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"Even though city leaders backed down, they pledged not to let the issue die" Motorcycle groups also pledged to rein in unruly riders who are creating problems.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/ ... 9052.story

Delray tables noise ban; police to study problem

Published Thursday, November 8, 2007
by Dale M. King

http://www.bocaratonnews.com:80/index.p ... cal%20News

The Delray Beach City Commission has tabled a proposed noise control ordinance to keep the downtown quieter, and will await the results of a police survey before making another move to reduce the ear-splitting sounds that have caused complaints from merchants and customers.

The decisions made at Tuesday’s meeting are, in part, a victory for motorcyclists who brought legions of riders to the Oct. 23 and Nov. 6 meetings. At this week’s session, they even arrived with a catered dinner set up in the lobby of City Hall.

The commission last month proposed to ban motorcycles in a five-block area of downtown from Swinton Avenue east. Dozens of bikers turned out on a rainy night Oct. 23 to protest the ban – and the commission voted to reject an outright prohibition on the bikes, but moved a noise control ordinance forward.

After an hour-long hearing Tuesday, commissioners tabled the ordinance after Police Chief Larry Schroeder said his department could conduct a survey downtown to see how badly noise control is needed. “I need at least 90 days,” he told the commission, but added he will make periodic reports to City Manager David Harden in the meantime.

Bikers who spoke at the hearing cited state law that prohibits municipalities from making laws that specifically single out motorcycles for different treatment than other vehicles.

While others said they want to work with the city to help rectify the situation, one biker said he had left messages with several city officials, but never received a call back.

Sorry for Omission

Vice Mayor Fred Fetzer apologized for the omission, saying he had been out of town for about three weeks. He said he did review the tape of the Oct. 23 meeting to get up to speed on the issue.

Fetzer said he felt it was too soon to make legislation for noise control, and “I agree with the process of doing a 90-day survey.”

He also noted that the problem “is not just motorcycle noise, but all noise,” a comment that drew applause from the crowd.

Commissioner Gary Eliopoulos said a few “bad apples” are spoiling it for other motorcyclists. “My wife called today and said there were motorcycles in front of my house, revving their engines. Those are the kind of bad apples I mean. You can do that in front of my office, but don’t bother my family.”

During the hearing, cycle club members said most of their riders are professionals. One man who spoke said he was a nurse at a local hospital. Another rider said that one club is devoted just to active and retired law enforcement officers.

Mayor Rita Ellis said the effort to control noise was based on years of hearing complaints from downtown businesses and visitors. “This is not something I brought up overnight,” she said. But she added that she “saw real hope at the last meeting” about working together to solve the problem.

Chief Schroeder said that despite demands on his department, his officers would make “a focused and concerted effort” to check noise downtown and report back.

Dale M. King can be reached at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.




Garry Van Kirk
Bikers Accident Survivor Forum
www.bacsuv.com
bikeraccsurvivor@bacsuv.com
Supporting Our Right to Ride, Supporting Bikers In their Time Of Need.
" You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom."
~Clarence Darrow~

They'll do what Colorado did, pass a decibel level noise ordinance that covers anything and everybody, they have been enforcing it and getting by with it, the ACLU won't touch it because there's no discrimination in enforcement altho I think when they check out who's been getting the tickets they will find it's the 2 wheelers, I did read that 2 hot rodders got nailed tho, I think a lot of people are looking at how this works for Co. and some changes are coming down the pike.

Here's the problem. The few bad apples they talk about are sometimes respectable people in their non-bike life. Doctors, Lawyers, Coucil members, etc. They like to get on their noisy bike and show off, or be a rebel. They are sometimes the "loud pipes, save lives crowd". I wish we could just "reel in" the people who won't behave and respect the non-biker world, but I think "reel-in" is against the whole reason a sub-set of bikers ride in the first place. It will take more stupid laws, and more of people rights taken away to control things, and people who are not guilty will also have to pay the price, is my guess.