Residents living along the Chain o` Lakes and Fox River have reason to hope that this summer may be a bit quieter, with fewer early wake-up calls from loud boat motors.
A new state law this year will limit the amount of noise a boat can make. At a recent meeting of the Chain o` Lakes Fox River Waterway Management Agency, waterway officials demonstrated to boaters the use of decibel meters and what noise levels now will be legally too loud.
”We`re after obnoxious noise,” said Lee Barrett of the Fox Riverfront Federation, a citizens group that deals with river issues. ”People have said they don`t want to hear this anymore.”
The federation includes boaters as well as riverfront dwellers among its members.
The legislation has been requested by waterside residents for years and was supported by State Senator Jack Schaffer of Crystal Lake, who lives near the Fox River.
Many residents, who move to the lakes or river for peace and quiet, have complained that the loud boats are annoying and disturbing.
The new state statute stipulates that a boat cannot emit more than 90 decibels of sound from the muffler of the boat, a sound level which is roughly equivalent to that of a large truck. A boat also cannot be louder than 75 decibels within 20 feet of a shoreline.
”I think it`s a problem and we`re glad to see the law,” said Sgt. James Bryant of the Lake County Sheriff`s Department. ”You can hear some of these boats a half mile away.”
Waterway officials indicated at the meeting that almost all brand-name boats will be in compliance with the law. He said most violators are those who remove their mufflers for added power.
Bryant said most first-time noise violators will receive warnings, giving boaters an opportunity to come into compliance with the law. Subsequent tickets would be for a Class B misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of a $500 fine and six months in jail.
Illinois Department of Conservation officer Rick Giovengo said boats will be stopped for testing mostly on a complaint basis.
`We`ll probably be inundated with calls,” Giovengo said. ”There are loud boats out there.”
