The Heart Of The ATV Issue Is Noise

To the Editor:     

In response to the recent letters on the ATV/noise issue: There’s a huge flaw in this proposed ordinance, as it poses to serve a small group of residents that live adjacent to open space, and deviates from the central issue — which is noise.

As a Main Street resident, I can assure you that the Sunday din from the all-day parade of modified Harleys each week beginning around mid-April through end-October, far exceeds any mild discomfort felt from an occasional off-road vehicle.

If Newtown is serious about controlling noise pollution, the ordinance shouldn’t discriminate its origin, and provide clear guidelines for acceptable decibel levels. New York City passed a similar law initiated by horn honking, car-alarms, and Harleys. The issue remains noise — not land use or the sports you prefer.

Exactly what constitutes “noise” is subjective. Someone living next to a school yard who hates the sound of screaming kids might actually prefer the sound of ATVs. For others it’s lawn mowers, chain saws, or Bob Dylan (or, dare I say, a completely unnecessary fire-horn that shakes my window-glass).

The sheer number of off-road vehicles sold in this area speaks for itself. But when these vehicles are purchased at the dealer they leave the showroom with stock factory exhausts that, when left intact, produce relatively low noise. So the sounds we’re hearing from the woods and Main Street are likely the result of deliberate modifications.

And there’s a key difference between these two groups: Off-road vehicles are usually modified to improve performance — the added noise is merely a by-product. Whereas, the majority of exhaust modifications to Harley-style street bikes are made specifically to generate more noise. Thus, while one group’s intention is to improve upon a sport, not to annoy, the other’s goal is to annoy as much as possible (rude).

I’d wager that if the ATVs were simply asked (or posted signs asking) to either ride specific times or put their stock pipes back on when they do, that they’d comply as it’s not their intention to annoy anyone. That other group is in serious need of therapy.

Richard J. Rhyins

54 Main Street, Newtown                                      September 20, 2004