We live near Watsonville Road and Santa Teresa Boulevard and
every morning for the past couple of months we are hearing sharp
(noises) every few minutes.
“We live near Watsonville Road and Santa Teresa Boulevard and every morning for the past couple of months we are hearing sharp (noises) every few minutes. It usually begins about dawn. Please help us figure out what is constantly disrupting the usually quiet country.”
Red Phone: Dear Disturbed, Red phone solved the mystery. According to Eric Wylde, supervising agricultural biologist with Santa Clara County, the noise was coming from a neighbor who was using a propane cannon to scare birds from his grape vines that were nearing maturation.
“As soon as we contacted them they removed the propane cannon from use,” he said.
Using a propane cannon to scare birds is an acceptable use, but not near homes.
Instead, wineries can use nets to cover the vines, or reflective mylar that, when cut in strips, blows in the winds and keeps the birds from eating the grapes. That use can be seen at several wineries along Watsonville Road.
It should be noted, it was not a winery, but a county resident growing grapes, who was the offender in this case.
Hope that answers your question, good caller.
Motorcycles are the same as vehicles
“I was reading your response to the question about how loud vehicles and motorcycles can be. You forgot to respond to the motorcycle part, you only answered regarding vehicles. I know that motorcycles are much, much louder than cars. Is this allowed?”
Red Phone: Dear Is This Allowed, Red Phone double checked with officer Steve Pennington, who said motorcycles are considered vehicles, so the same laws apply.
“I do agree that some motorcycles are much louder than cars but that isn’t always the case,” he said. “However, just like cars, motorcycles cannot exceed the limits set forth in the Vehicle Code.”
He is referring to sections 670, 400, 27201 and 27202 of the California Vehicle Code.
So, hope that answers your questions, good caller.
