* There are few things more vulnerable in our society, more crosswise with our (mixed) culture, more difficult to advance, secure and rationally discuss --than matters of solitude, quiet, noise abatement --places of sanctuary for the soul to seek within, places for long, uninterrupted thought.

* I hope to keep this page short, simple, directive and supplementary to the excellent web pages on these issues to be found at:

> Right to Quiet at: https://quiet.org/about-right-to-quiet/

> http://www.silencethehorns.org/about.html

> Noise Abatement Society, their "Quiet Mark" program^ --and elsewhere.

> Noise Free America at: https://noisefree.org/

^ For rating the quietness of appliances, which has been well received by industries in England and many European nations.

* Aside from the introspection, spiritual peace, and the philosophy of it, should any town, city or existing community (with adequate physical isolation) wish to experience a cultural and economic renaissance (as well as the difficulties associated with booming real estate values), it need only adopt and enforce an effective and rational noise ordinance (or "CC&Rs" for a PUD/community within a city).

The following space is reserved to extoll the virtues of --

A quiet City/town/PUD/gated community --of the future

* And/Or: try this idea on for size.

A good place to start would be with ordinances controlling the use of back-up beepers within the limits of a city or planned unit development --since such a forward looking community would also be looking forward to phenomenal growth and construction. (Here's a good, 2-sided discussion on that issue.)

* Approaches to such community developments do exist and not all of them are high priced "gated communities" for the elite. I live near a pleasant one for ordinary retired folks who get by on their Social Security.

Unfortunately, I don't know of any "Century 21" class national real estate companies which help us locate and purchase such properties. You can get run downs and comparative charts on a range of other issues which might concern the home buyer or renter (crime, weather, schools, clinics, etc.), even panoramic neighborhood photos, but no information about effective noise control.

* Please correct me if I'm wrong. If there is indeed such a real estate chain, it will get free top billing here and probably at several other web sites that I'm aware of as well.

I suggest this is not only a fantastic opportunity for a national real estate chain to exploit, but a spark plug which would spur healthy competition for livability in general. The civic prizes to gain include a flood of discriminating home buyers who also happen to be successful cultural creatives: consulting engineers, scientists, inventors, literary authors, screen writers, on-line educators, university extension professors, artists, programmers --folks with portable professions and vocations who think and communicate for a living. How many towns are there who'd like to open up a can of civic renaissance and pride --especially for those which lead the way, those which are "firstest with the mostest" peace and quiet to offer.

I don't think we're talking much municipal investment and risk. A well drafted ordinance (with guidance from the Rutgers Noise Technical Assistance Center^), and routine enforcement, paid for in part with fines --should cost less than filling potholes.

^ Contact: Eric M. Zwerling, M.S. / Director, Rutgers Noise Technical Assistance Center, Rutgers University (Specialist in Noise Law and Enforcement Training) <Zwerling@envsci.rutgers.edu>

* As to municipal noise ordinances and what's Constitutionally do-able, city councils (working closely with legal counsel and the Rutgers NTAC) should take note, both of their existing "nuisance ordinance" (which I've seen modeled as "Ordinance 100" in some venues), and of court cases which have successfully challenged the enforcement of such ordinances. I have no legal education, but anyone can suggest starting points for qualified inquiries and opinions.

* Traditional noise ordinances might include a permit process to sanction the use of a "sound truck" for a limited period of time, provided that an adequate reason is given (an impending election, perhaps) for such an intrusive disturbance. To my reading of our city's nuisance ordinance (which is quaint enough to concern itself with collar bells on pets), the term "sound truck" is broadly defined, so as to easily include "boom cars".

Whether or not boom cars can be curtailed with such a legal tool has to be considered against the background of relevant court cases. Some years ago, wanton horn blowing in the City of Eugene, Oregon was successfully defended on the basis of it being "free speech".

* I've been impressed with how competent legal counsel can re-frame and reword laws/ordinances in order to avoid objections, but to still accomplish the same (or maybe a better) social purpose. Instead of going to the mat with the methodology and calibration of sound pressure meters, the language "plainly audible ---" (to a sworn officer) seems to have obviated much technical tedium. Again: the Rutgers NTAC is abreast of such developments.