Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Motorcycle Noise Opponents to Repay $8K in Legal Fees to NH Harley Dealer
A New Hampshire Harley dealer, Seacoast Motorcycles Inc. of North Hampton, may be recovering more than $8,000 in legal costs from the motorcycle noise opponents group New Hampshire Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles (NH CALM), because their case didn't make it to trial.
Motorcycle Noise Ordinance in New Hampshire
In an article out last week on Seacoast Online, the Harley dealer had originally brought a lawsuit against the Town of North Hampton in response to an ordinance put into effect last year that bans motorcycles from going over 80 decibels in the town. Under NH state law, however, decibel levels everywhere else in NH can reach up to 106.
NH CALM took action at this point, filing a case of their own against Seacoast Motorcycles with the federal court.
The court sent the case back down to a lower court and ordered NH CALM to pay back the dealer in over $8,000 in legal costs. NH CALM's legal team is now battling to either decrease the amount to pay back or hoping to get rid of the order altogether.
NH CALM's goal is to raise public awareness of how they believe loud bikes are an annoyance to a community and must be controlled to a greater degree than they are now. Seacoast Motorcycles has stated that bikes in North Hampton that exceed 80 decibels are illegal, yet if a biker rides to another city or town that adheres to the state's law of 106 decibels, it isn't against the law.
Seacoast Motorcycles and North Hampton are continuing to resolve the case between them.
Motorcycle Noise Could Save Lives
According to many motorcycle safety proponents, motorcycle noise is actually a vital factor in preventing collisions between cars and motorcycles on the roads.
As the Boston motorcycle lawyer and an avid Harley rider, Thomas M. Kiley, can tell you, Installing loud pipes could save lives. If car drivers can hear you, they are less likely to drive into you.
If you have been injured in a Massachusetts motorcycle accident, call 1-888-208-1695 for a free evaluation of your personal injury case.
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