Agreed Don. 35 minutes waiting for Police and no response. Does someone know the owner of Demoseys and could he be asked to put a sign up discouraging motorcycle patrons? I won't eat there anymore because of the impact on the neighborhood but I would if this stopped.

Not one minute after I signed this, a bunch of defeaningly loud motorcycles went by on State Street... (10/6 at 4:58 p.m.)

Here's a video so folks can see what these guys look like

I heard them too, and I live in Pearl closer to Pleasant.

Ben, I know them and I'll be happy to carry the message, but only AFTER it gets a few hundred SeeClickFix votes and/or supportive emails. That's the kind of backing it'll take to make a person-to-person change.

We live close to State Street and this has been a complaint for a long time. No surpirse about the police help. If anyone knows the owner and can speak with him or her that would be wonderful. Friday night is especially bad along with the overly indulged with beer drinkers who are far from quiet and the bikers. A word from all of the neighbors and a mention not wanting to eat there due to the Marlon Brando pretenders . I will be happy to cooperate in whatever you think would help. There are unpleasant things you can do to stop them but then we must be civilized. I think the police have moved to Westport due to our crime rate. Can't blame them.

I'm not sure 200 votes is realistic, but it would be nice to wrap these noise issues into a broader strategy to cut down on the ATVs and dirt bikes on our streets. Seems like issuing tickets or impounding bikes would be a simple and safe way to mitigate the problem. If the police won't chase, then they could at least set up pickets and make some extra $ for the city. It wouldn't be hard---just concentrate outside certain bars and off-ramps on I-91/95.

Thanks Don, that sounds like a good challenge.

It appears that the noise ordinance is for anything about 45 DB. Here's the announcement from the City in 2007: http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Mayor/ReadMore.asp?ID=%7B41FD0022-E2D7-498A-8B72-000D39BBBD4B%7D

I live on state and the noise created by certain cycles is well beyond acceptable. Please add me to the compliant list

I think it's a city/state wide problem and cannot understand why the excessively loud motor cycles are permitted in CT - there is no way a car owner would be permitted to drive around with an equally loud vehicle. I understand there is a pretty simple way for the police to tell if a particular motorcycle produces unacceptable levels of sound. Why do motorcycle owners have a free pass to disturb the peace of so many others??

Maybe the cops don't want to ticket the motorcycle riders for the obnoxious noise issues because a lot of cops are riders too.
There is supposedly a new state law on vehicle exhaust noise, but good luck getting it enforced !

Noise pollution from cars and motorcycles degrades my quality of life more than any issue I have experienced as a New Haven resident over the past 17 years. I'm concerned that the sleep of our 2 children is affected but even more concerned for the city's entire population, and the many less fortunate than we, living in exposed locations along busy roadways, many of whom are poor, or temporary residents like students who don’t bother advocating for this issue as the are non permanent residents. When I wake at night to a loud motorcycle traveling blocks away, I follow their route as they travel out Whitney Avenue to Hamden and beyond. That is when I see red.

I live right across from J. P. Dempsey's. I have gotten used to the bar noise and expected that from living close by, but the motorcycle noise often sometimes unbearable. It would be one thing if riders started their engines and drove away immediately but that is often not the case. I believe everyone has a right to own a motorcycle but people should also be responsible citizens! In addition to residents, I would assume the noise pollution is detrimental to the surrounding business owners who are thinking about their patrons- maybe that can be some extra backing?

Regarding police presence, has anyone asked the NHPD how many tickets have been given out specifically in this immediate neighborhood (not including I-91, Whitney Avenue, etc) for the following illegal behaviors over the past 2 years?

1) Speeding
2) Noise violations, including motorcycles
3) ATV stops
4) Running red lights

I would not be surprised if the answer is "close to 0" for all of the above. In NYC, a review of neighborhood ticketing found that the police gave out more tickets to cyclists than to red light runners in many areas.

Without information like this, there is absolutely no way to have action, accountability, or change.

P.S. Directly related to the comment above, if you want to see change, please call the Mayor ((203) 946-8200 and Rob Smuts (203) 946-7900 and ask them why there has been no action taken on request #1 within this letter, which was written by representatives of all 12 of the Community Management Teams, and many Alderpersons, one year ago:
http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101479047374-39/Safe+Streets+Letter+to+Mayor+DeStefano+082411r.pdf

Hey Guys,
If you voted for this issue it would be awesome if you would share it on your facebook wall so that other neighbors see it as well.

This may be the same group that parades up East Rock Road several nights each week, sometimes as many as thirty or forty, usually after 11 pm. Very loud, frightening and fast....

So, why aren't you calling the poluice, if they parade up East Rock Road several nights a week ? Sounds like motorcycle gang activity, doesn't it ?

This obnoxious motorcycle and/or illegal ATV noise is frequently heard at 360 state, even with windows closed.

NH Resident, would you mind printing out something to pass around 360 State to help gain support for this problem?

To all the new(er) folks to the neighborhood, this has been going on for 20 years. Dempsey's has been attracting a biker crowd during their entire existence. One can expect a certain level of this when he/she moves into an area with so many bars and restaurants. There is new ownership but John Panza still works there and may be a good point of contact. Also, I am 100% positive the "straight pipes" on these bikes are illegal, so just having them on the bikes warrants a ticket. I still enjoy Dempsey's and this will not deter me from going!

Its not just State St. Does anyone remember the East Shore press conference last year when the mayor announced they were going to crack down on it? A big fat lie is all that was. Great PR through lies keeps people voting for the same guy over and over.

This is continually an issue! I don't think it is only Dempsey's. There are a lot of bars on the street. I've noticed the Bartender from Press 200 riding on a motorcycle too. I have lived on State St since approximately 2007. When I noticed this website (http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Mayor/ReadMore.asp?ID=%7B41FD0022-E2D7-498A-8B72-000D39BBBD4B%7D), I was relieved and hoped the noise would stop, but I don't think has ever been enforced. The problem is probably that a lot of police officers drive motorcycles and there is some idea that loud illegal modified pipes on these bikes saves lives, by ensuring that cars hear them. I don't understand how revving these loud bikes outside my window while preparing to drive away saves anyone's life.

We won't know if it has ever been, or continues to be, enforced until the City follows up on the request from hundreds of residents that I mentioned above.

Hey Don,
Do you think 74 people is enough to have a conversation with the business owner? I know you had said hundreds.

It's not really the business owner that's the problem. It's that the City needs to enforce the noise ordinance. They have meters. Now they need to be used.

The City has told me that talking to the business is the best way.

Sounds to me like they're ducking their responsibility. If it's now the businesses problem then you're also going to have to talk to Clarissa's on Humphrey and East as well as Archie Moore's. Those straight pipes are everywhere!

