I read about this so called "Operation Pipedown" in another post, and thought I'd shoot off a letter to the Age and HSun. See if it gets published.....

 

"Loud Pipes Save Lives"

 

In my 23 years of riding motorcycles of all persuasions, under almost every conceivable condition, I have NEVER felt safer amongst traffic than when I ride my Harley. I don’t believe my bike is offensively loud, but it does have a good deep rumble and barks nicely when you crack it open. On “quieter” varieties of motorcycle, I have had countless cars move in on my lane, pull out in front of me, you name it. Everyone has heard the old excuse “But I didn’t see him”, and the associated rider-safety campaigns. However, when on my Harley, I actually observe drivers using their mirrors to see where the bike is! If they can’t see me, at least they may hear me coming and look for me.

 

A current campaign in Victoria is targeting motorcycle rider safety. State Highway Patrol Inspector David Griffin (Sydney Morning Herald 22/03/2010) states "We know that motorcyclists are a vulnerable road user group within our community," and the campaign has a very clear and valid focus. On the other hand, news of Victoria’s pending “Operation Pipedown” heavily targeting motorcycles for having “loud pipes” is very disturbing to say the least, and seems to fly in the face of the current campaign to keep motorcyclists alive.

 

The stigma and misconception that loud motorcycles are somehow a “menace” to society, or are somehow “anti-social”, should be challenged by all concerned with reducing motorcycle road trauma. Motorcyclists themselves do need to take responsibility for the way they ride as well, particularly in residential areas, but there is a greater issue at stake here. It would be remiss of the motorcycling community and the wider community in general, to tolerate a so called initiative that threatens to increase the already significant risks to a large group of “vulnerable” road users, who at the end of the day simply aim to “Keep the Rubber Side Down”.

Onya Nado, good letter. But, since there is a buck to made under the guise of Road Saftey, they wont give a fuck.

Sad but true....

Good letter let us know if you get a response!!

WARNING; Vic Pol Operation Pipedown

OPERATION PIPEDOWN
SITUATION

As part of „The Way Ahead? strategic Plan 2008 – 2013 the Victoria Police is supporting Victoria?s Road Safety Strategy „Arrive Alive,? which is to reduce the road toll and the incidence of road trauma. The focus will be on targeting driver behaviour and promoting safety on our roads.

On Tuesday the 20th of April 2010, Operation „Pipedown,? targeting excessively noisy motor vehicles and safety related offences will commence. The operation will accompany a media campaign. The operation will be conducted in the Melbourne area for a two week period, concluding on Saturday the 1st of May 2010. The media campaign will commence one week before the enforcement phase of the operation, commencing on the 13th of April, 2010. This initiative will be conducted in conjunction with:

Police Media Liaison Unit,
Melbourne University Medical Faculty,
Environment Protection Authority,
Melbourne City Council,
Safe Streets Task Force,
Region 1 TMU.

It is anticipated that various community groups together with anti-noise lobby groups will be providing their support to the media campaign.

Excessively loud motor vehicles are a community disorder issue with much of the blame placed on drivers of illegally modified cars and motorcycles, or sport bikes equipped with illegal exhaust systems such as straight pipes, drag pipes or performance pipes.

Excessive noise is a serious environmental problem impacting health and well-being. The effects of this excessive noise should not be trivialized.
Excessively loud motor vehicles constitute an offence against the Environment Protection Act.

In combination with a focus on excessively loud motor vehicles, the focus will also be towards safety related offences. Offences such as: Drink Driving, Roadworthy Offences, Fail to Wear Seat Belt, Fail to Give Signal, Use Hand Held Mobile Phone While Driving.

The operation will be conducted alongside, and in conjunction with the Safe Streets Task Force effort on the Friday and Saturday nights, as the excessively loud motor vehicle drivers come under the banner of “anti-social behaviour.” The Police members engaged in the operation on these nights will complement the Safe Streets Task force members, and will conduct duties consistent with the Safe Streets Initiative.

The purpose of the operation will be two fold: Informational Education and Enforcement.

1. Informational Education

Informational education will be provided to the public, through a carefully managed media campaign.
The Melbourne University medical faculty staff (Audiology, and related fields) will provide experts to outline the health risks associated with excessively loud motor vehicle noise, supported by relevant research. The faculty staff will not provide any front line support.

The media departments of the other participating authorities will be briefed and available for any media interviews, relevant to their authority?s fields of expertise.

The target population will be informed of the impact of the noise generated within the community, rather than relying solely on an enforcement campaign.

2. Enforcement

Police members will be issuing EPA Notices in relation to excessively loud motor vehicles and infringement notices/briefs in relation to other traffic offences.
The EPA will provide vehicle testers for a part of the operation. The EPA Officers will also test loud and smoky heavy vehicles in the Melbourne area, including the Docklands vicinity. EPA staff will process the issued EPA Notices.

A select number of Melbourne City Council Law Enforcement Officers (3 Law Enforcement and 3 Parking and Traffic Officers), will attend training at the EPA. The training will be conducted prior to the commencement of the operation. This training will provide the EPA with the confidence that these officers have the ability to subjectively assess vehicles they consider to be excessively noisy.

Melbourne City Council Officers will not be intercepting motor vehicles for this purpose, however will issue and submit „Spotting Reports? for excessively loud motor vehicles driven through the Melbourne CBD.

The Melbourne City Council will share the responsibility of enforcing noise control.

A multi-agency approach will provide a maximum impact to this noise reduction and safe driving strategy.

Very well put Nado, keep us posted on any response.

What pisses me off is that a B Double can rumble down the main drag and drown out all and sundry with their "noise" but no one gives a toss. Then a L Plater on a trial bike will "scream" past the cafe late strip, not a wimper. Along comes a Harley with a nice rumble, that most people enjoy and turn to look, but Fuggin plod thinks he should book them. How rare is it to actually witness someone come up to you and say I like your bike but I hate the noise they make. It's all out of proportion.

The banner of anti social behavior should be tied round the neck of the people who don't fuckin indicate cut me off and generally drive like dicks.
I notice people noticing me and maybe its the paranoid fear of the harley rider but whatever the pull the fuck over and drive properly when i go by.
If that saves my arse then the pipes stay loud.
stocks on for the RTA only. haha

Should be called 'Operation Steel Cap'

 

I sometimes ride the scooter to work and when someone fucks me around I have found the need to sink the boot in. To my suprise the steel cap and thin door skins do make for a good wake up call for the tin top..

last week I had a honda Accord move into my lane while I was there, so I give him a heads up with a kick to the door panel, we both shit when the door caved in. he pulled over and I kept going

Need to sort out a way to setup a power charge to the boots so it has more effect.