<![CDATA[exhaust related article in The Forum today]]>Muffler, vehicle noise laws under review
Andrea Domaskin, The Forum
Published Sunday, October 28, 2007
Eugene Dumont knew he’d have problems with the $100 car he bought to drive to appointments at the local Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

But he wasn’t happy when the cost of the 1986 Plymouth Duster nearly doubled. Fargo police issued him a warning ticket for a defective muffler and required him to fix it.

He spent $90 on repairs. “So now I have a $190 car,” said Dumont, who is a Vietnam veteran and disabled.

He also wasn’t happy about what he considered conflicting city noise regulations. He believes the muffler and noise ordinances are “overly broad, ambiguous and vague.”

Fargo’s traffic code requires that vehicles have mufflers in good working order to prevent “excessive and unusual noise and annoying smoke.”
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Meanwhile, the city has a separate rule limiting noise levels for vehicles and sets the maximum decibels heard at

25 feet.

Other noise control regulations prohibit people from making a “loud, unnecessary or unusual noise.”

“Normally, if I’d have had the time and the energy, I’d have fought that all the way to the North Dakota Supreme Court,” Dumont said.

Instead, he fixed his muffler and asked city commissioners this week to either repeal or rewrite the muffler rule.

Police Chief Keith Ternes said he was already working on changes to the city noise violations. City commissioners directed him to continue.

Some of the ordinances are subjective, though there are cases in which noise is clearly loud and unnecessary, Ternes said. There are also rules that prohibit certain noises at specific times, but only in the downtown area.

Ternes isn’t sure when proposed changes will be completed.

“It’s not a high priority right now,” he said.

The department doesn’t issue motorists many noise violations, Ternes said.

Officers are directed to focus on violations that contribute to traffic crashes, Ternes said. Defective mufflers, loud noises or burned out headlights generally don’t contribute, he said.

“It’s not a case of where police officers are simply ignoring those violations,” Ternes said.

Dumont said he may have gotten a ticket even if the ordinances were written differently.

“More than likely I would have,” he said, “because it was noisy.”

]]>https://fargostreet.com/topic/12285/exhaust-related-article-in-the-forum-todayRSS for NodeThu, 28 May 2026 19:53:36 GMTSun, 28 Oct 2007 06:07:10 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:53:26 GMT]]>The V twin bikes are unreal they make your head hurt they are so loud and they find the need to rap on those even more than the kid whos parents have to much money and pay for his lift kit and loud pipes

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181500https://fargostreet.com/post/181500Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:53:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 03:51:03 GMT]]>Loud popping and crackling exhaust noise has been illegal for a long time. They just don't seem to enforce it very well.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181463https://fargostreet.com/post/181463Tue, 30 Oct 2007 03:51:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:36:28 GMT]]>If you take your average riced out Civic and compare it to your average piped truck, I guarantee the truck will be louder and all-in-all more annoying.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181324https://fargostreet.com/post/181324Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:36:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:28:49 GMT]]>

MisterCMK;192131 wrote:
I most certainly have and think they sound like shit and deserve a ticket. I was just tossing out a reason why they do not get pulled over or whatnot as much. Many trucks or muscle cars have a deeper rumble which isn't as ear piercing or annoying (to many people, not all) as some of the imports with fart cannons. This means they won't be looked at quite as closely as the imports.

Have u heard a v8 truck with like dual 2" exhaust...lot more ear piecing than anything else, I dont mind a little rumble in exhaust but when it's loud as fuck and crackles...that gets annoying, and i've grow up with it..in fergus the majority of all 4 wheel drive trucks are piped. Personally that and v twin bikes bother my ears much more than an import or loud sport bike exhaust...and is also much more annoying...

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181321https://fargostreet.com/post/181321Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:28:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:37:13 GMT]]>

treimche;192139 wrote:
Maybe V twin bikes won't be able to be so annoyingly loud after this. I can only hope and pray.

you and me both

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181305https://fargostreet.com/post/181305Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:37:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:18:17 GMT]]>Maybe V twin bikes won't be able to be so annoyingly loud after this. I can only hope and pray.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181303https://fargostreet.com/post/181303Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:18:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:57:16 GMT]]>

3_Series;192114 wrote:
While I understand about the pitch, have you ever had a big dual-exhausted pickup take-off hard right next to you?