I agree with Debbie. I don't think it is a single businesses fault. There are plenty of other bars that attract motorcyclists on the street. Diesel, Christopher Martin's, COJones, etc. The police need to enforce the laws!

Sigh... agree, this is continually an issue.

The Police Lieutenant for the District sent me an email over the weekend informing me that they will be beginning enforcement in the area. Fingers crossed.

Regarding Diesel, CO Jones and CM's: they all have policies that discourage Motorcyclists as I understand it.

Using a missile launcher to blow up approaching cars would be safer for motorcyclists also but alas, like straight pipes, that's illegal because your fellow citizens would find it annoying. And at a very basic level, If a motorcycle rider is overly reliant on straight pipes to protect his or herself then he or she shouldn't be riding. No this is a vanity issue, just like overdone speaker systems in cars. Both should be busted by the cops.

Well, their attempts to be macho men will be undone when they realize that their hearing has become impaired from creating all that deafening noise.
Nothing more pathetic than a tatooed tank topped mustache and do-rag wearing biker with hearing aids.........

The low-lifes and thugs have free reign. Nothing will ever be done, except continued head-scratching about why no one wants to live in New Haven...

Thats nice that they say they are going to enforce the law now that most bikes are in the garage for the winter. I bet it will be quiet this weekend!

Here's an update from LT Howell: Greeetings!

The Traffic Unit will be assigned to the area next week to deal with the problem and other traffic related issues. Additionally, The State Street beat officers, Folch and Przbylski, have been informed of the problem and will give it special attention. The enforcement should reset the mindset of the offenders.

Thank you for your concern.

Lt. Kenny Howell
District Manager
Newhallville/East Rock
New Haven Police Department
1 Union Avenue
New Haven, CT. 06519
Office: 203.946.7572
Email: khowell@newhavenct.net

Thank you Ben for all you are doing on this issue! You deserve a medal, keys to the city or at least a thank you.

Thanks for your work here Ben.

Thank You!

Were any people ticketed this weekend? I think I heard a few motorcycles between Thursday night and tonight. Just to show that Dempsey's isn't the only place attracting bikers, I am posting a picture of Diesel. Sorry that it's blurry. There were people sitting there that probably thought I was taking their picture. Anyway, I am happy the police have acknowledged this as an issue and hope they'll be back in the Spring and Summer!

Thanks,
I saw that bike there today as well though I'm not sure it was super loud. It does appear that Diesel's new owners are not discouraging bikers. I called the cops last night on two super loud bikes that were parked across from Dempsey's. I saw no enforcement this weekend however.

Looks like the Management Team conversation with LT Howell worked. In the NHI today, "Asked about community meetings, Howell reports on an East Rock gathering where neighbors pressed him about late-night noise from Dempsey’s bar on State Street. He told Lt. Julie Johnson, who oversees traffic details. She confirms that she’s sending motorcycle cops to State Street on a late shift this coming weekend."

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/live_from_1_union_ave._nhpd_view/

But these guts are the cops, why do u think nothing gets done !!!!!!!

These are not just playful kids, they are thugs, a gang who delights in terrorizing neighbors, scaring children and literally giving the finger to police. I'll bet my alder is too "progressive" to want to see them stopped. (She just wants more power for her union so she frequently sides with people who are blatantly breaking the law. Is this the union's policy???? I notice that no union alders attended the mayor's work session that was reported in The Independent.)

I want to add my vote to others. A gang of 12 or so bikes were behind me at 5 PM last night so I put on my blinker to turn to avoid them. Just then, they surrounded my car and gave me the finger. I had to slam on my breaks and wait for them to pass. Luckily no body rear-ended me. 2 hours later they were racing around the Green and Downtown with 3 cop cars flashing lights in the vicinity but not allowed to chase them. When I went home at 9 I passed 3 police cars patrolling my neighborhood and one of the officers told me they had been called due to the dirt bikes.

What a colossal waste of City money- people expect the police to come, we pay for them to come but due to the no chase laws and general lack of enforcement solutions, the gangs just grow bigger and stronger. They know they can do what ever they want. What will they do next?

Not sure if Treehugger is talking about loud motorcycles or punk kids on dirt bikes or what......
The cops can nail the dirtbikers, whose bikes are probably not registered, plus they may be riding stolen dirt bikes and ATV's.
The cops should simply confiscate the illegal dirt bikes for riding on sidewalks, on private property, and illegally on town streets.

treehugger is right. It matters not whether it is legal Harleys or illegal dirt bikes/quads, this has to stop or the cops are useless. I still love their timing on "cracking down" on this noise issue as winter comes into play.

Reckless driving apparently is not important enough for cops to chase people for, imagine the state of any city when this happens.

I posted this to many issues where Mr. Smuts, top City rep, posted re: dirt bikes. I find it equally relevant here, and to many I apologize for the rant--but I like many of you are fed-up with the Mayor's office consistent pass-the-buck to our legislatively unarmed police dept. rhetoric. Many cops have personally told me they would love to work on these quality of life issues, if only Mayor DeStefano's office would allow it!

"Mr. Rob Smuts,

With all due respect this has been going on for nearly over five years now, at least, check this very site. New Haven residents are tired of calling the police, where we have learned to expect a quick fix at best. Though I understand your comment indicates an administrative change simply seeking to streamline the processes for the "response" side of these issues as it relates to SCFix, this is NOT solely a Policing issue. Your office, the administrative branch of our local government, is sending your police force up a creek without a paddle.

You are not giving them the legislative tools to properly deal with this issue. You ask them not to chase (I, as many of us are OK with that btw--less risk for those involved and less liability for the City) but are also sitting idle thinking that simply saying "we cannot chase" exonerates you from solving this issue. As a young tax-payer, long time resident and product of New Haven public schools, I am here to tell you that it does not. It is passing the buck sir, and may I remind you; this is not a hockey city.

Give your PD the legislative tools to be able to deal with this vital quality of life issue properly. The ball is in your boss's court."

Again, confiscate the offending bikes. If they have tags, chase only long enough to get numbers, then locate them and confiscate.
There are two different demographics here...... hog riders are not the same subset as quad/dirtbikers, but DeStefano needs everyone's support, so no inclination to prosecute.

I haven't been noticing as many of the loud motorcycles the past few weeks, but then its been cold and stormy the past few weeks. We shouldn't let this issue die over the winter just because there are fewer bikes on the road in the winter. They'll be back next spring.

I agree LAAARRRSSS,
Let's keep it open until we see a springtime without it.

