I've known countless friends--import enthusiasts--who have gotten tickets for their exhausts. Why don't I see motorcyclists getting pulled over for the exact same thing?

Sitting in traffic with the window rolled down, I'm pretty sure my hearing is now impaired from all the loud motorcycles that have passed me by. What amazes me is that I've known countless friends--import enthusiasts--who have gotten tickets for their exhausts. Why don't I see motorcyclists getting pulled over for the exact same thing?

I've lost count of how many loud motorcycles have driven by me on the road today, but apparently it's been enough to make my ear ache. California law states that passenger vehicles must have a maximum exhaust noise of 95 decibels--I'm assuming that's to curb noise pollution and prevent people from becoming deaf, but here I sit in my cubicle with my left ear rendered useless thanks to the good number of custom bikes cruising down the carpool lane.

I find it unfair that import enthusiasts are criminalized as "Fast and Furious" juvenile delinquents, while bikers are glorified as "Born to be Wild" rebels enjoying the endless roads and freedoms of this country. Now I don't want motorcyclists to be persecuted in the same ways that the car segment has, but what I am hoping is for uniform regulations to apply to all enthusiasts. After all, united are we in life, liberty, and the pursuit of vehicular happiness.

And speaking of our country and our rides, it amazes me when I continue to run into people who associate a vehicle's make with one's sense of patriotism--that is, if you drive an American car, you're American, and if you drive an import, you're un-American. Lately, GM has been feeding off this propaganda with its Chevy ads with slogans like, "An American Revolution" and "Our country, our truck."

You gotta be kidding me. What is this? The World War II Era? So, if we're buying Japanese automobiles, we're supporting "Japs"?

Listen, I'm as American as anyone else. I look for the car with the best value in terms of reliability, consumer satisfaction, price, etc., and I'm not about to buy a car just because it's an American brand. I emphasize brand because that's exactly what it is--after all, what else can you call "American" cars assembled in other parts of the world? GM should just stop wasting money on guilt-trip ads and start putting it into developing cars that people will buy.

Capitalism, now that's American.