Editorial:

Thumpa, thumpa/The cops aren't impressed
July 5, 2004 ED0705A

Minnesotans can impress you with their generosity. Some like to share with others the music on their car stereos. They drive from neighborhood to neighborhood, spreading their thumpa, thumpa, thumpa as widely as possible. This is an especially charitable act in summer when many people like to enjoy their front porches and sleep with their windows open, ever receptive to the extra benefit of a serenade.

Boom boxes on wheels are not the only auditory gifts offered to urban residents in summer. More and more motorcyclists are fine-tuning their instruments for higher-quality, higher-volume sound. The combined effect is downright orchestral. One moment the listener can appreciate thumpa, thumpa, thumpa bass lines, only to be treated to an interlude of varoom, varoom, varoom as the cyclist waits at the stoplight, and then the exciting crescendo as the light changes: VA-ROOOOOOM!

Residents of northeast Minneapolis have eagerly awaited the opening of a new biker coffee bar near the corner of Central and Hennepin avenues that is sure to add new tones of delight to the already symphonic motorcycle roar on the bridges into downtown.
Sadly, the cops aren't impressed.

John Harrington, St. Paul's new police chief, dares to dredge up the archaic concepts of "civility" and "consideration of others" in announcing that his officers will now strictly enforce the ordinance against excessive thumpa, thumpa. Small things matter when people choose to live relatively close together, the chief says. He has the audacity to side with outdoor music haters, and with their frustrations over the fact that complaining heretofore has done little good because of the elusive, mobile nature of thumpa and varoom.

Minneapolis police aren't fans of these music sharings either. Spokesman Ron Reier says you'd be surprised how often stopping a car for thumpa, thumpa turns up bigger things, like guns, drugs and outstanding warrants.

As for motorcycles, even a non-souped-up exhaust system can violate the noise ordinance. "If you're in the wrong place at the wrong time with noisy pipes, you're going to get stopped," he promises. If only the Minneapolis traffic cops, with a new fleet of Harleys all their own, can demonstrate how just how quiet motorcycles can be . . .

Noise violations can cost as much as $500 in Minneapolis and $165 in St. Paul. Now that's music to our ears.