The plan is to drive all middle and working class, considerate people out of the city. The city government only wants extremely wealthy, easily guilt-tripped people, who can afford the extortionate property taxes, on their East Rock homes, and extremely poor people, who are utterly dependent on the "plantation system" of public housing and public assistance, and the very lucrative "non-profit" industry - staffed by political allies and "friends" of the political class. People who are not dependent on the city are a political liability to Johnny D. and his cadres, the useless public school system, the rotten infrastructure and the total lack of "quality of life" in New Haven. All anti-social behavior will be encouraged and forgiven.

Bones57
Theres 2 things in life that the POLICE won't mess with and that is the NRA & BIKERS, so don't expect any help from them.
You know the old saying "OUT OF SIGHT(HEAR)OUT OF MIND".

Folks have been asking for how many noise tickets have been given out each year since the city purchased lots of expensive noise meters. Still waiting for that info... . without such info, there's absolutely no way to measure change.

Just curious, how does a business discourage bikers? Block off the parking in front of the place? Put a sign up? I'm curious.

"JP Demspeys is attracting motorcycles to the neighborhood that make it unliveable"

I lived on state street across from Dempsey's throughout the 90's and early 2000's. Dempsey's has always attracted bikers. You get used to it. New Haven is a city and it can be noisy. If you don't like it, take your Yale stipend or trust fund money, and move to a quieter neighborhood.

No Yale Stipend and no trust fund. I was born here and no one should have to be exposed to that volume of noise.

True, true Goatsville. Talking to somebody directly is a lost art LOL. Re the motorcycles - you know as well as everybody reading this, whoever reported it isn't talking about an "idling" bike. They're talking about people "getting on it" and it IS deafening. We're not kids here - so tell it like it is. I guess it's natural to assume anybody who does that doesn't have the common sense or decency to comply with a neighborly request to cut it out. Maybe I'm wrong. I have a neighbor who LOVES to go WOT on his straight-pipe bike down my street in the morning, and again in the evening every day in the summer. I'm gonna stop him this spring and ask him not to do it. How mush you want to make a bet his reply is something to the effect FU??

I used to like to rev up the motor on my dirtbike when I was 12-16 years old.

Hello everyone, this is just a friendly reminder to keep the dialogue constructive and to refrain from posting anything that is disrespectful towards your fellow neighbors.

Reminder to Cip: the disrespectful neighbors are the bikers who could care less about the noise pollution and annoyance they cause, so please, stop with the PC reminders.
The rude and obnoxious bikers and their defenders deserve a few barbs.

Hey Sammi,
Cip was pointing to the folks whose comments were removed for calling us names.

Goatsville Guy, You must be living in la la land if you think you are going to reason with a gang of Hells Angel "wannabees." Lets be realistic if you think they give a rats patoo to your listening enviroment. They think they were placed on this earth for one reason and that is their LIFE, LIBERTY AND PERSUIT OF HAPPINESS. You need to wake up and smell the exhaust.

They're back. I came home tonight to find 4 large bikes parked in front of my house (I live across from Dempseys). As I write this I'm waiting for them to fire 'em up and wake up my roommates.

It'd be a real shame if someone's car nudged over all those shiny bikes while their owners were inside getting tanked up. A real shame. I bet those paint jobs and chrome pipes are real expensive and would look really crummy with a bunch of ball peen hammer dings in them. Just sayin.

To be certain, they would all then proceed to take the insurance money and donate it to a quieter neighborhoods initiative rather than go buy an even louder bike and a gun. Even leaving aside the fact that it is The Wrong Thing To Do, I'm not sure vandalism would get you the results you want here.

The nhpd shows no pride in caring about the citizens who complain about these quality of life issues. It happens all over town. Completely entrenched bunch of police union employees, with some good exceptional policemen that make me hopeful of change. Many rather stand at open manholes protecting UI employees while collecting their pensions....

Look, Depmsey's has been a loud Harley bar long before you came here for grad school. If you don't like the noise, you shouldn't have moved to the neighborhood.
Entitled brats demanding the neighborhood change to suit them. What nerve!
That said, the noise can be pretty intense, that's why I'd never live across the street from Dempsey's ever again!
As for the NHPD, they most likely have more pressing
concerns than fielding noise complaints from students.

Go talk to the owner of the bar and stop expecting this cash-strapped city to take care of you.

Hello Town E. I grew up in new Haven and own a home on State street for 10 years. Dempsey's does not want the loud bikes. Please do not use this site to type cast people.

Absolutely concerned New Haveners should be pressing city hall to finally take a stand on the noise ordinance. Motorcycle noise in the city is out of control, and I suspect area bikers consider New Haven a "biker friendly" city. In recent years, Boston has become very agressive in enforcement of noise ordinances and so is now known as a bad place to ride your straight pipe bike. I have no problem with someone who wants to cruise around on their Harley, but when the sound can rattle windows a quarter mile away, it's a big quality of life issue. How to forcefully engage the Mayor's office and NHPD to take a meaningful stand against noise pollution? Isn't their good revenue to be made, or does revenue from those tickets go to the state?

If Dempsey does not want them bikers, why not ask their guests to go elsewhere? Lets boycott dempseys until they decide who they want to be their customers.... There are many bars in new haven compared to 10 years ago. If dempsey disappeared I suspect few of us would be at a loss...

I'm a little mystified by the notion that citizens need to talk to the bar. What? Obviously, Humphrey's and other bars know about this issue, and I'm sure they would rather that their customers didn't rev their engines and race on State Street, but what are they going to do about it?

Turn away paying customers?
Say, "Hey, welcome to my bar. Are you a motorcycle owner? If you are, and you plan to be loud, please leave now and don't buy food here. Thanks."

That isn't a "fix".

The "fix" is for New Haven to use the police and technology that it has purchased to deal with a problem that a large number of citizens are reporting.

well, when you serve them, could you not ask them to be quiet when they leave? What is so mystifying about that? ever lived in a neighborhood?

Joseph:
I find it mystifying because it has happened and not proven productive, so why would it suddenly change anything?

The city needs to address this. They have expensive noise detectors, and a noise crew in the NHPD, and there is no reason why they can't use their resources to make a neighborhood more pleasent. There is no argument that, in the 5 years of this issue being active, the city has not had any resources to use here.

Ben - do you know how many tickets were actually issued, after those promises? I haven't seen any follow up report.

I used to like to go to JP Dempsey's. I liked the outdoor seating where you could smoke, eat, drink and watch the passing parade. But I haven't gone there in at least 4 years and don't plan to ever again until the Harley Brigade finds somewhere else to go rattle their pipes and deal with their masculinity issues. No fun going to a restaurant where you can't hear your companions talk. Would it kill JP Dempsey's management to put up some kind of sign over the door to please hold the engine noise down until they get back onto the highway? Kind of like the "No Wake"signs in the harbor? If the restaurant truly doesn't like the noise annoyance, the solution seems like a no-brainer.

