Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: Vidrazor on October 16, 2005, 09:28:11 PM
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I recently discovered some states outlaw wearing earplugs while riding a bike. Does anyone know of a database showing these states? I'd like to be prepared for such stupidity. I'm at a loss as to the reasoning, other than just revenue generation under the guise of some safety schtick.
Thanks for any info on this.
Phil
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I already have hearing loss from spending too many years around jets, I am wearing earplugs. :motorsmile:
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I don't know of a list but PA does not permit it. It doesn't stop me but it is not allowed. There are certain execptions such as wearing ONE earpiece for a communication device. The rationale is that you need to hear what's going on around you.
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can you trick the law by wearing the Koss plug isolating headphones?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00001P4XA/002-5446845-5666443?v=glance&n=172282&n=507846&s=electronics&v=glance
I will not ride without plugs of some sort. its gonna hurt later f I don't
i love them i can't hear wind, exhaust, trucks, or the parking attendant
and my mp3 player is only at 1/2 volume.
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can you trick the law by wearing the Koss plug isolating headphones?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00001P4XA/002-5446845-5666443?v=glance&n=172282&n=507846&s=electronics&v=glance
I will not ride without plugs of some sort. its gonna hurt later f I don't
i love them i can't hear wind, exhaust, trucks, or the parking attendant
and my mp3 player is only at 1/2 volume.
I've had better luck with Sony's fontopia in-ear headphones. They block noise better than the KOSS brand and are more comfortable... but more pricey.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000092YQW/qid=1129525330/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8555848-7819819?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000095SB6/qid=1129525330/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-8555848-7819819?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000779RZU/qid=1129525330/sr=8-4/ref=pd_bbs_4/103-8555848-7819819?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846
Another trick I've done with these is to remove the rubber pad that fits in your ear and attach an actual earplug to it. I burn a hole through the earplug with a soldering iron and attach it to the headphone. Then insert the earplug as you normally would (with headphone attached) and it blocks out noise just like having an earplug, but the hole through it allows the music to channel into your ear perfectly.!
Here's another brand that looked really good, but very pricey.
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/epcomp.aspx
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Good question! I don't know of a database/list anywhere. I know California passed a law a couple-three years ago (or so) permitting motorcyclists to wear earplugs. Washington state doesn't allow them unless you have a perscription. Although the two times I've been pulled over in the last few years with them in, the officer never made any mention of them.
I did have a co-worker get a ticket on his HD for not having a litter bag though, so if you get an anal cop, anything is possible. (WA law states all motor vehicles must have a litter bag - and yes, you can get free ones from the state - the question is, where do you put it on a bike?)
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I did have a co-worker get a ticket on his HD for not having a litter bag though, so if you get an anal cop, anything is possible. (WA law states all motor vehicles must have a litter bag - and yes, you can get free ones from the state - the question is, where do you put it on a bike?)
Pfft, thats just because it was a Harley. The cop wanted to make sure the guy had someplace to stash all the parts that were going to fall off, instead of just leaving them laying in the road.
Seriously though, I don't know. Isn't that what pockets are for? Besides, what kind of litter are you going to produce if you are riding a bike? It's not like you can eat a Big Mac and drive at the same time.
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Seriously though, I don't know. Isn't that what pockets are for? Besides, what kind of litter are you going to produce if you are riding a bike? It's not like you can eat a Big Mac and drive at the same time.
I can see a Harley rider cruisin' thought the drive-through at Micky-Ds! Hell, they make cup holders for the damn things! :lol:
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If there is ever a news report about a motorcycle accident attributed to a Big Mac, it had better get placed in the 'Squidly' section!
Cupholders on a motorcycle? How the hell does that work? Oh, wait, I guess if you wear those stupid beanie helmets they won't interfer with things like eating and drinking. Who cares that when you go over the handlebars you are going to grind your face off!
:duh:
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Cupholders on a motorcycle? How the hell does that work?
Think motorcycle helmet with beer cup holders attached and some plastic tubing!! :stickpoke: :lol:
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When I used to wear an open face helmet without a shield, I'd sometimes wedge a coffee cup or soda bottle between the gauges, and handelbars. Yeah, you can actually buy a cup holder that clamps to your handlebars...
