Guindulman authorities on Tuesday destroyed confiscated modified mufflers, locally known as ‘bora-bora,’ for the first time as response to mounting complaints against noisy motorcycles.

According to PO3 Aldrin Asilo of the Guindulman Police Station, a total of 37 modified mufflers were flattened by a steamroller at around 10 a.m. yesterday.

The illegal motorcycle parts were confiscated within three weeks in August, said Asilo.

Previously, police only arrested drivers on board motorcycles with noisy exhaust mufflers but returned the vehicles with the illegal parts, said Asilo.

This led to repeat offenses prompting residents to complain against the loud motorcycles which caused noise disturbance particularly at nighttime.

According to Asilo, flattening confiscated mufflers into pieces would now be a monthly activity for police to deter motorcyclists from installing the illegal vehicle part to their motorcycles.

However, the police officer expects that more mufflers will be confiscated in the following months as they intensify their drive against noisy vehicles.

The campaign against noise disturbance of motorcycles is being implemented in various towns including Dimiao where authorities last week crushed 51 confiscated mufflers beyond repair using a backhoe.

The activity was led by Mayor Danilo Guivencan and police officials in the town who clarified that the use of bora-bora or improvised mufflers violates Republic Act 4136.

“No motor vehicle shall be operated in such a manner as to cause it to emit or make any unnecessary or disagreeable odor, smoke or noise,” Republic Act 4136 states. (Allen Doydora)