If you live in Oregon and you are an ATV rider, then it is important for you to know that the legal amount of noise decibels on your ATV is 99. However, you have to bear in mind that some ATV ticketing agencies to have the authority to place more restrictions on noise levels of ATV riders where they deem necessary.
For those who don't know, a noise decibel is a unit used on ATV's as well as anywhere else, to measure the sound intensity on a scale of zero to approximately 130, which is the average pain level in the human ears. In order to accurately understand the amount of 99 decibels, which is, once again, the legal limit on ATV's, it is helpful to have something to compare it to.
At 30 decibels, that is equivalent to an audible whisper. 60 decibels is the same amount of noise as an average Conversation. a 70 decibels, you can place yourself in an average restaurant setting. 80 decibels is Comparative to running a garbage disposal. at only 85 decibels, you run the risk of ear damage. As a previously mentioned, 99 is the state legal limit for ATV riders. 100 decibels is like pushing a lawn mower. 110 decibels is similar to wearing headphones. 115 decibels becomes the threshhold of discomfort for most. 120 decibels puts you in the situation of attending a rock concert. the human ear pain threshold is at 135 decibels. 140 decibels is the same level of noise as an air raid siren, 150 is a jet plane, 160 is a cap a pistol.
Although you may feel that, because you are on public land, you deserve to be able to have as loud of an ATV as you choose, you must consider the fact that other people may be using that public land to appreciate nature, and should be able to do so without significant noise pollution of ATV's.
ATV riders already have somewhat of a bad rap with the public, given that they were unfairly warranted as dangerous back in the early nineties. (This is due to the fact that, because they did not tip over like motorcycles, early ATV drivers were much more reckless.) It is because of this that all ATV riders need to break that prejudice, and use extra caution to follow all of the laws to the letter.
