Comments on: Mayor Hotline May 8 to 14

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:15:50 +0000

Bikeboy, I didn’t use the word “fools”, but thank you for putting it out there!

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:04:45 +0000

Celeste Schmidt recently commented on motorcycle noise pollution in her
neighborhood. Many people are not aware that starting in 1983, all motorcycles are required to have an EPA noise compliance label permanently attached to the chassis and a matching label embossed into the muffler.

It’s illegal under federal law to replace the noise certified exhaust with one that isn’t certified or to tamper wit the legal muffler to produce more noise. This label system remains in effect as long as the motorcycle is operated on public roads and is designed so that states, cities
and towns can adopt and easily enforce it. The city of Denver adopted the EPA label system in 2007 and with consistent enforcement and substantial penalties, has
greatly decreased the numbers of loud motorcycles.

In April, the National Park
Service held a two day motorcycle noise forum in Colorado and invited Denver
officials to talk about the EPA label system. In New England, there have been a
number of attempts in the last year or so to adopt the EPA label system. Boston,
Mass., and North Hampton, N.H. have done so despite strong opposition by loud
bikers. Maine Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles (www.mecalm.org) has been working to
enact enforceable laws to curtail loud motorcycles which now plague many citizens
with their illegal noise.

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:49:37 +0000

I suspect that the LOUD motorcycles are being piloted by non-Christians, and Hindus in particular! (/sarcasm)

As a practicing Christian, I’m embarrassed when “fellow Christians” display such bigotry. This country was founded not with “a line between church and state,” but rather as a big tent where all are free to practice their choice of religious beliefs, or none at all. I welcome the Hindu guy at my City Council meeting! (Rod exhibits bigotry as well, by lumping all of Christendom together as uneducated, superstitious fools.)

As for those who are offended by a prayer at a public meeting… don’t be so easily offended! “Serenity now!,” as Frank Costanza would say.
(-;

By: Casey

Casey — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:00:45 +0000

These people calling in to protest the Hindu prayer make me absolutely sick. Show some freakin’ tolerance, people. Do you think that anyone was swayed from their particular religious beliefs by this one prayer? Do you think Vishnu is going to take over the city? What could possibly happen that’s worth you protesting it?

As an atheist, I’m offended that there’s prayer at a public meeting in the first place. From there, it’s of no consequence whatsoever to me if the prayer is offered by Christians, Satanists, Hindus, Wiccans, whatever. It’s all one and the same to me.

By: Andy Ford

Andy Ford — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:31:33 +0000

Celeste Schmidt is right about her rights. Riding loud is illegal under federal law. In fact, all new motorcycles made after 1982 are required to have an EPA noise compliance label attached to the chassis and a matching label embossed into the muffler. It’s illegal (and this is clearly explained in every owner’s manual) to replace the noise certified exhaust with one that isn’t certified or to tamper with the legal muffler to make more noise. This label law is designed so that states, cities and towns can adopt and easily enforce it. Denver did this in 2007 and has greatly reduced the numbers of loud motorcycles. Maine Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles supports the widespread adoption of the EPA label law.

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Thu, 20 May 2010 03:52:15 +0000

Christians are the most un-Christian of people. What hypocrisy!! People of one religion offended by people of another religion. It is just superstition – TJ got it right.

That 50-some-odd percent of Americans call themselves Christians is proof positive that our education system has totally failed.

By: Zippo

Zippo — Thu, 20 May 2010 03:26:53 +0000

If we crack down on motorscooter noise then we must also face the issue of F-35 noise.

I might say an Idaho spud in the tailpipe and a stick chaser to get r in real deep tends to send a message.

By: TJ

TJ — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:53:25 +0000

Amen, idaho101. LOL

I am not a religious person and don’t appreciate my time being taken up while superstitious people talk to imaginary beings.

The political prayer breakfasts irritate me as well. Surely all these people have enough time during the day to say their prayers privately.

By: Perisor

Perisor — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:53:24 +0000

It’s clear most of the complainers don’t have a clue that the Bill of Rights was written to keep religious preference out of government and that includes the Christians. This country was founded by those who were escaping the combination of religion and government. If you want to pray for governments to do the right thing do it on your own time and not at the government meeting. The posturing hypocrites who want to stand up in front of everyone and pray at the meetings are usually the last ones we can trust to do the right thing once the meeting is over (see Matt 6:6). If you profess to be religious, read the whole text. If you profess to be a patriot read the whole Constitution.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:25:11 +0000

Being a motorcyclist I agree that there are some bikes that are overly loud. On the other hand they are by far not the only group that is to loud. Don’t forget the overly loud 2 door “civic” that run around with the rattling tin can exhaust and the radio causing ears to bleed.