BRRRAAAAAAPPPPPP!!!!!!!!

I most certainly have and think they sound like shit and deserve a ticket. I was just tossing out a reason why they do not get pulled over or whatnot as much. Many trucks or muscle cars have a deeper rumble which isn't as ear piercing or annoying (to many people, not all) as some of the imports with fart cannons. This means they won't be looked at quite as closely as the imports.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181295https://fargostreet.com/post/181295Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:57:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:54:17 GMT]]>

Rexwagon;192124 wrote:
i like loud trucks. real men like loud trucks. damn liberals

I'm by no means a liberal and I hate em. I'm not a fan of the hicks/hillbillies that usually drive them though so that might be why.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181292https://fargostreet.com/post/181292Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:54:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:38:35 GMT]]>i like loud trucks. real men like loud trucks. damn liberals

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181288https://fargostreet.com/post/181288Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:38:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:15:59 GMT]]>Won't be long before I'm pulled over. My bike is way too loud!

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181285https://fargostreet.com/post/181285Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:15:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:38:21 GMT]]>

3_Series;192114 wrote:
While I understand about the pitch, have you ever had a big dual-exhausted pickup take-off hard right next to you?

BRRRAAAAAAPPPPPP!!!!!!!!

I HATE those pickups.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181279https://fargostreet.com/post/181279Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:38:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:32:40 GMT]]>While I understand about the pitch, have you ever had a big dual-exhausted pickup take-off hard right next to you?

BRRRAAAAAAPPPPPP!!!!!!!!

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181278https://fargostreet.com/post/181278Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:32:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:26:34 GMT]]>Bikes fall under a different category than automobiles. As far as the trucks thing goes, don't forget the tone of the sound. Imports are higher pitched which will drill into your head more than a lower pitched sound

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181276https://fargostreet.com/post/181276Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:26:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:40:15 GMT]]>

StangerBanger96;192070 wrote:
The law is too ambiguous. Anything thats worded "at officers discretion" is not specific enough to be enforced by them. What is loud to one officer is probably not as loud/annoying to another. They need to put dB limits @ distances in order to properly enforce this law.

That's how I see it...it'll help get rid of some of the profiling...shit I hear trucks and bikes that are twice as loud as any import and never see them getting pulled over...

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181268https://fargostreet.com/post/181268Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:40:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:55:35 GMT]]>

SPANISH-RICE;192074 wrote:
punk ass kids with their loud civics. when will they learn?!
yeah no shit whats so cool about having a loud civic like come on get a life!! ohh wait shit never mind!!

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181250https://fargostreet.com/post/181250Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:55:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:18:28 GMT]]>yeah i am tired of hearing V6 mustangs

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181247https://fargostreet.com/post/181247Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:18:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:52:03 GMT]]>:lol:

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181245https://fargostreet.com/post/181245Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:52:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 16:52:18 GMT]]>punk ass kids with their loud civics. when will they learn?!

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181242https://fargostreet.com/post/181242Sun, 28 Oct 2007 16:52:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:36:25 GMT]]>I say make it harsher. I'm sick of hearing loud trucks, bikes, and high school kids civics.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181240https://fargostreet.com/post/181240Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:36:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:12:06 GMT]]>The law is too ambiguous. Anything thats worded "at officers discretion" is not specific enough to be enforced by them. What is loud to one officer is probably not as loud/annoying to another. They need to put dB limits @ distances in order to properly enforce this law.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181238https://fargostreet.com/post/181238Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:12:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to exhaust related article in The Forum today on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 06:15:48 GMT]]>Sounds like the Dumont guy was a real fuckhead. He had a busted muffler and knew about it yet is pissed he got a warning. durr

It will be interesting to see if they change any of the noise ordinances

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/181230https://fargostreet.com/post/181230Sun, 28 Oct 2007 06:15:48 GMT