NOISE: Permitting a ‘gateway drug’

I can’t help but respond to Marcie’s letter in the Sunday paper about noise always being a part of downtown. She seems to have misunderstood what the issue is. 

Of course there is traffic noise downtown, as well as the noise of people enjoying themselves shopping, dining, walking, etc. What we all who live downtown object to is the noise created by illegal activities, such as modified mufflers, needlessly revving engines, backfiring engines, blaring radios, and skateboards on the sidewalks. These sounds are disruptive to those who are dining and visiting downtown, as well as those of us who live downtown.

Permitting illegal activities like these to continue is like approving a gateway drug. Other illegal activities will follow, as it seems those who we elect to enforce our laws don’t care.

JOAN C. WOODARD

Coeur d’Alene