Truck beeping noise (Pasadena: transporting, neighborhood, school)

[robertpasa]

I often hear a beeping sound around midnight that is three beeps and then a pause and then three more beeps. I think it's a truck stopping to make a delivery or a garbage truck.

Last night I heard the beeping around 1:30 AM and again at 7AM which is annoying. I also heard a continuous beeping at one point, for about a minute.

I live in Pasadena near Lake and Cordova where there are lots of businesses and offices. But there are a lot of residences and you'd think the beep would annoy lots of people. It struck me as loud even with earplugs.

Is there anything I could do, like call the non-emergency police?

Is the beeping just a safety feature of trucks? Can it be disabled?

I've lived in the same place for almost a year and never heard this noise so late before. I've only heard it 9AM - midnight.

[ferretkona]

New driver, different route. A few weeks go by and you will not notice.

[1200RT]

If its a garbage truck, it is required per 27000(b)c.v.c. ... in which case, the police cannot do anything.

Also, many commercial vehicles are required to have audible backup alarms per the CA Division of Occupational Safety and Health, mostly found under Title 8, off the top of my head.

CA vehicle code:

27000. (a) A motor vehicle, when operated upon a highway, shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no horn shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound. An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with, and use in conjunction with the siren on that vehicle, an air horn that emits sounds that do not comply with the requirements of this section.

(b) A refuse or garbage truck shall be equipped with an automatic backup audible alarm that sounds on backing and is capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 100 feet or shall be equipped with an automatic backup device that is in good working order, located at the rear of the vehicle and that immediately applies the service brake of the vehicle on contact by the vehicle with any obstruction to the rear. The backup device or alarm shall also be capable of operating automatically when the vehicle is in neutral or a forward gear but rolls backward.

(c) A refuse or garbage truck, except a vehicle, known as a rolloff vehicle, that is used for the express purpose of transporting waste containers such as open boxes or compactors, purchased after January 1, 2010, shall also be equipped with a functioning camera providing a video display for the driver that enhances or supplements the drivers’ view behind the truck for the purpose of safely maneuvering the truck.

[robertpasa]

You'd think that if it annoyed enough people, someone could do something.

By the way, do garbage trucks sometimes operate really late, like after midnight? If not, I must be hearing delivery trucks.

[1200RT]

I doubt garbage trucks operate over night like that, but who knows. They don't around me, thats for sure.

I don't really know how to answer your question, other than to say that many (most) commercial delivery vehicles have backup warning systems, and most are protected by various regulations requiring them to have the devices.

I agree that they are annoying, but if they make the vehicle safer, then I suppose that trumps your slumber. If they actually make anyone safer or not ... well ... i have no idea.

[Hemlock140]

Reminds me of the Magnolia neighborhood in Seattle, where there is a recently opened truck driving school at the nearby Port. They don't run at night, but have trucks learning to back up making those beeps all day long, annoying the neighbors greatly. The city noise ordinances will not help since they are within the hours restrictions and maximum decibels.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

You could move. LOL I guess that is part of the problem when you live in a mixed use area. Problems are that the business owners also have rights in the area. Kind of like living near an airport, you end up living with the planes as well and their will be little you can do about that. I would contact the city and see what is up and if the problem can be changed in anyway. Their could be others that are also complaining.

[disgruntled la native]

Can't do much about them. When I lived in west LA those trucks woke me up at 7 am every morning. Even weekends. Earplugs or lots of white noise and close windows.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

Can't do much about them. When I lived in west LA those trucks woke me up at 7 am every morning. Even weekends. Earplugs or lots of white noise and close windows.

You mean you would sleep in till 7am?

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

You mean you would sleep in till 7am?

Yes, assuming one has class or work at 9 am, even 8 am, it's reasonable to sleep in that late. That was back when I was a student and had class as late as 11 am.