Bikes Happen.

Thanks for fixing this issue!

And loud pipes are illegal.

Wednesday evenings, late, I believe when leaving the bars, they are bad (but other times too). Last night (Wednesday) there was a deafening loud bike around 11:00 p.m.

@Jeromy Reynolds, the issue here is not about if "bikes happen" but if their rider's choose to ride them in a way that breaks the law.

has anyone done a petition?

Wait, I thought DeStefano was cracking down on loud bikes??? he did have a big PR event to announce this, what happened???

It looks like someone was fighting back with limericks!

I saw that Virginia. Got a photo? Maybe we could repost around the neighborhood.

NM. Got one here.

Advice: use the SIT (stop illegal traffic) model, which was able to pass legislation in Hartford and push NHPD to innovate on how to stop the dirtbikes. Phone, phone phone the NHPD with real time complaints. Find an alderman, or 2 or 3 to champion your cause. Get the NHI to write more articles on the issue, have a meeting, brainstorm, organize, come up with workable solutions and see if your alderman/ champion will hold a public hearing. B
Just do it!

I guarantee 99% of the bikes you are talking about have legal pipes. I also want to make sure that people who aren't bikers understand that just because the pipes are straight doesn't make them illegal. Most of these are baffled. Also, do not blame a bar for the noise. I can't believe you would try to boycott a local business because some of there customers are bikers. Nor should any business owner decline clientele because they are on bikes. Some of these comments are ridiculous. Just because bikers tend to ride together doesn't mean they are a gang. Trust me most of the gang activity in this city are not riding around on bikes trying to disturb your sleep. I'm all for the police ticketing and measuring sound levels.... but I know they have much more important things to do. I live only 3 houses from State. I hear motorcycles but they never wake me up. On the other hand the garbage truck wakes me up every Tuesday. Now if you live on a main road like state street or within a stones throw of a bar and you are sensitive to loud noises I would suggest moving. Or at least put some blame on yourself for deciding to move there. Most likely you live in this area because you rather not hear the gunshots and see the violence that is more prevalent in other parts of the city. You made a wise choice. If you wanted to make sure you wouldn't hear any motorcycles or bar noise you should have made a wiser choice. This is a city. Honestly I feel that people forget that and expect their apartment to be like a suburban neighborhood. As a taxpayer, I hope the police have more important things on their "to do list" than to spend weekend evenings policing motorcycle volume in an area with multiple bars who rarely have any problems and are good neighbors. Seriously go spend 1 hour Saturday night from 1:30am-2:30am on Crown St. in the Lazy Lizard/Alchemy area. Then ask yourself where are resources should be allocated. Safety comes first.

Nice to hear someone talking straight up here.
I lived across the street from Dempseys in the 90's and it was super noisy then... This isn't a new thing at all.
One shouldn't move within earshot of a noisy bar if one expects peace and quiet.

The police do have better things to do than respond to noise complaints.

Local. The noisy bars did not exist when I moved in and I have worked hard to make the street better and remove the bikes. I wholeheartedly disagree with you. There are 99.9% residents and non-biker bars on the street so the biker bars have to go if they are playing there unfair share in the quality of life. The police can deal with other complaints when these are done but for now this a big enough problem that folks have already left New Haven.

Also, straight pipes are illegal and selfish. There is no defense that makes what you are saying right.

Thank you Ben. Well stated.

Dempseys has been there for 20+ years.....good luck!

Said it before, and I'll say it again. Cops tend to like motorcycles, and many are riders. Probably more than a few ride these loud obnoxious bikes.
That's why there is no enforced compliance.
Look at the NYC debacle.....cops were among those thugs doing "show biking".

Y'all might try not moving in right near a bar with a decades old reputation for being a biker hangout?

Just a thought...

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To Ice Cream: Y'all might try not moving in right near ..... a known drug den...... somewhere where there were a lot of muggings.... etc. etc. etc. Right? So basically we shouldn't try to improve any neighborhood because we should have known it was a bad neighborhood before we moved in?

Motorcyclists should obey the law. Straight pipes are illegal both at the federal and state level.

Cops should enforce the law too.

So people, are the cops enforcing the law or has everyone moved on to different issues that wont be enforced?

Juanita,
I was the person who initially documented this issue but I have since left the neighborhood. I'm not sure what the current noise levels have been. Feel free to close this if neighbors feel like it has gotten better.

Karen,
what you call "improvement", others might call "gentrification".

If you know it's a rough/noisy/discourteous neighborhood beforehand, perhaps you shouldn't move on in expecting the cash strapped city to enforce to your bourgeois suburban expectations.

Pay a few bucks more and move in up on Orange with "your" people.

Us working folks will hang with the bikers (who happen to be super nice guys for the most part)

Hey......"trimmin the tree": ....seriously dopey and hostile response, and assumptions made that are obnoxious and childish.
No one should have to listen to absurdly loud and irritating noise pollution from bikers trying to prove their "macho-ness".
These idiots should be arrested for the illegal pipes, and the police should enforce noise levels.
Quality of life for neighbors is more important than allowing a bunch of biker gang wannabes to rev up their bikes to prove their manhood.

Bikers can be nice guys AND macho without having to terrorize neighborhoods with illegal straight pipes.

Trimmin the tree is just trolling, probably doesn't live anywhere nearby, and probably is a biker.

Asking for enforcement of laws on books is not uppity.

Since the mayor lives on a dead end street in Westville next to the Yale golf course she may not understand what her employers deal with on a regular basis. Maybe this will bring it to her attention since calling the police does absolutely no good.

OK Mike. We get it. You hate the mayor. She should be out there patrolling.

And Trimmin, I invite you to take a poll of where the loud bikers live. New Haven? Branford? West Haven? East Haven? I wonder why they don't roar down the streets on their own blocks. It's possible that people like you (and them) moved out of New Haven in order to escape "rough/noisy/discourteous" neighborhoods, but still want that kind of neighborhood to exist for them to go play in.

And just FYI, the people on the shabby side of East Rock ARE working folks, trying to sit down after work with the TV without having to crank the volume up. Trying to get their kids to go to sleep. They can no more afford an expensive house on Orange St. than you can.

And the pipes-blasters don't confine themselves to just JP Dempsey's; they roar down the approaching streets as they come off the highway, so everyone in a 4-block radius gets to know they're here. Halleluja.

Why don't you guys just go sh*t in your OWN nest. Or better (if you claim to hate the rich East Rockers so much), go find a spot on Orange Street where you can be "rough/noisy/discourteous". (Probably the cops would come then…)

Virginia, I kind of just fell in strong like with you.

