Some of the legislation's victims, however, are the nostalgic straight pipes and mellowtone mufflers that defined the hotrods and sports cars of yesteryear.
Unfortunately, the two loudest exhaust offenders aren't touched by the noise restrictions: motorcycles and 18-wheelers. Why?
Why are the cycles and trucks allowed to gear up and down the decibel scales with teeth-rattling r-r-r-a-p-p-p-s anywhere and at any hour?
And what about those gadzillion-watt sound systems that cause their vehicle hosts to pulsate and bounce? Has anyone's teeth not vibrated from the thump, thump, thump of a nearby bass track on wheels?
What's happening to the ears of those idiot drivers and passengers? If states--to minimize future taxpayer outlays for indigent trauma treatment and rehab--can require wearing of seatbelts and motorcycle helmets, why can't they also limit decibels in vehicles to minimize taxpayer outlays for indigent hearing losses?
Plug cycle and truck tail pipes. (28 NOVEMBER 1999)
