Noisy motorcycles targeted by police

Edmonton police have only begun their crackdown on excessively noisy motorcycles and they're already nabbing repeat offenders.

University student Stuart Young was pulled over for the second time since the bylaw came into effectlast week.

"Now I'm sitting with $500 in tickets in one week that I have and my bike is only worth $1,000," he said.

Young bought his used Yamaha bike a month ago. During his test, the motorcycle's tailpipes tested at 92.1 decibels while idling.The maximum noise level permitted is 92.

His Yamaha motorcycle hasn't been modified in any way, and changing the exhaust would cost $300, he said.

"My wife didn't want me to get a bike in the first place," he said. "When I go home tonight, I'm in big trouble."

Young was pulled over on Calgary Trail, about ten blocks south of Whyte Avenue.

Police tested about 1,200 motorcycles in the weeks leading up to the July 1st implementation of the bylaw. They say they're getting better at determining who should be pulled over.

"We can hear them before we even see them coming down to our location," Acting Staff Sgt. Eric Theuser said.

Young plans to challenge his tickets in court and says he'll keep his bike parked for a week until he figures out what he should do about the exhaust.

Despite his bad luck, Young agrees with the bylaw because there are plenty of motorcycles that are noisier than his.

"I 100 per cent agree with the thinking behind this bylaw," he said. "I live on Whyte Ave ... you're hearing noises at night and during the day. That's just not right."