Bottom Line:
Loud Pipes = Tiny Disco Stick

Yes Virginia, my life would be better if I could live in a mansion on a golf course that my son pays for with "his" slumlord business that consistently evades taxes and lets people live in squalor. Instead I go to work daily, come home to my highly taxed home and sit on my porch while listening to low riders, dirt bikes and harleys cruise up and down my street while the cops do nothing.

So Ben, you moved? hopefully you get some peace and quiet now in your new neighborhood, I know I look forward to that day myself!

agreed! The sound is inhuman.

I want to shove bananas up these wanna be outlaws pipes, so ridiculous, they wake up my daughter constantly. Seems pretty easy to find the guys, easy summons to issue, and yet they just don't go away.

There is much concern around this issue and there is a way to step up and advocate for change. Join the CT CALM community and work with your fellow concerned citizens who are advocating for better ways to enforce and improve upon noise ordinances across the state.
https://www.facebook.com/CTCALM

If I demanded peace and quiet I'd live in the suburbs... not on State Street!

Realist,

You have an unreal view of the way the present reality works in cities. The suburbs are the place you go to be noisy and live without regard for others. Cities are places where you go to coexist with other humans and be respectful of one another.

The loud bikes belong on back country roads along with all of the people who believe that their noise is the most important thing around.

Funny... you obviously have avoided large swaths of this and other cities...

The present reality? What because White flight is now working in reverse, everyone should stop what they are doing and make this town a comfortable place for privileged folks?

We all need to coexist... So don't go moving into a noisy neighborhood because the rent is cheaper and then expect the city to rearrange things to your liking.

Minty,

I lived on State Street before the bikes. I have lived in many neighborhoods of this city. I have been to many parts of many cities. The noise that comes from these bikes is similar to the noise that comes from biker bars in the burbs not what I have seen in any other city or any other part of New Haven.

And this is not a race thing. Everyone deserves a stress free quality of life.

What kind of person tries to argue on behalf of socially destructive behavior for its own sake anyways?
Are you all for real or just trolling?

benhv.......seriously dopey and effete Kumbaya comment about moving to the suburbs to be noisy and inconsiderate and to the city to coexist respectfully.
Cities are inherently noisy, crowded, dangerous, and full of traffic noise, so many of us would never live within that unhealthy environment.
The one truth inherent here is that loud bikes are hated by almost everyone, urban, suburban, or rural , except the macho guys who ride them. They are a power symbol, and the louder and more irritating they are, the more power they impart to their riders.

Cities tend to be noisier than suburbs, but that's not generally because people are going out of their way to make deafening noises. It's just because there are a lot of people driving and milling around at the same time. There is a reason why straight pipes are banned in many places. They diminish the quality of life for *everyone* and potentially cause hearing damage. This is NOT a normal, acceptable part of city life. (It's kind of a joke, in any case, to think of downtown New Haven as representing Big City Life. I have lived in not the greatest areas of Chicago and New York, and in neither place were drivers/bikers as noisy and disrespectful as on State St. or Grand St.)

my two cents...

The issue I have is not that we need new or different regulations/laws. I would just like the police to enforce current noise laws. There seems to be only a small hand full of people who are bad actors.

Just as speeding or running red lights makes the roads more dangerous for other blasting around on loud bikes adversely impacts others.

Plus one for the motorcycle noise complaint, compounded by refuse pick-ups at 5 AM and weekend bar noise. Very little police presence or evidence of consequences for any of this.

Noise from local bars and early garbage pickup are normal for any city in the world. Having a bunch of motorcycles with illegal, noise making exhausts is becoming normal, mainly because the police do nothing about it.

Some of the local cops are bikers and probably hang out there........that's why nothing is done.

I know for a fact that many of the police ride illegal bikes on their time off. The real problem is lack of police enforcing the laws in the small corners of town.

mike, noise from local bars and early garbage pickup may be normal for cities everywhere but does that mean it should be? there are very clear noise ordinances in place. to me it's quite simple, if it's between 10pm and 7am in new haven then the noise ordinance is in effect. ticket the offenders. there shouldn't have to be a debate.

I believe that it should be normal, same for sirens on ambulances and police cars. I also believe when you move next to a University or a music venue you should expect some rowdiness. Either way, the police should be ticketing these loud bikes, nothing has changed except there are more of them?

sirens are justifiable. loud bikes, loud music, garbage pickup every morning at 3, 4 and 5am are not. debating how we feel is pointless however as it's just opinions flying back and forth. the laws are black and white.

Why we have to convince the city and NHPD to enforce a noise ordinance is beyond me. It's the law, enforce it. Bikers can go somewhere else, there are lots of other patrons in the state street north restaurant/bar district to take their place. It's pretty obvious that local residents don't want them there. They can find another place to show off their loud pipes.

If simple to enforce laws *were* enforced many neighborhoods in New Haven would be a whole hell of a lot nicer.

Summertime and the bikes are as loud as ever. There is a noise ordinance, why isn't it enforced?

If we built noise sensors that reported violations automatically would you pay for one and install it in your home? Curious to hear from anyone on this.

BB

How much would they cost?

We are not sure of the hardware costs at this point but I'm curious what folks would be willing to pay.

The fact that this is still an open issue is beyond ridiculous. The city made a big deal about how they got noise meters for this exact reason, yet refuse to use them. Why were our tax dollars spent on these noise meters if they never intend to use them? I live on Bradley St and hear them speeding down State St and reving their engines as they go under the overpass, setting of car alarms. I've seen dui and seatbelt checkpoints why not a noise checkpoint?

Too many police officers are bikers and do not want to enforce a noise ordinance against their biker buddies. I think that's the bottom line.
Also, revenue would diminish at the biker bars if noise meters were utilized to track and measure the noise.

+1 to this discussion. I live over in Fair Haven Heights, and about every 20 minutes a really loud car/motorcycle comes blasting down our street.

Have the police said why they are not enforcing noise violations?

This a DMV issue not a Click-fix issue. Talk to State office in Wethersfield .

Thanks for fixing this issue!

This is a public space issue which is a seeclickfix issue.

Still deafeningly loud three years later.

Same as they were 20 years ago...

Yet people continue to move near a loud bar, then assume the city should quiet things down just to suit them...

But I hear the suburbs are nice and quiet.

Thank you for finally putting this whine fest to rest.

Not moving in close proximity to a long running and well established biker hangout is a wise move as well.

The city has noise ordinances, like other cities. To my knowledge many other cities have had success cutting down on noise pollution through enforcement of ordinances. Shouldn't NHPD be looking at best practices of other similar cities to figure out the best strategy for promoting quality of life in dense residential spaces? With all the new development coming to State Street seems its about time to address the long festering issue of the bikers and their disrespect for the residents of goatville.