I'm guessing the ear plugs won't be a problem unless a cop follows you for miles with siren going, and you tell him 'sorry, I couldn't hear you' as you pull off your helmet, and your ear plugs fall out. :duh:
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I'm guessing the ear plugs won't be a problem unless a cop follows you for miles with siren going, and you tell him 'sorry, I couldn't hear you' as you pull off your helmet, and your ear plugs fall out. :duh:
Hell, with some of the exhausts out there you wouldn't hear him even if you didn't have earplugs. :lol:
"Loud pipes save lives... and make you totally deaf", except they usually leave that last bit out.
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EH? What'd you say? :stickpoke:
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EH? What'd you say? :stickpoke:
:roll:
I'd say Pete is a good example of this, but... I'm not sure his deafness isn't caused by extreme old age.
:beers:
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cup holders HELL!!!! I saw one of my H.S. students riding his old Triumph on the street a few weeks ago while HOLDING A CUP IN HIS LEFT HAND!!! :shock: now if thats not crazy enough he was following his mother on her Harley. I guess the apples don't fall far from the trees :roll:
I asked him about it at school a few days later.. he said" I didn't want to throw it away, it was a $3.50 slushie". I'm glad that I was sitting and watching all of this off the bike.
Dave
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Washington state doesn't allow them unless you have a perscription.
Looks like WA's law has been revised and it's now OK to wear them.
Looks like while they were at it, they allowed motorcyclists to have helmets wired for sound, too! :bigok:
RCW 46.37.480
Television viewers -- Earphones.
(1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle equipped with any television viewer, screen, or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast which is located in the motor vehicle at any point forward of the back of the driver's seat, or which is visible to the driver while operating the motor vehicle. This subsection does not apply to law enforcement vehicles communicating with mobile computer networks.
(2) No person shall operate any motor vehicle on a public highway while wearing any headset or earphones connected to any electronic device capable of receiving a radio broadcast or playing a sound recording for the purpose of transmitting a sound to the human auditory senses and which headset or earphones muffle or exclude other sounds. This subsection does not apply to students and instructors participating in a Washington state motorcycle safety program.
(3) This section does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles, motorcyclists wearing a helmet with built-in headsets or earphones as approved by the Washington state patrol, or motorists using hands-free, wireless communications systems, as approved by the equipment section of the Washington state patrol.
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Now the trick is to find the list of 'washington state patrol approved' earphones or headsets.
motorcyclists wearing a helmet with built-in headsets or earphones as approved by the Washington state patrol
I thought one of the abate type sites had a table of helmet laws, by state, with earphone or speaker stuff included. Will have to look....
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"Loud pipes save lives... and make you totally deaf", except they usually leave that last bit out.
And of course the very last bit,that they also leave out, "better off deaf than dead." :lol:
What officer, ya saying 105 db is not legal, you sure about that, I'm sure the retailer that sold it to me said it was legal. :roll:
Yeh I know its only 300 odd mm long, thats how I bought it, honest :wink:
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I don't know what the earplug laws are in NY. By the way, it is illegal to drive and talk while on the cell phone here. The other day, I kid you not, I saw a guy on his harley, skull cap helmet, sunglasses, talking on his cellphone. Yep. A regular flip-phone, holding it to his ear. In the middle of town. I have no freakin idea how one would pull that off. But then again, I don't understand how some of them can ride with cigarette in their mouths.
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I don't understand how some of them can ride with cigarette in their mouths.
My dad used to do that when he rode bikes. That is one of the main reasons why he also wore a 3/4 helmet.
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Back to the original topic:
I recently discovered some states outlaw wearing earplugs while riding a bike. Does anyone know of a database showing these states? I'd like to be prepared for such stupidity. I'm at a loss as to the reasoning, other than just revenue generation under the guise of some safety schtick.
Thanks for any info on this.
Phil
I posted this question on the Motorcycle Consumer News forum to see if anyone had any info on this since it's a board frequented by folks who tend to be long term, high mile, well-travelled riders. One respondent came back with this:
Article in "Friction Zone" Oct. 2005 Cover story "Laws for Motorcyclists". http://www.friction-zone.com
"The only state that prohibits the wearing of earplugs is California,(section 27400) (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&group=27001-28000&file=27400) but in 2004 that law was amended to remove the word 'custom' from the following subsection that specifies who is exempt from the law against wearing earplugs".
To made a long article short.
You can wear earplugs as long as you can hear sirens and horns. If you don't respond, pull over for a siren and a cop stops you and you have earplugs in he could write you for two things. Not pulling over and wearing incorrect earplugs.
Its a safety thing.
