The following is what I just sent to the one council member I know:
The reason I’m contacting you is that, as an off road motorcycle and ATV owner, I’m very concerned about, what appears to be discrimination against such vehicles in the pending legislation.
I was at the hearing on the bill around 9/20 and thought it was going to be redone to address this concern but what I’m told is the “new” version appears identical to the Sept. version?
Notes from meeting attached.
I’ve attached what I THINK is the “new” version for reference. link I hope
https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/docum ... iew/293069
9/20/2016 Frederick County - Noise Ordinance Hearing Notes (Sam Jones)
1) All noise sources - except those obviously related to overall public good (police sirens, public events, etc., etc.) should be treated equally = without prejudice against a certain source, group of people, etc.
Section (E) (1) Singling out ONLY dirt bikes and ATVs, etc. by requiring PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION from all surrounding land owners within 300' is obviously unfair and should be removed. (In any area with normal sized lots this would require getting permission from several lot owners in all 4 directions which would usually be a dozen or more owners and it thus IMPOSSIBLE to get.)
This would make it illegal to even start a dirt bike to test it or load it on a trailer.
Section (E) (2) Singling out ONLY dirt bikes and ATVs, etc. by requiring them to "demonstrate (how?) that the operation of the vehicle at all of its operating speeds .... will not cause the noise levels set forth .... to be exceeded at the receiving property line" is also unfair and not clear how it can be accomplished? Thus it should also be removed.
2) Duration of noise is a key factor per the folks complaining at the meeting!
Thus giving Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, etc. a much higher exemption seems weird?
(Their 70/75 dBA level 24 hrs a day is ~ 3 times the basic day residential level of 65 dBA and around 6 times the night level of 55 dBA) Every 3 dBA increase is ~ a doubling of the sound.
However things that are temporary -like demolition, construction, etc. - should probably have a higher limit (and/or a time/duration limit).
9/20/2016 Frederick County - Noise Ordinance Hearing Notes
All noise sources - except those obviously related to overall public good (police sirens, public events, etc., etc.) should be treated equally = without prejudice against a certain source, group of people, etc.
Section (E) (1) Singling out ONLY dirt bikes and ATVs, etc. by requiring PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION from all surrounding land owners within 300' is obviously unfair and should be removed. (In any area with normal sized lots this would require getting permission from several lot owners in all 4 directions which would usually be a dozen or more owners and it thus IMPOSSIBLE to get.)
This would make it illegal to even start a dirt bike to test it or load it on a trailer.
Section (E) (2) Singling out ONLY dirt bikes and ATVs, etc. by requiring them to "demonstrate (how?) that the operation of the vehicle at all of its operating speeds .... will not cause the noise levels set forth .... to be exceeded at the receiving property line" is also unfair and not clear how it can be accomplished? Thus it should also be removed.
Duration of noise is a key factor per the folks complaining at the meeting!
Thus giving Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, etc. a much higher exemption seems weird?
(Their 70/75 dBA level 24 hrs a day is ~ 3 times the basic day residential level of 65 dBA and around 6 times the night level of 55 dBA) Every 3 dBA increase is ~ a doubling of the sound.
However things that are temporary -like demolition, construction, etc. - should probably have a higher limit (and/or a time/duration limit).