A number of Pacific Palisades residents say they are tired of being awakened by motorcycle groups speeding down Sunset Boulevard late at night from the Riviera to Pacific Coast Highway. Hoping to address the problem, a group of 21 residents have sent petitions to the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Traffic Division, City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and the Pacific Palisades Community Council, asking that the police increase enforcement of the existing speed and noise limits at night, especially Wednesdays from 10 p.m. to midnight. They also asked that a program to reduce speed and control noise at night be developed and implemented. They suggested that the speed limit on Sunset be reduced during certain times in the evening and that ordinances be enacted to prevent noise-polluting groups of motorcycles from circulating in the area. They gave Rosendahl and the West Traffic Division Captain Nancy Lauer copies of two videos that show motorcyclists ‘popping wheelies’ on Sunset late at night. One video has footage from three separate nights over the past two years, and the other was taken on July 7. Community Council member Amy Kalp, who lives on Sunset, told the Palisadian-Post on July 14 that the residents would not be upset if motorcycle groups obeyed the traffic laws and rode along Sunset during the day. The residents, however, find the current situation disruptive and dangerous. Kalp explained that the motorcycle groups come mostly on Wednesday nights, but drive through other nights as well. When residents complained about the motorcyclists two years ago, Lauer increased enforcement. [The Post reported on the issue: ‘Residents Upset by Loud Motorcyclists,’ October 30, 2008.] According to Kalp, the issue never fully went away and the problem tends to escalate in the summer. ’I know what the residents are talking about, and I sympathize,’ Kalp said. Lauer said her department plans to increase deployment from now through Labor Day weekend to Sunset as well as Palisades Drive, where several fatal automobile accidents have occurred in recent years. Lauer told the Post she is working closely with LAPD Captain Evangelyn Nathan of the West Los Angeles Community Police Station to address a number of traffic-safety issues in the Palisades, including disruptive motorcyclists. LAPD Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore said that whenever possible, reserve officers (who volunteer their time) will patrol Sunset at night. He admits it is difficult to catch the motorcyclists breaking traffic laws. ’They often send a scout ahead, so they behave whenever the police car is out there,’ he told the Post. For example, on July 14, Moore sent out reserve officers who worked until 11 p.m. Forty-five minutes later, Moore received calls from residents that motorcyclists were speeding past them. ’It is a difficult issue to handle because it requires dedicated personnel to the area, and personnel is what we’re short of,’ Moore said, noting that nonetheless LAPD plans to saturate the area with officers on certain nights. Moore encouraged residents concerned about traffic safety on Sunset to receive training to become reserve officers, who perform the same functions as regular full-time police officers. ’There is nothing better than taking action to solve a problem,’ Moore said. In regards to the noise, motorcycles tend to sound loud when traveling in packs. Moore explained that the legal limit is 90 decibels for each bike. The police do not carry instrumentation to determine the noise level, but they can pull a motorcyclist over if they think the bike sounds too loud and check for a modified muffler. ’Palisadians should be pleased that Captain Lauer has designated resources to help us with the motorcyclist problem, especially in light of the fact’that the division’s resources are so strapped and need to cover’the’entire Westside,’ Council Chair Janet Turner said.’ ‘ For community complaints about this, or any traffic-related issues, residents should call Sgt. Kunz at the Community Traffic Services Unit (213) 473-0215. For information on becoming a reserve officer, contact LAPD at (213) 486-4730.
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