Showing posts with label Oconee County SC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oconee County SC. Show all posts

February 18, 2008

Noise Ordinance Law

If I could be doing anything 99 percent of the time I would want to be riding my motorcycle. I started racing motocross when I was eleven years old and have been addicted to motocross, enduro, and any other form of riding that involves me on a bike since. The sport is not an easy one to be involved in because its expensive, there is a lack of riding areas, and on top of that many people view the sport and its participants as second class. Many people see the sport only as loud and dangerous. Motocross is one of the most physical, mental, and self defining sports I have ever been involved in. I have been looking for a track to ride around the Clemson, SC area for a year now and finally found one last weekend. I arrived to be told that the police had just shut the track down because of a noise ordinance. This track is not in a city limit and the closest house to it couldn't see you peeing in the front yard. The sport requires that there be tracks or designated places to ride, just like a football team requires a stadium. People will donate money to football teams to build bigger, louder stadiums, and only complain when the home team loses. The law that governs noise in Oconee County does not even have a dB limit so therefore your blow dryer or lawn mower are in violation as I understand it. I do not think it is fair that the sport of motocross is picked on. I have a ktm 450 exc and it is street legal and tagged in the state of South Carolina. My motorcycle meets every states requirements, including California. If I understand this right this means on a state road I can ride back and fourth all day long and I am not breaking any law, but if I ride on private property with permission I am in violation of a noise ordinance. I do not know everything about this counties laws or the owner of the track, but if anyone has any advice about Oconee county sc noise ordinance laws and this situation please let me know. I have been told I can't ride public land because of environmental issues, when horses, bicycles, and hunters can use the land "with out impact." I have been forced to drive my truck two or more hours to a good riding area for the last year. I think it is time for an ORV system that works for both the rider and all others.

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