A Sagamore Avenue resident asked police officials to do what they can to quell the roar of motorcycles during early morning hours, especially during the summer.
Resident Charles Fleck spoke during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s Police Commission meeting when he said groups of loud motorcycles pass by his home at 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. when they are “crazy loud.” He said some modified mopeds are also too loud and asked if police officials could address his concern.
The topic of loud motorcycles was raised during last month’s Police Commission meeting by Commissioner Joe Onosko, who told Fleck Tuesday he lives a “stone’s throw” from Sagamore Avenue and, “I know what you’re talking about.”
Police Chief Robert Merner said that in the past month he’s obtained purchase orders for equipment to measure decibels from motor vehicles and put out a request for officers interested in being trained how to properly use it. Merner said state police are going to assist the local department with getting a decibel-enforcement effort established and the training will be occurring soon. He said the effort will enforce “laws on the books” pertaining to specifications for exhaust pipes and allowed decibels.
Onosko noted the effort can also be used to enforce 4-wheeled vehicles as it pertains to noise and modifications to exhaust systems.
During last month’s meeting, Onosko said that for the 28 years he’s lived in the city, motorcycle noise has been “jarring” “ear-piercing” and “disruptive,” particularly in Market Square. He said that during the past two years he’s received more complaints from citizens about motorcycle noise, “specifically the high noise volume during the cycle’s initial acceleration and the equally-loud and startling backfire pops that seem to occur at any speed.”
Merner said Portsmouth police will get decibel meters with wind screens, anometers to test wind speed at testing sites and equipment to determine if noise baffles were removed from motorcycle exhaust pipes.
State police will train designated Portsmouth officers to use the equipment and a checkpoint will be established in Market Square before the end of this year’s motorcycle season, vowed the police chief.