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Downtown dwellers howl over hogs

Noise problem 'significant,' says police captain

Fernando Quintero, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 6, 2007 at midnight

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As more people move into downtown Denver's sparkling new high-rise condos and lofts, more complaints about city noise are being logged.

Among the chief culprits: loud motorcycles.

But it's the increase in complaints - not more loud bikes - that led to Monday night's Denver City Council crackdown on noisy hogs, police say.

"It's a significant enough problem. My sense is that the problem is worsening in downtown because more people are moving into the area," said Denver Police Capt. Eric Rubin, head of the Traffic Operations Bureau. "It has an active night life and a large residential base, which don't always mix well."

No one has to tell that to Laurin Thomas.

The mother of two lives in the Ball Park Lofts near 24th and Blake streets, and she is sick of obnoxiously loud motorcycles waking her up at night.

"Why does it have to be so loud? It's unbelievably rude," said Thomas.

One neighbor in particular rides his motorcycle through to the top floor of the loft's parking lot, taking about five minutes to make it to the top, she said.

"I'm tired of people who have no respect for others," Thomas said.

But Rubin said be believes most motorcyclists are respectful of others.

"All you need is one guy showing off at an intersection and revving up his bike to produce a number of complaints," he said.

Rubin said the northern end of Sheridan Boulevard and the Platt Park neighborhood in southeast Denver were other hot spots for resident noise complaints.

But despite rising complaints about the cycles, Denver has issued only 18 to 20 citations involving noisy motorcycles in the past three years, said Denver police officer Jim Pelloni of the city's Neighborhood Enforcement Team.

The new law, which won't go into effect until July 1, would allow police to cite motorcycles made after 1982 if they lack mufflers with a factory-issued federal noise-rating stamp.

Rubin emphasized that the new law won't necessarily mean more aggressive enforcement of noise laws.

"But if we get a complaint, we now have a better way to follow up," he said.

Rubin said the law gives police an "extra tool" to help reduce noise pollution on city streets.

"This hasn't changed our philosophy about enforcing noise standards," he said.

The city already has an ordinance regulating motor-vehicle noise, but police and other city officials say the new law sets a more enforceable standard.

"Now we have guidelines. It's less subjective. You either have a muffler that works or you don't," said Ellen Dumm, spokeswoman for the city's Department of Environmental Health.

"Messing with a muffler is something tangible, something an officer can write a ticket on," said Lakewood police spokesman Steve Davis.

"Otherwise, you're dealing with something that's subjective. And we don't have the resources or equipment to deal with monitoring decibel levels."

Lodo Market and Deli operator Thuan La doesn't like the noise, but says the ordinance is unnecessary.

He has worked in the deli on the ground floor of the Ball Park Lofts for two years and said the noise levels have remained the same.

It comes with the territory, La said.

"It's the kind of neighborhood (where it is often noisy) and it's something that (residents) have to put up with."

He fears the ordinance will make outsiders begin to think Denver has turned into an "ultra- conservative" place to live.

Proposals being considered

Loud motorcycles aren't the only noise polluters in Denver. Some proposals the City Council continues to consider:

• Construction noise on weekends would be limited to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. instead of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Snow-removal equipment operators would be granted noise exemptions up to 48 hours after a major storm of 6 inches or more.

• Large fairs and festivals would be capped at 80 decibels from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Report noise

• To report a noisy motorcycle in Denver: 720-913-2000. An officer will be dispatched to the location.

Talk about the ordinance

• Chat with Mark Wolf on RockyTalk Live about the motorcycle noise ordinance and read Tuesday's story on the City Council vote at RockyMountainNews.com.

Denver noise law

Effective July 1, vehicles under 10,000 pounds (cars, SUVs and pickup trucks) cannot exceed 82 decibels from 25 feet away, and vehicles 10,000 pounds and more (semis) cannot exceed 90. Motorcycles made after December 1982 must have EPA noise-test stamps on their mufflers.

• What's it going to cost? Motorcycle owners ticketed for exceeding the decibel cap will have two weeks to show a judge that they fixed the problem, or pay an initial $500 fine.

• What other cities do: Many metro cities, including Golden, Boulder, Lakewood and Colorado Springs, follow state law. State law prohibits tampering with exhaust systems of motorcycles and other vehicles that results in loud noise.

Do you hear what I hear?

Compared with noises in everyday life, the sound from a motorcycle emitting less than 82 decibels falls somewhere in the middle of the mix.

• 140 Jet engines

• 130 Shotgun firing, jet takeoff from 100 to 200 feet

• 120 Boombox, thunderclap

• 110-140 Rock concert

• 110-125 Stereos over 100 watts

• 110 Chainsaw, jackhammer

• 105 Snowmobile

• 103 Jet flyover at 1,000 feet

• 100 Garbage truck, cement mixer

• 98 Farm tractor

• 97 Newspaper press

• 85-90 Lawn mower, blender

• 70-90 Recreational vehicle, television

• 84 Diesel truck going 40 mph at 50 feet

• 80 Average city traffic, garbage disposal

• 78 Washing machine

• 75 Dishwasher

• 70 Vacuum cleaner, hair dryer

• 50-65 Normal conversation

• 50-60 Quiet office

• 40 Refrigerator humming

• 30 Whisper

• 20 Rustling leaves

• 10 Normal breathingSource: National Institute On Deafness And Other Communications Disorders

or 303-954-5250 Staff writer Bianca Prieto contributed to this report.