Does Anyone Have Local Light Pollution Laws?

ARFlyer

ARFlyer

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ARFlyer
I came across an interesting House bill while browsing through our state's proposed bill portal today.

The bill is about making it illegal for state agencies and receivers of state funds to build, install or repair outdoor lights that are not fully shielded. Also a possible rider would include phasing out all unshielded lights in all public spaces.

I would fully support any law that would solve our light pollution problems. There is no rational need for unshielded lights in most locations and needs. I'm lucky to see the Pleiades, Andromeda or even spot a passing satellite on a moonless night.
 
ARFlyer said:
The bill is about making it illegal for state agencies and receivers of state funds to build, install or repair outdoor lights that are not fully shielded. Also a possible rider would include phasing out all unshielded lights in all public spaces.
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...then some environmental jackwagon is gonna use that to remove all airport beacons because in their infinite political wisdom they forgot a provision and the authors of the bill will go..."oops"!
 
Shawn said:
...then some environmental jackwagon is gonna use that to remove all airport beacons and the authors of the bill will go..."oops"!
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Bring it on. I love when government steps on its own schwantz. Makes them out for the fools they are. The more of it, the better. More people then realize they're paying for incompetent work and they vote to defund it.
 
ARFlyer said:
Really? I did not know that they had such a law. I wonder if it's to protect the telescopes on the Big Island.
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Doubt it. A porch light Maui probably isn't going to bother the telescope. LOL
 
We have a little cabin up in the mountains and go there nearly every weekend. There's another cabin about 200 yards up the hill and this guy leaves his floodlights on all the time. It's not noticeable when the trees have leaves on them, but in the winter, I can't stand it. I like walking at night and he's reaching out and touching me in a way I don't care for. Someone needs to adapt light saber technology so that the light extends out a finite distance and then stops.
 
write-stuff said:
We have a little cabin up in the mountains and go there nearly every weekend. There's another cabin about 200 yards up the hill and this guy leaves his floodlights on all the time. It's not noticeable when the trees have leaves on them, but in the winter, I can't stand it. I like walking at night and he's reaching out and touching me in a way I don't care for. Someone needs to adapt light saber technology so that the light extends out a finite distance and then stops.
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Have you asked him to turn them off?

Someone... someone... SOMEONE needs to save me! But not me.

LOL.
 
Kelvin said:
Good resource.

http://darksky.org/

This answers your question...

http://darksky.org/lighting-codes/list-of-lighting-ordinances#U.S.A.ExamplesofAdoptedLegislation
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Thanks for the info!

write-stuff said:
We have a little cabin up in the mountains and go there nearly every weekend. There's another cabin about 200 yards up the hill and this guy leaves his floodlights on all the time. It's not noticeable when the trees have leaves on them, but in the winter, I can't stand it. I like walking at night and he's reaching out and touching me in a way I don't care for. Someone needs to adapt light saber technology so that the light extends out a finite distance and then stops.
Click to expand...

Our neighbors at my parents house use to keep their lights on 24/7 when they first built their house a few years ago. They had lights on every single fence post and flood lights in the trees. They didn't like it being dark out in the country. They said it scared them. :dunno:
 
write-stuff said:
We have a little cabin up in the mountains and go there nearly every weekend. There's another cabin about 200 yards up the hill and this guy leaves his floodlights on all the time. It's not noticeable when the trees have leaves on them, but in the winter, I can't stand it. I like walking at night and he's reaching out and touching me in a way I don't care for. Someone needs to adapt light saber technology so that the light extends out a finite distance and then stops.
Click to expand...

can you say "pellet gun" ??:dunno:.....;)
 
ARFlyer said:
I came across an interesting House bill while browsing through our state's proposed bill portal today.

The bill is about making it illegal for state agencies and receivers of state funds to build, install or repair outdoor lights that are not fully shielded. Also a possible rider would include phasing out all unshielded lights in all public spaces.

I would fully support any law that would solve our light pollution problems. There is no rational need for unshielded lights in most locations and needs. I'm lucky to see the Pleiades, Andromeda or even spot a passing satellite on a moonless night.
Click to expand...

Southern California switch from Mercury vapor lights to Sodium lights because Palomar and Griffith observatories couldn't see anymore.
 
Shawn said:
...then some environmental jackwagon is gonna use that to remove all airport beacons because in their infinite political wisdom they forgot a provision and the authors of the bill will go..."oops"!
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Nope, not only are beacons shielded, they are focused, rule does not apply.
 
ARFlyer said:
Thanks for the info!







Our neighbors at my parents house use to keep their lights on 24/7 when they first built their house a few years ago. They had lights on every single fence post and flood lights in the trees. They didn't like it being dark out in the country. They said it scared them. :dunno:
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And you immediately laughed and laughed and pointed while you laughed, when they said this, right? LOL. And then bought them headlamps as Christmas gifts? Hahaha.
 
ARFlyer said:
Thanks for the info!



Our neighbors at my parents house use to keep their lights on 24/7 when they first built their house a few years ago. They had lights on every single fence post and flood lights in the trees. They didn't like it being dark out in the country. They said it scared them. :dunno:
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They didn't want the burglars to trip in the dark and sue them. :no:
 
denverpilot said:
Doubt it. A porch light Maui probably isn't going to bother the telescope. LOL
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Maui is not on Hawaii.


""""The night sky over the Big Island, where the Mauna Kea Observatories is located, is protected by a strong lighting ordinance, which has preserved the dark night sky over that island. The dark sky has now become a tourist attraction, with the Visitor Information Station on Mauna Kea attracting more than 100,000 visitors per year, many of whom participate in the evening stargazing program. Many of Hawaii's visitors have never seen a dark sky. Nevertheless, as the population of the Big Island grows, we must continue to be vigilant to protect Mauna Kea's dark sky, and work to update the Hawaii County lighting ordinance as necessary.""""

http://www2.ifa.hawaii.edu/newsletters/article.cfm?a=301&n=1
 
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write-stuff said:
We have a little cabin up in the mountains and go there nearly every weekend. There's another cabin about 200 yards up the hill and this guy leaves his floodlights on all the time. It's not noticeable when the trees have leaves on them, but in the winter, I can't stand it. I like walking at night and he's reaching out and touching me in a way I don't care for. Someone needs to adapt light saber technology so that the light extends out a finite distance and then stops.
Click to expand...

http://www.amazon.com/Million-Candl...07K1A0S4&pebp=1422829409556&peasin=B007K1A0S4

Recommend you leave it aimed right at the roof of his place. Let the battery run down, recharge and run it again. Lather rinse repeat. He'll come and ask you about it eventually.
 
Observatory in my area.
County has rules about it, but not enforced. County itself has violative lighting.
We have really good people working on the problem; it's never-ending.
They battle the "I can put up any d___ light ah want!", attitude a lot.
Takes a lot of education to get through "Lights that shine up into the sky do not help you"
They talked a local detention center into using shielded fixtures (reflects the light back down = free light) and correct lamps and the prison has gone far past break-even on the modification in I think it was 2 years.
 
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