12/12/2011: You never know what you're going to find going on at the Hawaii Legislature. While scanning legislative actions A Quieter O'ahu came across H.R. 45 "Requesting the study and adoption of a 95-Decibel limit to measure muffler and vehicular noise." You can click HERE to read H.R. 45 in its current form, and to track its status. Upshot of the resolution is to request that the Hawaii Dept of Transportation "study" enactment of legislation setting noise limit for mufflers atThis seems on its face to be yet another example of how little our legislators know about noise and noise measurement. 95dB(a) is loud. If you check A Quieter O'ahu's noise table HERE you'll see that between 90dB(a) and 100dB(a) is considered dangerous for prolonged exposure, and that no more than 15 minutes of unprotected exposure is recommended. In common terms, 95dB(a) is the sound level you would experience standing beside gas-powered lawnmower or a farm tractor. 95dB(a) is also approximately 3 times louder than recommended under EPA guidelines. You have to wonder who are legislators are listening to when they come up with these numbers, or if they're just making them up as they go along.
It doesn't appear that H.R. 45 had any traction in the 26th Legislature, but it bears watching to see what happens next. Incidentally, this resolution was introduced by Representative Tom Brower, District 23 - Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kakaako. If you'd like to send your thoughts to Rep Brower, click HERE to launch an email form with his email address filled-in. There's no doubt that Rep Brower's proposed resolution is well-intended, but A Quieter O'ahu believes he should be proposing the our Dept of Transportation explore standards imposed by other municipalities that bases offenses on the "Plainly Audible Standard" instead of an arbitrary and vague Decibel limit - which HPD is on record stating they cannot enforce. Simply put, the "Plainly Audible Standard" says that if a source of noise can be heard (and it's not necessary that they be able to discern the words of a songs lyrics) or beyond a certain distance it is a violation of the ordinance or statute. In some cities stereos that than be heard beyond 25 feet are in violation. Our own Honolulu Revised Statute 41-31.1"Prohibited Noise" say beyond 30 feet for stereos is a violation. We could easily adopt the same standard for automobiles and motorcycles that says anything audible beyond 50 feet is a violation. So simple. But already we have Council Member Gabbard trying to EXTEND the noise limit of 41-31.1 from 30 feet to 100 feet as we commented on in an early post. Again, how can ANYONE think it's OK for people to have stereos than can be heard 100 feet away and still be legal???? Just incredible.
It's clear that we need effective legislation to curb noise, but we already have several statutes and ordinances now that simply aren't being enforced. One message to our City Council members and legislators should be to engage with HPD for more and more effective enforcement of current ROHs and HRSs.
What do you think? Take a moment and comment on this post.
It doesn't appear that H.R. 45 had any traction in the 26th Legislature, but it bears watching to see what happens next. Incidentally, this resolution was introduced by Representative Tom Brower, District 23 - Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kakaako. If you'd like to send your thoughts to Rep Brower, click HERE to launch an email form with his email address filled-in. There's no doubt that Rep Brower's proposed resolution is well-intended, but A Quieter O'ahu believes he should be proposing the our Dept of Transportation explore standards imposed by other municipalities that bases offenses on the "Plainly Audible Standard" instead of an arbitrary and vague Decibel limit - which HPD is on record stating they cannot enforce. Simply put, the "Plainly Audible Standard" says that if a source of noise can be heard (and it's not necessary that they be able to discern the words of a songs lyrics) or beyond a certain distance it is a violation of the ordinance or statute. In some cities stereos that than be heard beyond 25 feet are in violation. Our own Honolulu Revised Statute 41-31.1"Prohibited Noise" say beyond 30 feet for stereos is a violation. We could easily adopt the same standard for automobiles and motorcycles that says anything audible beyond 50 feet is a violation. So simple. But already we have Council Member Gabbard trying to EXTEND the noise limit of 41-31.1 from 30 feet to 100 feet as we commented on in an early post. Again, how can ANYONE think it's OK for people to have stereos than can be heard 100 feet away and still be legal???? Just incredible.
It's clear that we need effective legislation to curb noise, but we already have several statutes and ordinances now that simply aren't being enforced. One message to our City Council members and legislators should be to engage with HPD for more and more effective enforcement of current ROHs and HRSs.
What do you think? Take a moment and comment on this post.