Motor Vehicle Sound checks in Toronto (dB)

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Got pulled over on Lawrence Ave just east of DVP for a sound check on my bike on Saturday.

Mine along with several other cars were directed to the East Don Trail entrance where a team of 8 or more City of Toronto By-law officers conducted the tests.

Tried to talk them out of the test as I was late but no way they would give me a pass.

They asked for my drivers licence, bike ownership and insurance cover slip.

The tests:
My bike is a 2017 BMW R1200R with a BMW accessory Akrapovic slip on. Bike is completely stock

Idle test: passed without issue

3000 RPM test: passed with 9 dB below limit

Surprised the test was only at 3000 RPM and have seen where they generally use 50% of redline

Assume that an inline 4 would probably have to rev to hight revs for the test.

It Appeared to be a training session with so many present and suspect that this will become more common over the season.

Ironically, while testing my bike a swarm loud of sport bikes rode by heading west 😁

Did anyone else get stopped and tested?


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How did they establish engine RPM?

Tach on the bike is not a certified, calibrated instrument. Crankshaft isn't accessible with engine running while keeping oil inside. Your bike has easy access to ignition wires; mine that's 8 hours of disassembly and reassembly. Lots of older bikes have no OBDII port.
 
Brian P said:
How did they establish engine RPM?

Tach on the bike is not a certified, calibrated instrument. Crankshaft isn't accessible with engine running while keeping oil inside. Your bike has easy access to ignition wires; mine that's 8 hours of disassembly and reassembly. Lots of older bikes have no OBDII port.
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Immediately made me think of the 2006 Yamaha R6, though that would work out in the owner's favour I think
 
Brian P said:
How did they establish engine RPM?

Tach on the bike is not a certified, calibrated instrument. Crankshaft isn't accessible with engine running while keeping oil inside. Your bike has easy access to ignition wires; mine that's 8 hours of disassembly and reassembly. Lots of older bikes have no OBDII port.
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It was vey casual lol, he asked me to raise the RPMs to an even level and I had to ask him how many RPM 😁

So I held it at 2800 and they never checked

I assume if I had failed the test, they may have done a specific test , but agree it may be easy on challenge this if it went to court.
 
crankcall said:
its back in oakville again . as long as knuckleheads keep running stupidly loud exhaust on vehicles , this will be our new norm
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We have a couple kids in the hood, i get it, but man these guys are over the top with how much of a crack these thing make when they back out of the throttle , very annoying
 
crankcall said:
its back in oakville again . as long as knuckleheads keep running stupidly loud exhaust on vehicles , this will be our new norm
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Can they make sure the ridiculous (and horribly tinny) sound systems that the black chaps crew seems to have taken on as de riguer are included in the tests? Having Back in Black dimed may make the rpm's irrelevant. I didn't think it was possible to make something even more irritating than the throttle tourettes that afflicts so many cruiser riders, but that crowd has somehow achieved an ever higher plane of a**holery...

 
Police can conduct random breathalyzer tests, but they cannot randomly stop drivers solely for noise tests - they need reasonable suspicion you are operating illegal equipment or at an illegal level. That basically gives them carte-blanche.

Bylaw officers cannot pull you over, and you’re not required to surrender your licence, registrationnor proof of insurance to a bylaw officer. You must give them your full name.

Did TPS pull you over in a joint enforcement?
 
Brian P said:
How did they establish engine RPM?

Tach on the bike is not a certified, calibrated instrument. Crankshaft isn't accessible with engine running while keeping oil inside. Your bike has easy access to ignition wires; mine that's 8 hours of disassembly and reassembly. Lots of older bikes have no OBDII port.
Click to expand...
Never mind other variables like ambient noise or how precise their positioning of the microphone is in relation to the exhaust.
If it ever matters enough to someone beating it in court wouldn't be too tough provided the JP isn't a wall.
 
Mad Mike said:
Police can conduct random breathalyzer tests, but they cannot randomly stop drivers solely for noise tests - they need reasonable suspicion you are operating illegal equipment or at an illegal level. That basically gives them carte-blanche.

Bylaw officers cannot pull you over, and you’re not required to surrender your licence, registrationnor proof of insurance to a bylaw officer. You must give them your full name.

Did TPS pull you over in a joint enforcement?
Click to expand...

Yes, Toronto Police manned the road stop and the bylaw officers conducted the test.
 
Mad Mike said:
Police can conduct random breathalyzer tests, but they cannot randomly stop drivers solely for noise tests - they need reasonable suspicion you are operating illegal equipment or at an illegal level. That basically gives them carte-blanche.

Bylaw officers cannot pull you over, and you’re not required to surrender your licence, registrationnor proof of insurance to a bylaw officer. You must give them your full name.

Did TPS pull you over in a joint enforcement?
Click to expand...
Sort of true. They can pull you over to do a safety or document check to dodge that requirement. They don't need to have witnessed a driving infraction to make a stop. While you are stopped, bylaw could do the noise test. There may be grounds for a challenge on being told to do the noise test. What is the penalty for failing to comply? Conceivably, cops could pull your plates and force you to get a safety as well as every other value-added ticket they could dream up if you don't play along.
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