How Much Noise is Too Much?

   To noise or not to noise...that is the question.  Our Calaveras County Board of Supervisors, in their infinite wisdom (and we say that loosely),  plan to enact a noise ordinance in Calaveras County.

    What decibel level of noise is acceptable is debatable and how many $1000 + decibel meters will be purchased is not an easy decision, since the County policies have killed the economy and they have no "frivolous" money to spend, as in the past.


    And then there is the issue of whether "noise" is the worst crime to charge a person with. We are aware that recently the Calaveras County Sheriff, in what we do not consider his finest hour, had a person arrested in Ebbetts Pass for intentional and maliscious noisemaking.

    So there is a noise ordinance on the books after all.

    We are very aware that just 100 yards away from the person arrested, there are known hard druggies, two alcoholics who drive (putting our children at risk), and a mentally ill man who the Sheriff allows to carry a concealed weapon.

   There is also a mentally disturbed person who is a known trespasser, walks his dog to poop on neighbors property, cuts other people's trees down and throws garbage into his neighbors property, and is suspected by other neighbors of poisoning dogs, and that's okay. No charges will be filed. WHY????  Is it Votes?

   So where does judgment come in to the picture. That's the real problem. If the Sheriff decides these things based on friendships and who might vote against him instead of going after the real criminals, we are in big trouble.

   But of course noise will be a much more serious crime than drugs, or DUI's or illegal carrying concealed weapons, won't it?

   At least that's the way we see it, and the next election is right around the corner.