I agree with that Andrew. The noise pollution is awful--moreover, New Haven is not the only town saying this. Many area towns have issues with motorcycles that are incredibly loud. Those towns seem to deal with it better than New Haven does though.

This seems like a good place to start. Seems like there is much experience and literature out there on the subject. This is by far not only at State Street or New Haven issue. It's part of a national, even international, dialogue on how to make cities genuinely livable.

https://www.noisefree.org/Noise-Ordinance-Manual.pdf

https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/getdoc/7062dbf7-f60b-4190-8666-72c5deeadcf1/Dooley-pat-paper-pdf.aspx

http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/regulations/22a/22a-69-1through7.pdf

https://www.noisefree.org/Elkhart-Boom-Car-Paper.pdf

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2013/11/29/no-noise-is-bad-noise-in-fairfax-county-for-now/

http://nypost.com/2013/01/13/quiet-please/

http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2015/06/08/Police-should-be-enforcing-motorcycle-noise-laws/stories/201506080118

http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article17344988.html

This is more than a noise issue. The streets that run off State St. have many multifamily houses that house not only grad students but also families with children. I lost a tenant due to the noise. I had another tenant complain to me that during her 2 year stay at my house, her newborn to 2 years old was so terrified of the noise the motorcycles made that whenever she heard them she trembled and started to cry and cover her ears. This is unacceptable for our families and totally unnecessary. If we lose our tenants because of the noise, we won't be able to pay our increased taxes for owning in East Rock. Perhaps we need to get the mayor involved.

Why close the issue? It's still a problem. Very few tickets have been issued. Traffic calming would also help because the bikes wouldn't be in such a rush to speed.

Every time someone tries to close this it just gets more votes. Let's get this fixed for real.

This seems to be a real hot spot in the city for noisy jerks on their loud bikes and stll nothing is done. I suggest people stop voting party lines and get some lawmakers and politicians in office who work for the people and not the unions. How about Ben runs for mayor? You have a better chance than Justin or Jeffery ever had.

Loud car stereos are a illegal issue also in NEW HAVEN, there are Laws on the books that are NOT ENFORCED

The cops just might be tied up dealing with real crimes...

You know, shootings, murders, etc...

The police rightly prioritize these crimes over tending to East Rockers demanding a suburban decibel level at night.

Dempseys has been loud for over 20 years. Choose to live somplace quieter. Problem solved.

http://www.city-journal.org/2015/25_1_broken-windows-policing.html

Which outlines the most successful approach, to date, for dealing with urban crime. Take care of the little stuff (quality of life) and rest will follow.

And this is how another neighborhood will gentrify and become unaffordable for working people.

Local Yokel: you perhaps are not aware that New Haven crime on the whole is close to a historic low. Why couldn't we New Haveners demand a bit more for our tax dollars? There's plenty of people who live here -- rich and less so -- that deserve peace and quiet on weekends.

Why do you so readily claim gentrification? Are you of the belief that less economically privileged families do not deserve or want quality of life issues that affect peace and quiet to be resolved?

This bike and many like it belonged to a Northford man. This is a suburban problem that should not exist In an urban area. We left the neighborhood because of it. Families are moving back to cities because they are more sustainable and better communities. Keep your bikes in the burbs.

In the years since reported, we never heard a peep from the local alderperson.
Perhaps his / her constituents and concerns don't reside anywhere near the bar.

Questions:

Does NHPD want to enforce noise ordinances? People throw around the line that many NHPD guys are also bikers and so loathe to penalize their own, but I don’t know of any evidence to back up that assertion.

Does NHPD have the capacity to enforce noise ordinances?

Does NHPD know how to enforce noise ordinances?

Are there enough people out in ClickFIx nation and circles just beyond in New Haven that can create enough noise to attract attention of city hall and then of Esserman and similar actors?

Are there potential “champions” among alders and in city hall to move the issue beyond the grumblings of ClickFix posts?

Some sources on noise pollution and ordinance enforcement:

http://www.noisefree.org/howtofightnoisemanual.pdf

http://www.popcenter.org/problems/loud_car_stereos/PDFs/e215.pdf

http://www.nap.edu/read/12928/chapter/12#134

http://home.uchicago.edu/~mstaisch/Sharad/papers/Legislative%20Aspects%20of%20Noise%20Pollution.pdf

http://www.islandsun.com/persistent-noise-pollution-reaffirms-major-enforcement-deficiencies/

https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/getdoc/7062dbf7-f60b-4190-8666-72c5deeadcf1/Dooley-pat-paper-pdf.aspx

We are trying to delineate issues that are current and need the city's attention to resolve. Any issues prior to 2013 are being closed. If your issue remains and needs to be addressed by the city, please either re-open or open as a new See Click Fix issue. Thanks.

Definitely not fixed. City Hall please Help!

"delineate issues" In other words - it just isn't important enough for us to address.

Still an issue.

If the city closed this issue, it is done.

I just returned to New Haven after living in MA for 4 months and spent the day working in my yard listening to really loud Harleys riding past my house every 10 minutes, a dirtbike and/or a quad every half hour and the once an hour car alarm. It made me sad and question why I still choose to live here. Why do so many New Haveners feel the need to make so much noise?

Maybe you should get a Harley? It seems like people with Harleys also choose to live here.

Or, @miguel, maybe a speedbump?

To quote Sam the Lion from the Last Picture Show, "I've been around that trashy behavior all my life, I'm gettin' tired of puttin' up with it. Now you can stay out of this pool hall, out of my cafe, and my picture show too - I don't want no more of your business."

Issue was closed without resolution.

Reopening.

Jesus christ are people not allowed to ride motorcycles? What, are you going to ask for the police to arrest people who don't drive a prius? This is outrageous and all sorts of classist racist. And on top of that, the bikers are keeping the ONLY GOOD ESTABLISHMENTS ALIVE ON STATE STREET. Yeah, let's get rid of the bikers and line up shake shack and ann taylor all down state. Great idea. MOTORCYCLES ARE NOT AN ACTUAL PROBLEM.

is there a way to keep one individual from closing an issue that is obviously important to many in the neighborhood. There must be something in the system to stop such tyranny

this thread was reopened in APRIL and i closed it today - nobody has commented and i closed it because it is so obviously more about instigating hatred of your neighbors than actually sharing protecting loving thy neighbor and thy hood which is what i understood this website to be about. But don't worry, @everit St, I'm sure @benhv will find a fix.

This is still a problem. Please do not close the issue again.

Rose,

The motorcycle that I posted originally on here was driven by a man from Northford CT who came into our neighborhood to drink at a bar and drive his loud motorcycle through our neighborhood late at night waking children whose parents could not afford to live anywhere but near a busy street. I do not hate him. I wanted him to stop doing that so that we could sleep peacefully.

