Nov 3, 2009 6:08 pm US/Eastern
Leaf Blowers Silenced A Bit In Brookline
BROOKLINE (WBZ) ―
Brookline has a new leaf blower bylaw on the books and residents there have mixed opinions about it.
"I hate those things. I think they're awful. They should be illegal all over the world," says Amir Aczl, who lives in Brookline.
A lot of residents have complained about the leaf blowers over the years, so two years ago, town officials reconsidered the noise laws.
"It was the time of day that was being looked at and in particular the actual volume of these machines and the disturbance that they created," said Brookline Police Lieutenant Philip Harrington.
Police will enforce the new bylaw that says residents cannot use a leaf blower before 8 a.m. on weekdays and before 9 a.m. on weekends or holidays.
The machine must also operate below a 67 decibel level.
"The fine is a $50 fine for the first offense and a $100 fine for the second offense," said Lt. Harrington.
Residents and landscapers can get their leaf blower inspected for free at the DPW building at 870 Hammond Street in Brookline on the first and third Tuesday of each month through the end of the year.
They'll have to pay to get it tested after that.
Some residents don't agree with the new bylaw.
"I think they should be able to use them whenever they want. I mean people have to go to work and get their homes cleaned up," said Leslie Lerner.
The law takes effect in January 2010.
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