won't stall. No it is a blatent disregaurd for anyone else. I am sorry all you loud bike riders have such a small *****, maybe you should try extenze.
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Robertwilson
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08-19-08 7:44 PM
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And yes Biker's do more for your community then you will ever know. So don't step on the wrong toes here. Think before you jump into the water....
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Robertwilson
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08-19-08 7:43 PM
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This is just another one of those Topics that start's out good and run's into real bad quick. I have ridden a Motorcycle for over 38 year's as I recall .And it is said in the bike community that the nut job's cause more problem's for the average rider's all the time. Don't put us all in the same batch. It's not a fair thing to do. There are bad people in everything fun. It's always a given. And I hate it. I do not own a Harley, I own a Kawasaki 1500 V-Twin Nomad and I think all bike's no matter what brand can be made loud. On and off road. You always have people without commonsense, and there is your problem. Pick on them not all biker's. If a person is being loud on a bike they are usually doing something else Illegal pull them over and nail them. After waiting over 40 some odd year's to buy a big V-Twin Motorcycle I'm not about to be blamed for all your woes. Pick on the back one's and leave us good ones alone. And yes Biker's do more for your community then you will ever know. So
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Xdodger76
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08-19-08 6:47 PM
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HELLO city of Dodge. There already is a state code on loud mufflers it is called defective or unauthorized muffler Ia code 321.436 fine is 69.80. The city whats this so the FINE money goes to the city not because it is worried about the citizens.
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jaysmom
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08-19-08 4:34 PM
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It is better to let people think you're stupid than to open your mouth and prove it. If you have ever been on a charity run with these 'bikers' you would find out how many of them can pass a sobriety test. From my personal experience of 25 years, only the inexperienced get on a motorcycle when they have had too many and the experienced bikers have been able to get them to go no where so no one gets hurt. Maybe we have been the exception, but it has worked for us for all these years. Have a little respect for others in thought & actions people.
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Rugman
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08-19-08 1:46 PM
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It wouldn't be such a problem, but the trouble makers act like little kids. All loud pipes do is scream "LOOK AT ME, I"M AN ******* WITH NO RESPECT FOR ANYBODY ELSE!!!" If they could ride at any leel besides full throttle, I would be totally amazed. And I agree, how in the world are these "Poker Runs" legal? Let's get on a bke, go from bar to bar and drink all day, and then give $20 to charity. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea to me. I used to want a Harley. Then the new crop of idiots arrived on them, and I think I'd prefer a Goldwing.
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ridered
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08-19-08 1:37 PM
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i think all harleys should be banned and their owners tossed in jail and the key thrown away!!! how many of these dorks would pass a sobriety test at the conclusion of a poker run?
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bystander
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08-19-08 9:37 AM
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Noise should be regulated. Motorcycles should not be exempt. Motorcycles do not come extremely loud from factory. Yes Harleys are a little louder than most other bikes but they are not made extremely loud. Also I would point out that it is not only Harley owners that have modified their bikes to be loud. Most people just assume when they hear a loud bike it is a Harley. So I would back any noise law as bikes are not made extremely loud but have been modified after they bought it. So yes the owner of the bike should be considerate to others.
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TheConservative
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08-19-08 8:41 AM
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Why should motorcycles be able to run around town with nothing but straight pipes? They are loud, rude and obnoxious! Plus they pollute the enviroment! I say crack down on them, and while your at it, enforce the****law on loud music as well. Let's make Fort Dodge neighborhoods pleasant and peaceful again!
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fortdodgenative
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08-19-08 8:35 AM
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Vote yes for the proposed aquatic center, make the people who are going to vote no mad!
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bwalex
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08-19-08 7:16 AM
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LOUD PIPES SAVES LIVES, when some car/truck ever hits me they my say they didn't see me, but they can't say they didn't hear me.
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Alfred
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08-19-08 6:17 AM
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Theres a red dodge truck that passes by my street ever single day and it is loud, I hope the city could do something about that.
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butterfly742
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08-19-08 1:32 AM
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I would like to say that I live very close to Amigo's. I have lived in my home for over 10 years, and yes the noise level has risen, but not all the time. I know when Wednesday night comes, so do the HOGS! I have no problem with that noise. It brings people to Fort Dodge. We need revenue. If it it for some noise in the summer nights, I can deal with it. I do complain about the semi trucks the decide to use the their jack brakes at all hours of the night in residential areas. Now there should be some law about commercial vehicles. I would vote for that. But not for the motorcyles.
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angelickitty1981
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08-19-08 12:17 AM
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I think its a very great idea!!! As I have been complaining to others around me about the noise especially when I want to be able to have some time in the day for peace and quiet! Or when I am trying to sleep early in the evening... I know that there are ways to have quieter engines especially for motorcycles as I have seen things on tv and I even heard one up close one time....
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