Honolulu Mayor Signs Bill To Muzzle Loud Mopeds

It amends existing law that addresses noise pollution from motor vehicles.

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Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Wednesday signed Bill 53 into law.

The purpose of the ordinance, according to the administration, is to amend the city’s Traffic Code to address noise caused by the operation of motorcycles and mopeds.

The legislation was introduced by Honolulu City Council member Tommy Waters and passed third reading unanimously Dec. 4.

“Bill 53 provides an additional mechanism for HPD to regulate moped noise to make our neighborhoods quieter and more enjoyable,” Waters said in a press release. “I appreciate the community members and neighborhood boards that came out in support to ensure the bill’s passage. I will continue to fight to improve the quality of life for our local families.”

Mopeds are often souped up to make them go faster. But that also makes them louder. A new law could help control that. Flickr: Steven Worster

Said Caldwell: “Oahu is such a beautiful place so it’s only fitting we take steps to make our natural environment as peaceful as possible through commonsense legislation like Bill 53.”

Caldwell personally thanked Waters for “stepping up on behalf of his community and the rest of Oahu’s nearly 1 million residents so that unwelcomed noise does not permeate throughout our neighborhoods.”

Civil Beat’s editorial board opined in favor of the legislation earlier this fall.

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