May 3, 2014 – Motorcycle riders with straight pipes or otherwise rude mufflers will be ticketed more easily under a new ordinance passed by the city council on Wednesday.

Calling it “a major quality of life issue that impacts downtown residents,” 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly introduced the ordinance last December.

Altering a muffler to be loud or smoky was already unlawful but until now only Illinois State Police could issue citations. The new ordinance will allow Chicago police to ticket after visually inspecting a muffler. The fine for operating a motorcycle without a muffler will increase from $100 to $500.

“Unfortunately, many motorcyclists alter their mufflers to be much louder than legal decibel levels,” says Reilly, who wanted the fine to be $1,000 per incident. He says the problem of loud motorcycles “contributes to noise pollution throughout Chicago, especially in downtown Chicago’s skyscraper canyons.”

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