Posted on 02/17/2020 7:42:01 PM PST by TigerClaws
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGEM) — A Senate bill in Illinois would ban the use or sale of gas-powered leaf blowers in the state.
Illinois Senator Laura Fine (D) SB3313 filed last week by Senator Laura Fine (D) of the 9th Senate District amends the Environmental Protection Act. It states that "a person may not operate or sell at retail a gas-powered leaf blower in the State. Provides that a person who violates the amendatory Act's provisions shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500."
The bill lists environmental and noise pollution as the reasons for the ban.
It states that two-stroke and four-stroke engines used in gas-powered leaf blowers emit exceedingly high rates of pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, and hydrocarbons.
These emissions, the bill states, are a contributing factor to smog formation and acid rain.
The bill also claims that leaf blowers generate noise at a decibel level capable of causing hearing loss in a short amount of time.
In addition, it states that leaf blowers send dust and other small particles like metals, allergens, and animal feces into the air for considerable distances.
If signed into law, the bill would make use or sale of a gas-powered leaf blower illegal in the state of Illinois as of January 1, 2022.
Violators of the law would be subject to a fine up to $500.
AKA Mexican bagpipes.....
Just like Democrats.
They are all mixed up. It’s the illegals USING the leaf blowers that are the problem.
Well, if this bill passes, then it’s back to the old method, Baked beans and farts. That is something that will “pass” the environmental standards and kill the mosquitoes at the same time.
P!
Man this thread sure brought out the Free Republic socialist moles, who are always eager to advocate their beloved nanny state.
Filled over 50 bags of leaves from my lawn last year. Using an electric leaf blower, that required 25 charges at 75 minutes apiece. I can do that as a casual gardener and I appreciate the lighter weight, but it would kill anyone in the business.
I wish they would ban them in Georgia.
NOTHING more annoying. Like a plague of locusts, landscaping has become 6 Mexicans with weed whackers and leaf blowers...Swarming in with a fury, blowing up dust and dirt and rocks and the occasional blade of grass and making all sorts of hellish noise while doing it. And then they disappear, leaving the place worse than before they came. F—k ‘em.
I have leaf blower envy.
I have a small Harbor Fright generator that I put in the back of my Kawasaki Mule and use a elec blower with that.
I have a huge yard but I just the leaf blower around trees and stuff. I grind the leaves up with the mower.
That $88 generator comes in handy for using elec power tools out away from the house. A saws-all is handy for trimming limbs around the trail in my woods.
Once a week the leaf blower workman at my condo association comes by and makes a noisy ruckus with his machine, causing me to close my door to avoid the noise pollution outside it. However, the guy blows off all the twigs and branches on the walkways that lead to the parking lots where we all park our vehicles, hence allowing us to get back and forth to our cars without playing dodge-um with the debris littering the walkways.
As I am older now with a bad hip, and use a rollator (a walker on wheels) to get to and from my car in the parking lot, I am forever thankful that the walkway is cleared of twigs and branches that create an obstacle course for me with my rollator on the way to the lot. Leaf blowers have their virtues, as well as their noisy vices. I weigh in on the side of virtues, as my life is made more miserable trying to maneuver my rollator while zigzagging down the walkway to avoid the pieces of tree branches obstructing my way. I err on the side of leaf blowers as much as I hate the noise they make, as ultimately they make my life easier.
Having escaped from my prior life living in IL by moving down to FL, I am so glad to be away from the liberal nanny State it has become that is driving out any sane person living there who has the ability to escape it. And as IL during the winter is subject to blizzards and piles of snow (are snow blowers going to be the next target for extinction by the control freak Dems in that State) I daily thank my lucky stars that I have escaped its environs for wonderful FL weather (with the exception of the occasional hurricane).
Right now it is beautiful outside whereas my friends still stuck in IL are suffering from a series of cold spells with periodic lake affect snow. Cold and lousy weather can often occur even in April up to May some years. I can’t imagine Illinoisans existing without snow blowers, but mark my words, they are probably on some Dem enviro-whacko State legislators’ hit list up North for extinction.
Bottom line, leaf blowers are my friends, in spite of their noise pollution. Sometimes you just can’t have it all, but from my point of view, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. My two cents worth.
Illinois also wants to make pumping your own gas illegal. So some state licensed/union employee will now determine whether you get gas or not.
Hope your not in a hurry. Oh, and don’t have a bumper sticker they don’t like.
Next on the ban list. How about generators? Can’t have you able to provide for yourself just because the electrical grid is a unreliable.
This state is crap.
Like me, they are prob sarcastic. We don’t want the government stepping in on anything. We hate leaf blowers do much we pretend we’re willing to go govt control on it.
Just a little common loathing
I do say, up until some time ago, Sunday was a day of rest. No stores were open, no one mowed lawns not ran any loud machinery.
That was in a time when we governed ourselves
I don’t patronize stores on Sunday. I don’t do any work on Sunday. I would never run a leaf blower on Sunday.
I don’t need the government to tell me to keep Sunday as a day of rest. That’s Gods law. One of thh thy e top three.
It’s the high
Pitch noise the leaf blower makes. Hub was an af pilot. Knew every high pitch noisemaker to stay away from trying in vain to preserve hinhearing which he was steadily losing to tweets, T 38s A 10s etc
Hated leaf blowers. The quality of that noise is uniquely horrendous
They’re all fine. Leaf blowers are different
And, but, please. Not on Sunday. I’m taking the Lord’s day off. I’m resting. So is my family
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.