Shattering tranquility with too much noise
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Michael Troutman
Published: July 1, 2008
Vehicle noise is out of control. Stereos and car alarms are bad enough, but cars and motorcycles with modified exhausts are ruining the peace of Prince William County. We have laws in place to deal
with excessive noise, but officers seem to ignore the problem. Why? It seems the police give a wink and a nod, and the state inspection stations ignore sound completely.
The noise problem is exacerbated by Old Dominion Speedway, which has continued operations. When we first moved to the County in 2001, we could not hear the track at all. Why would we, it is almost
3 miles away! Since that time, developers have come in and removed dozens of acres of trees between us and ODS. Now with doors and windows closed, we can still hear the races. It may not be fair to
penalize a track that has been in operation since the 1950s, but they are the source. Is there nothing that can be done through sound barrier erection? I can only imagine the suffering of neighbors close
to the track.
It is quality of life issues such as education, crime and noise that make a place attractive to live. Noise indirectly affects an already depressed housing market and local economy. If you are reading this,
do you have a car or motorcycle that makes too much noise? Do your kids? Do you think about your neighbors at all?
MICHAEL TROUTMAN
Manassas
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( raywilliams ) on July 01, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I continue to be amazed by Americans who make decisions and then blame others for their poor choices. The speedway was there when he purchased his home. The dozens of acres were ripe for development and that should have been considered by Mr. Troutman. His options included showing up at Public Hearings to protest development or purchasing “his” buffer to ensure no development occurred which would affect his serenity. Americans need to take responsibility for their actions and not attempt to shift the blame to others because the world turned when they weren’t looking. Why should supporters of the speedway lose their enjoyment because Mr. Troutman bought in the wrong neighborhood? Blame the County, blame the developer but no, no, no don’t blame yourself. That would be un-American.
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Posted by ( LRMan ) on July 01, 2008 at 9:37 am
Your 1 Jul 08 letter, “Shattering tranquility...” focuses on the disapearing trees allowing noise from ODS to become an issue. But in the same letter, you touch on the problem of motorcycles and cars with modified exhausts (illegally so by the way) and other car born noise nuisances (music, alarms). I’ve dealt with this issue for years here in PWC and it’s not a trivial issue.
If we were to ask local police, we’ll get righteous indignation, citing examples where they’ve ticketed offender and remindnig us that there are higher priority issues. I’m sensitive to this idea. We ask our police to enforce every single law on the books, from murder to spitting on the sidewalk, and everything in between. With limited resources, hard decision must be made as to which laws are enforced. That’s just reality. We don’t have to like it; it just is.
But, on the other hand, there are ways for us and police to eradicate these nuisances, without expending resources needed to protect us from murders and rapists.
1 - While on patrol, officers are confronted with loud music from cars and vehicles with illegal exhaust, but ignore them. Pull them over. Every one. Give them tickets. I’ve been at a light with cars and motorcycles equipped with illegal exhausts, and police cruisers. When the light turns green, the noise rings out, and the police drive on. Nothing! A crime is being committed. If you are not on your way to a higher priority call, pull them over and ticket them.
2 - Police have told me, “...there’s no use citing them, the judges will ask if it is louder than a truck and dismiss them if their not. Our judges must be reminded by our prosecutors that the truck comparison is no where to be found in VA Code, noise violations are. Ref. Virginia Code § 46.2-1049.
3 - Parents, friends, neighbors need to enforce it. If your teenager drives a car with a modified exhaust (louder than the stock model) it is illegal, and I hold you just as responsible. Ref. Virginia Code § 46.2-1049. Take away the keys until the illegal modification is reversed. Friends, don’t ride with a friend who’s car is in violation. Pier pressure is a powerful thing. Use it for good. Neighbors need to complain to their neighbors, and if that doesn’t work, to the police. It’s your community too.
4 - Police should target local shops that perform these modifications for a sting operation. These places are operating with impunity right here among us. Call a local car shop and ask them if they’ll modify your muffler to make it really loud. They’ll gleefully agree and even cite examples of their work. All of which is illegal. These people are criminals and need to be treated as such.
5 - The driver themselves. You may not care about the impact of your crimes on your fellow citizens, but we do. No, driving a hot rod with a chopped up muffler is not murder, but it does impact the community. You are not cool. You’re a criminal and you are loathed. Realize what you are doing impacts the community, is illegal and stop it. Now!
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Posted by ( raywilliams ) on July 01, 2008 at 6:04 am
The source of the problem is newcomers to Manassas, not the racetrack that was “out in the country” when I moved here 50 years ago. Buying a home near a racetrack is akin to buying a home near Dulles Airport then complaining about the jets taking off and landing. Duh. Mr. Troutman sounds like another NIMBY but 50 years late to the party. There are many homes on the market. Pick a location that meets your noise requirements BEFORE you buy. May Old Dominion “continue operations” for many years into the future much in the same way the trains continue to blow their whistles and firetrucks scream their sirens. It is all a part of living in a vibrant community and we should be grateful for the “noise”.
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