New Hampshire Government Wonks and Tachometers

So from the fine state of New Hampshire comes yet another installment of what happens when government gets in the business of mandating vehicular equipment.

New Hampshire is presently considering a law that would require all motorcycles to be equipped with tachometers. The tach issue is a tag-along on HB-95 intended to address motorcycle noise levels. The Bill specifies certain decibel levels at certain RPM's, so how do you know if you're complying without a tach?

I can understand the desire to tame down some of the noise. Some of the big V-Twin boys like their scoots a little too loud, even for my enthusiast's ears. But, as I see it, how do you write a legitimate law governing noise that pertains to only one type of vehicle? If the lawmakers mandate that a motorcycle may not emit more than 95dB of sound, then how do you philosphically justify not including any other vehicle in that law?

Why do lawmakers care at what RPM the motorcycle is too loud? Does it matter thatit splits your ear drum at idle vesus 10,000 rpm? It's silly.

What about the thousands of motorcycles already in use in New Hampshire that were not designed to have tachometers on them in the first place? Do you require the motorcycle owner to retroactively fit the bike with an electronics package that will "drive" a tach? Those kits are not cheap, and for some bikes, they simply don't exist.

This is what happens when government thinks it can get smart when writing law. This is why government needs to stay out of micro-managing vehicular design and equipment. The NH lawmakers have every right to mandate a noise level, but they are simply not qualified to tell motorcycle riders and manufacturers how to achieve it.