Santa Monica : Leaf-Blower Curbs
A law restricting the hours of operation of motorized leaf blowers is being drafted in Santa Monica as part of a noise abatement ordinance.
The City Council has directed City Atty. Robert Myers to prepare a law prohibiting the use of leaf blowers between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. on weekdays and 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. on weekends and holidays.
The restrictions were introduced by Mayor Christine Reed, who said she had received complaints from residents about excessive noise produced by the machines.
The council decided against an outright ban of the machines after hearing reports that doing so would increase gardening costs and encourage gardeners to use water to clear leaves, expending about 5.5 million gallons a year of the city water supply.
The city of Los Angeles has a law banning leaf blowers but has had difficulty enforcing it, City Manager John Jalili said.
A comprehensive law controlling noise in such places as dance halls and restaurants that have live music is also being drafted by the city, according to Jalili.
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