Yet another traffic/parking issue that has been allowed to get out of control. These type of vehicles can be heard for blocks around. One selfish person can disturb hundreds of others. The enhanced noise vehicles set off car alarms and agitate dogs and other pets. Enforcement of traffic, parking and related issues have declined in recent years. Hopefully our elected representatives will be able to set priorities based on community concerns.

Due to the excessively loud "enhanced noise" mufflers in the City of Alameda, I have had to disable the shock sensor on my vehicle, and subsequently, someone smashed out my vehicle window and stole my property, without my car alarm ever going off.

Furthermore, these "enhanced noise" mufflers pierce the walls of my home like the Long Range Acoustic Devices that we had in the military.

Some people really like straight pipes on their motorcycle and they are loud. They are usually easy to identify both visually if the bike is parked and of course by how they sound. The owners know the chances of getting ticketed are low and even if they get a ticket it's just a fix it ticket which is easy to clear. You keep the stock pipes around, they are easy to swap out. Get someone to sign off that you have fixed the problem, pay a small fee. Then put your straight pipes back on. Wash rinse and repeat.

As for the sound being "enhanced" if you don't see a big speaker making exhaust sounds it's just the straight pipes.

Thank you for your notification. Your message has been forwarded to our Traffic Patrol Division.

Alameda Police Department

Routine enforcement reminder info given to patrol. The sporadic nature of the violation makes it pretty hard to enforce, but a reminder was given nonetheless.

Read this patch article about why it's hard to get compliance on this issue: http://patch.com/california/berkeley/ask-a-cop-why-deafeningly-loud-motorcycles-not-cited

This is a quality of life infraction that is pretty much impossible to enforce consistently. If you know where the owner lives, get a license number off the motorcycle, and just be consistent in reporting it to APD every time it happens maybe you can get something going.

It isn't just motorcycles. Some cars have either had their mufflers removed or special auto parts installed to make a loud racing sound. It is yet another in a growing list of offenses that are not or cannot be enforced in Alameda. It is slowly degrading the quality of life and quiet enjoyment of one's home and neighborhood. One day you wake up and ask, "How did it get to be like this?"

As the original poster stated, this is beyond the usual Harley Davidson or automotive exhaust problem that any community might have, these vehicles are WAY over the top when it comes to decibel count. There must be some way to monitor the sound level at the intersection and determine how bad it gets. I know it's way out of hand near my place.

Legislatively, I think there are two levels at which we can work: 1) on a local noise ordinance with lower thresholds/limits, and 2) state noise standards for vehicles could be improved/tightened.

As to enforcement, Alameda PD needs more sworn officers on the payroll (probably 95-110 versus its current budget of 88) to adequately enforce the traffic laws (including muffler ones) that are already on the books. This is an expensive proposition but the only real way to improve traffic enforcement of all kinds.

Alameda Municipal Code has a section that identifies motor vehicle noise restrictions:
4-10.6 - Motor Vehicle Noise Limits.
a.
Recreational Motorized Vehicles Operating Off a Public Highway. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any recreational motorized vehicle off a public highway in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance or exceed the standards set forth in subsection 4-10.4 of this section.
b.
Vehicle, Motorboat or Aircraft Repair and Testing. No person shall repair, rebuild, modify or test any vehicle, motorboat, or aircraft in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance or exceed the standards set forth in subsection 4-10.4 of this section.
(Ord. No. 2177 N.S.; Ord. No. 2232 N.S.)
(Here's a link to the full Alameda Municipal Code site: https://www.municode.com/library/ca/alameda/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CHIVOFPUSA_ARTIINORE_4-10NOCO_4-10.6MOVENOLI)
APD has done a good job of ensuring that Alameda is famous for "Welcome to Alameda - 25MPH Strictly Enforced" (cute and amusing, but also entirely true and I'm grateful for that fact as a resident). Perhaps APD needs to be asked to be just as vigilant with pulling over vehicles with loud mufflers and music whenever they come into contact with them, reinforcing the reputation that Alameda won't tolerate speeders who endanger lives and excessive noise that disturbs our peace.

This occurs consistently around 11pm on most nights.

Several cars with these types of noise-makes used to gather in the former Party Warehouse parkin lot at Park St and San Jose Ave, late at night. They could be heard a block away, with all the doors and windows closed in our apartments. Once the parking lot was blocked off, and now that it is Autozone, these cars parade up and down this end of Park St. blasting us out of our apartments. I don't know how the police take care of this. The noise level of these cars is already illegal, but they are moving, so no one bothers to call the police. I'm at a loss. Next time I see one of the cars during the day, I will try to whip out my phone and take a pic of the license plate. I'll see what the police can do with that. I have not personally seen any motorcycles as loud as the cars.
At night, when the sound of these cars penetrates my home despite all the doors and windows being closed, I will just continue to wake up, then make an attempt to go back to sleep.
Any ideas how I can help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

I requested the same for Central Avenue from Webster all the way towards the old Naval Base as well as from the 500 block of Central Avenue towards Webster Street. This strip of street has become a 1/4-mile drag strip daily and is well used for such purposes for the past 10 years. Enough is enough. Alan Ta has recommended having two person operate a laser gun to capture this abuse. How about patrolling (sitting in marked or unmarked police cars) and observing?

Just want to add that people do this to cars too. I saw a red 1990s mustang cobra rolling down Park St today and even though the guy was going like 15 mph it sounded like he was running a straight pipe and redlining 1st gear. It was loud enough to probably cause hearing loss. My ears were ringing for an hour afterwards. Alameda PD need to do something about this hooliganry

2+ years and yet there's no resolution ... keep up the good job.

Closed.