It's a situation that everyone has experienced - you're walking down the street, when a vehicle drives by that's so loud, people cover their ears and cast angry glances at the driver. You assume that it's illegal to use a muffler that's so ineffective, or to have a stereo turned up that high, but if it is ... how come so many people seemingly get away with it? Well, part of the reason is manpower. While speeders and red-light-runners can be ticketed in the thousands using automated systems, actual police officers need to go out and manually check cars and motorcycles for noise violations. The designer of Noise Snare, however, claims that his unmanned system can automatically detect and identify overly-audible vehicles.
Noise Snare was invented by Mark Nesdoly, an electrical engineer from Edmonton, Canada. He was inspired to create it after a neighbor's loud motorcycle woke up his young daughter.
The system can be covertly mounted on a vehicle, which is then parked and left unattended at a location that municipalities wish to monitor. Once everything is armed, a microphone proceeds to register noise levels of passing vehicles. When a vehicle that exceeds legal noise levels is detected, a video camera captures footage of it, which is recorded - along with stereo audio - to DVD. Information such as the time, date and location of the infraction are superimposed on the footage, along with the vehicle's sound level in decibels.
As with photo radar, vehicle owners are identified via license plate numbers on the footage. Users can simply view the DVD to find out who's getting a ticket, or the system can notify them as it detects violations, via text messages or email. According to Nesdoly's company, Street Noise Reduction Systems, the system is able to accurately identify which specific vehicle is the guilty party, even in heavy traffic or on multi-lane roads.
The city of Calgary will start testing the Noise Snare within the next couple of months, pending council approval, and may become its first adopter.
Below is some test footage captured by the system, of vehicles that exceeded local allowable noise levels.
The result of these new noise snares is going to be primarily targeted at motorcycle owners, which on one hand, yeah some people put really loud exhausts on their bikes and it can be kind of annoying if they rev the engine on a crowded street or in suburban neighborhoods, which is why i try not to do that, but on other hand, and I cant stress this enough... LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES!!!!!!
As a motorcycle owner, I know from experience that one of the scariest things is when you\'re riding on the highway and some idiot who has his radio turned up, or is talking on their cell phone, and isn\'t paying attention, cuts you off and nearly kills you. Lots of bikers die every year because people couldn\'t hear them coming. So as far as I\'m concerned these tickets are totally bogus and I\'ll gladly oppose paying the fines, and refuse to remove my exhaust to keep myself safe. I couldn\'t care less if people don\'t like how it sounds, I get to go home to my family at the end of my ride each time because people can hear me coming, which gives me a much better chance of staying alive.
For example, the noise test for a motorcycle is carried out on a specific side of the vehicle, at a certain rpm and from a specific distance, by an approved authority. NONE of those criterion are addressed by the existence of this product, nor could its findings be used as evidence.
And the motorcycle image you use shows a standard exhaust fitted, meaning that the bike conforms to the conventions and legislation of the market it is being operated in.
Drive safely. Drive defensively and pay attention. Be seen (not heard) by wearing bright colours. I\'ve been riding an ultra-quiet motorcycle for over forty years and I\'ve never - not ever - had to ride with my high beams on or blasting loud muffler to stay safe. I watch for them and watch out for them and I\'ve never had an accident.
First, there's no legal expectation for privacy in public places. The courts have always said that. If there were, red light cameras could never be used.
Second, you're talking about testing protocols from DOT or DMV. These would be used to enforce local noise ordinances. Whole different jurisdiction.
Lastly, they're just using a street motorcycle as a generic illustration of a noise source. Pictures mean little. There are people who boast that the first thing they do when they get a Harley is ram a rebar through the muffler to destroy the baffles while keeping the stock look.
Dave, you can't argue with Mepps10. "I couldn't care less if people don't like how it sounds." All he cares about is himself. Not other people nor the law. Did you notice that he admits he gets cut off on the highway even though he has his loud pipe? That's sure "protective."
It is mostly young males under 25 who think it is impressive to another male or female of the same age group.
Everyone else just thinks the person is a plonker with no consideration of their noise pollution to others and they don\'t realise their act adds to the general stress of living in cities or towns.
And by the way...there is some actuarial evidence that loud motorcycles are in MORE accidents. Straight pipes refelect a driving mind set that is contra-indicated to survival.