I can tell you dislike me and have opinions about me from your post. I am convicted that motorcycles with intentionally loudened mufflers should not be allowed to operate in residential areas. I don't like having folks dislike me for that but it comes with being convicted and I get that.

we legislate city ordinances for a reason. If you disagree with the city ordinance there are public processes for addressing them. You could even open a SeeClickFix issue on City Hall to suggest the ordinance be changed. It's outside of the traditional use of SeeClickFix but it's a reasonable use in my opinion.

BENHV, this isn't personal, and I don't hate you at all! I love and appreciate you + seeclickfix and want to see it bring out the best of people and avoid segregating them. You're speaking about a specific incident in the past tense and so that particular issue seems closed to me (but i won't close this thread again).

But here is an example, in other cities, of what I worry about w/r/t to complaints of this nature:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/19/us/website-nextdoor-hears-racial-profiling-complaints.html?_r=0
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/racial-profiling-via-nextdoorcom/Content?oid=4526919
http://laist.com/2016/08/23/next_door_and_our_worst_selves.php

And I believe youll find many initiatives pushed by city (or, Yale) are designed specifically to bring people into New Haven (shopping, bars, blah blah blah) from outside the city. So in this case, the system you defend is functioning as intended.

Rose, The loud noise from the motorcycles is more than just an annoyance. I am an owner and landlord in the area. I've had tenants complain about the jarring and frightening motorcycle noise waking their sleeping 1 year old at midnight. From that moment on she would shake and become very distressed whenever she heard a motorcycle coming down the road. I also lost a tenant who was very interested in my apartment but decided not to take it because she heard from others about the loud motorcycles going up and down State St. in the middle of the night. This is a quality of life issue and an economic issue. AND please keep Jesus out it.

Thanks Rose. Wearing the WrenchHeart on my sleeve a bit I guess. I appreciate the dialog and keeping the issue open. I have tremendous concerns about the nature of Nextdoor as well and have spoken openly about it for years. I have read all three of the above articles and more on alogorithmic racism and have serious concerns for how a neighborhood Internet is run.

I am not sure where the racism piece came into play on this particular issue. I might have missed something and am very open to revisiting SCF policies if we are overlooking policies that might segregate people. I see loud motorcycles in residential neighborhoods as furthering segregation as they provoke people with means to leave and people without to have to stay behind.

Thanks again for the thoughtful dialog.

BB

The one thing I can tell everyone, that has a problem with the loud bikes, from time to time. The men and women that ride these Motorcycles that are probably Harley Davidson's, do more Charity events than anybody here Complaining about loud pipes . These people enjoy keeping neighborhoods safe, Not randomly shooting others like on Winchester Ave.They all have good Jobs,Some of them are Doctors and Lawyers and executives in Corporations. Maybe the people complaining should walk in and talk to the bikers without the chip on your shoulder, and ask the person in person if they can please be a bit quieter after a certain time, normally if you ask nicely you get a nice reply, But if you tell them to because it bothers you and you don't think you need to be pleasant, You would be the cause of loud pipes.
Bikers are people just as important as everyone here, and normally don't have a problem telling anyone in person..

If anyone needs help talking in person without a keyboard
I can help with pointers.

:-)
Phoenix

I think I've heard every excuse for the guys with illegally loud motorcycles who hang around the local bars. I'm sure a few Doctors, Lawyers, and Indian Chiefs ride, but the majority are total slugs who could care less if they wake everyone up at 3:00 in the A.M. after swilling Bud all night. They know they are doing it. They do it to prove they are macho, so don't tell me they need to be told "nicely" to knock it off.

Charity rides, nice! Lets give them a free pass to break any law they want! Wake up sleeping people, rattle the windows on all the houses, set off car alarms all over the neighborhoods all in the name of "being loud is fun"!

Ronny I'm sure you are politically correct or care not to hurt anyone's feelings except for people that are a little different than you are, you must feel intimidated by them and because they wear leather they aren't bad unless you only wear nylon or chemically made fabric's. but with the world we all live in today, it would be better to get along with the people that would be able to protect you if real terrorists were an issue here in New Haven. In some Places around the world where bombs are going off those people have reality on there side. The other day I saw a motorcycle pass by me when taking a walk sure the bike was loud but his Music was louder with Bock.

Believe me, the intimidation factor is way low when it comes to the modern biker. The bikers with super loud pipes are as mature as the kids who want to make a ton of noise in their beat up Japanese cars. LOOK AT ME I'M MAKING NOISE ITS SO COOL!!!!!! I would never make a ton of noise in anyone's neighborhood for no reason, why any mature person would is beyond my comprehension.

Dempsey's has been a noisy biker bar for well over 20 years. (I know... I used to live across the street from there back in the day)
Why would one move nearby to a noisy bar and expect quiet?

I suspect these complainers are privileged folks who are looking for a cheaper rent than the going rate on Orange Street.

It blows my mind how these folks expect the world to cater to their expected comfort level.

Special snowflakes...

The loud pipes are illegal.

Hi Debbie , it's illegal to jaywalk and sounds are measured by decibels and he could be exhaust pipes from a vehicle not only motorcycles or even your stereo radio up too high and sing that they bike riders aren't the same as they used to be why can't you go and talk to them like real people instead of just on the computer. I'm sure if you had a block party they'd all be happy to come and some even know how to sing and play instruments. As strange as that might sound to you guys and some even go to Ivy League schools just saying that maybe your mines should expand a little bit.

Sometimes I truly hate spellcheck that adds words that I don't even say. I don't use my fingers to text because they're too big for this little phone. Everyone has a right to live and enjoy their life and motorcycle riders make a little noise for a few months out of the year and and then it's nice and quiet for everybody I love New Haven and I don't mind hearing The American bikes . But when the Japanese bikes zip down the road on one wheel with wide-open chainsaw noises that's more irritating to me or the group of quads and minibikes that go in the parks , and rip up the lawn and flowerbeds are at the park department really does a good job on so we can't walk and enjoy the flowers but that's OK for you guys these people don't do that stuff I've talk to them many times and they're mostly good people just like everyone here is mostly good I don't know you personally. People here might have a mental problem.
It's fine with me if they don't bother personally, everyone has their right to have an opinion, sometimes it's easier not to take it to heart too much and just be happy .
The weather is going to start getting nice and you shouldn't go out and enjoy the weather and if you hear a little motorcycle once in a while try to start enjoying that noise and I won't bother you anymore .
🐸😘🤔

Phoenix/ Scott

+1 Scott.
But most of these people will just keep complaining about everything that falls short of their comfortable, suburban expectations.