Gfurlo
So, Vid, what states did you discover that don't allow earplugs?
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No luck on earplugs, but AMA does have helmet speaker info for each state.
http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/laws.asp
If you want to be a REAL criminal, install helmet speakers and ride in Mass. They're illegal to use, or posess, there.
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Came across this link in looking, too, but it doesn't cover earplugs... does cover a lot of other m/c specific stuff though:
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/PrintLaws.html
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I bet the earplug stuff is buried in general vehicle regulations, if there is any specific language.
(Like stuff prohibiting headphones on drivers...even though I see it often. Not just one earphone/headphone....)
I wonder how many states changed laws to allow use of cellphone headsets?
If you're on a Goldwing, or big touring bike, how loud do you have to crank up the stereo to be able to hear it over the road noise, and can you still hear an ambulance coming up behind you?
I don't crank the stereo up in the pickup much, and it isn't real loud anyway, but the newer cars are pretty quiet with the windows up and it's difficult to hear emergency vehicles coming at you.
And then we have the megawatt morons 'boom....boom...booming' down the road, annoying everbody. :duh:
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- the question is, where do you put it on a bike?)
Put it right next to the ashtray where else would you put it. :duh:
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What wind noise?
I'm a little deaf. Okay, I'm as deaf as a stone, but combined with an wee dose of denial and I'm only a little deaf.
The other day my daughter asked me, "If a tree falls in the forest and your sitting right next to it, would you hear it?"
The only time I really miss my hearing is for mechanical diagnostics. This summer I was at the bike races at Mosport and as I drove away on Saturday evening my buddy heard a vacuum leak. At first I didn't believe him. Within a couple of minutes there was a small crowd gathered. Each one listened as i reved the engine. Then they'd say, "I hear it. You can't hear that?"
I sure hope they don'y outlaw riders with plugged ears.
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I already have hearing loss from spending too many years around jets, I am wearing earplugs. :motorsmile:
I already have hearing loss from spending too many years around my wife!! I am wearing earplugs too! :stfu:
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I already have hearing loss from spending too many years around jets, I am wearing earplugs. :motorsmile:
I already have hearing loss from spending too many years around my wife!! I am wearing earplugs too! :stfu:
Question is...
Do you leave the plugs in at home? :stickpoke:
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That's what I meant... since I don't have a bike at the moment! :wink:
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Thanks for your replies. Well, I haven't found out anymore than what you guys posted here. :grin:
I suppose I should check over at the AMA site, considering I'm a member :wink: This is where I incidently heard about this crap in the first place. However, I can't seem to find their user forum. Either it's staring right in the eye, or it's well-hidden. I think if I can post there, I can probably find mor einfo on this stuff. I'll let you know if a useful database pops up.
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might not be of any help to you, but Colorado and Texas both prohibit earplugs, unless they're built in to the helmet. It's a pretty major annoyance when you have to pause your ipod in the middle of a good song to talk to a cop.
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I've never seen earPLUGS built into a helmet before... :wink:
You sure you're not confusing earphones with earplugs?
According to earlier posts, earplugs are legal in all states.
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yep. earphones
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I'm not sure that post from MCN was totally accurate. I am CERTAIN that my PA-sponsored MSF course taken in '04 told us we weren't allowed to wear ear plugs. The only thing allowed on/in your ears is ONE headphone for communication.
That's what I meant... since I don't have a bike at the moment! :wink:
"At the moment"???? That's one long moment!! :stickpoke:
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Rob - Maybe you can search the PA state website better than I can, but the only thing I could find that had anything to do with ears or hearing and driving was this:
Title 75, Chapter 33, Subchapter A, Section ยง 3314:
Prohibiting use of hearing impairment devices.
(a) General rule.--No driver shall operate a vehicle while wearing or using one or more headphones or earphones.
(b) Exception.--This section does not prohibit the use of hearing aids or other devices for improving the hearing of the driver, nor does it prohibit the use of a headset in conjunction with a cellular telephone that only provides sound through one ear and allows surrounding sounds to be heard with the other ear, nor does it prohibit the use of communication equipment by the driver of an emergency vehicle or by motorcycle operators complying with section 3525 (relating to protective equipment for motorcycle riders).
Cross References. Section 3114 is referred to in sections 1535, 3116, 3326, 3327 of this title.
Nothing in there about earplugs. And Sections 3525, 1535, 3116, 3326 & 3327 don't say anything about hearing protection either.