Stop sniffing illegal pipe exhaust, guys.
This is not elitist snobs picking on kind thoughtful motorcycle riders. This is local neighborhoods who are sick of these macho loud pipe bikers who wake everyone up at 2:00 A.M. leaving the bars after too many beers.

So don't move near a bar.

Pretty simple really.

a simpler solution....you and your ILLEGAL loud pipe buddies should obey the law, period.

Harleys have been the status quo outside of Dempsey's for well over 20 years.
It sucked when I lived across the street, but I got used to it...

Why should all if that change now that you live nearby?

And btw, quite a few if those guys rocking loud pipes out there are off-duty cops.
It is what it is...

Why not live in a more quiet neighborhood if quiet is what you desire?

Please stop trying to gentrify every goddamned inch of this town.

This is an issue throughout New Haven downtown - State Street and also College Street near Owl Shop which attracts scores of these attention seekers. Every May the city becomes un- inhabitable due to a confluence of loud motorcycle mufflers, illegal dirt bikes and ambulance sirens from AMR. I have written the Mayor's office and my alderman for Ward One, but only Matt Nemerson the Economic Development Officer ever replies. I too live downtown and when I attended my reunion, New Haven was dubbed " siren city" and "dirt bike alley' . Taxpayers it seems have been identifying this as an issue since 2012 it seems. Can't the city deliberately target these drivers for enforcement of traffic laws?

Precisely they are off-duty cops. AMR drivers are the same personality profile. These are adult men with something to prove by making a lot of noise and showing off big engines and sirens. I wonder psychologically what the issue is with these adult men who need to literally turn heads. Maybe they are compensating for a lack of something else.

What I'm getting from this is the pro-loud, illegal bikers are really nice people that dont care about their neighbors or the law. America, where freedom to be rude and self centered is a right.

Spot on, Ronny. Well said.
Then we have the truly considerate dirt bike and quad riders who roam the streets, sidewalks, and parks looking to create mayhem at every opportunity. The police seem incapable of finding a solution to the antics of that group of "really nice people" too..............do we dare say the word "sanctuary" ??

I believe moving near a traditionally noisy bar, then expecting quiet is very definition of "self centered".

The quads and dirtbikes are most definitely a serious public issue. Yet they are an entirely unrelated issue to the bikers at Dempseys.

Some of us have been here since before the noisy bar. Straight pipes are illegal. The law needs to be enforced.

Kent 14 the noise doesn't just affect State St and the area near the bar. I have lost tenants because of the noise on Humphrey St. I had a young couple with a small child who would wake screaming because of the noise. After the first experience, she shuddered every time she heard one go by. Why should the general population have to put up with such immature behavior. Ridiculous. When I reported to the previous mayor my problem, the police came out and enforced the law.

You should have warned your tennants of the noise when they were considering the apartment, no?

Some people are just too soft for the noise of the neighborhood.

There are quieter neighborhoods around (but they cost more...)

Its nice to see the acknowledgement of the noise bringing the property values of a nice neighborhood down, thanks kent14.

Kent I think Humphrey street is a pretty costly street. And I shouldn't have to warn anyone regarding excessive noise from 5 to 6 blocks away. There are laws and everyone should follow them or lose their privilege to drive such illegal vehicles.

These motorcycle riders are interfering with the peace and enjoyment of residents homes that they pay dearly for. Owners and renters alike. You seem to think the pleasure of a few thrill seekers is worth more than the rest of the population. You're probably one them.

Dempsey's is being taken over by a new owner.
We'll see how they cater to these inconsiderate folk.

Honestly the owners should cater to anyone they want to(it is America). The NHV police should enforce the laws *once in a while* somewhere besides around Yale.

In my experience, the most effective way to encourage New Haven government to enforce laws is with a strong wave of phone calls to the mayor's office. You'll be amazed at how quickly something gets done. Call 203 946 8200 (and also 203 946 7802). Don't let them transfer you to another department, just state your name, your address and that you're concerned about the loud motorcycles outside Dempsey's.

Thank you for that suggestion, Andrushka. I just called the mayor's office and filed my complaint. The kind woman answering the phone said that no one had called to complain for "years" about this issue. She then transferred me to LCI which transferred me to Carmen ?Melendez where I left my concern on the voicemail. Hmmmmm....

Yes, I just called, you have to insist that this is an issue you want the mayor to hear about (they'll try to refer you off to LCI or another department).

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Maybe try changing the laws you want broken regularly first Kent14, or just forget the laws and continue ignoring them, your choice. NHV is a lawless kind of city anyways.

I really would like to know what type of cars most of you drive?
It seems to me that mostly everyone here has never been on a motorcycle and are to good to be on one, but I would like to tell you most of the bigger bikes cost close to or higher than $30,000.00 so these men and women all have jobs. With hobbies just a little different than some of yours.
The real problem is the dirt bikes and quads with no license plates or licenses I don't care about traffic or people in general.

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This thread goes back to 2012, and I've seen complaints online as far back as 2009. How is State Street supposed to thrive as a haven for restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, etc.--not to mention people with young families and/or the need to sleep at night to get up for work in the morning--with this level of seemingly deliberate noise? I like motorcycles. My mom rode one for decades. They're cool and fun. But late at night, revving their engines, pausing in the parking lot next to my apartment building, I can't understand the lack of consideration.

By the way, I moved here from Brooklyn and East Rock at night is MUCH louder than any of my extremely densely populated, 24/7 neighborhoods in NYC.

We need this over the entirety of New Haven. Wooster Sq gets tons of aholes driving loud bikes and cars in the middle of the night. Enough is enough

Agreed. This is a huge problem in East Rock, as well as downtown. We are routinely woken up in the middle of the night by motorcyclists deliberately making as much noise as possible. I've never lived anywhere that had this kind of problem and I don't understand why the city is powerless to do anything about it.

The city is NOT powerless to do something about this. I live over on Mansfield Street and at the beginning of every spring/summer, depending on the weather, there is a rash of muffler-less motorcycles or offroads or just plain loud motorcycles. Then, apparently, there is a cacophony of phone calls to the city police and Yale police, and they take our calls seriously. A few hefty tickets and encounters with the police, and the offenders go elsewhere -- likely to upper State Street.

The message here is: Everyone call, flood the police lines, every single time, until the police get fed up enough that they send out a fleet, night after night, to hound down these people.

While I'm happy every year that people stop doing this in my neighborhood, I really feel your pain, you guys over in East Rock and Upper State. I must confess that when I hear that noise, I have evil thoughts and don't wish long lives for the offenders...

We are trying to delineate issues that are current and need the city's attention to resolve. Older seasonal issues are being closed. If your issue remains and needs to be addressed by the city, please either re-open or open as a new See Click Fix issue. Thank you. Noise complaints can be called into the New Haven Police Non-Emergency Call Center at 203.946.6316