Bedminster Township v. Vargo Dragway, Inc.
Bedminster Township v. Vargo Dragway, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
This appeal lies from a decree of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County permanently enjoining the operation of a drag strip racing track on the ground that the operation of . the track constituted a nuisance in fact.
In March, 1958, Jacob Vargo and Mary Vargo, his wife (Vargos), owned a twenty-seven acre tract of land located in Bedminster Township, Bucks County. At that time the Vargos leased the premises to the Lehigh Valley Timing Association (Timing Association).
On the average Sunday approximately 130 to 140 cars compete in timed races of speed and acceleration with two cars competing at a time. Of these cars, 75% are stock cars equipped with mufflers; some of the remaining cars have no mufflers and some have modified or semi-modified mufflers. Some of the cars are “dragsters,” i.e., custom-made for racing, some of which burn methyl alcohol for fuel. Speeds up to 196 miles per hour have been recorded, and some “dragsters” use parachutes to aid in stopping at the end of the track.
The track itself operates for racing only on Sundays beginning about 9 :00 a.m. and continuing in operation until 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. with a loud-speaker operating
Tbe neighborhood in tbe vicinity of tbe race track is primarily residential and farming in character with about 62 bouses within a one-mile radius of tbe track. Within tbe same radius are located a small experimental laboratory, a hotel, a general store, a milk farm and a junk yard. . Many of tbe residences in tbe general area are used for vacation and weekend purposes only.
In 1961 tbe Vargos conveyed tbe tract to Vargo Dragway, Inc., a family corporation in which tbe Var-gos and a daughter owned all tbe stock. At tbe time of tbe institution of tbe present proceeding the lease between tbe Vargos and tbe Timing Association no longer was in effect and tbe track was operated by Vargo Dragway, Inc., with tbe assistance of Timing Association personnel hired on a per diem basis.
On March 22, 1963, Bedminster Township instituted equity proceedings in tbe Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County against Vargo Dragway, Inc., tbe Timing Association and tbe Vargos, alleging conduct on their part in tbe operation of tbe track which constituted a nuisance in fact. Upon answer filed and after hearing, the Court entered a decree nisi enjoining and restraining the defendants from operating' the drag strip racing track. Exceptions to this decree nisi were filed and the court en banc of Bucks County dismissed the exceptions and entered a final decree.
Basically, we must determine whether tbe evidence of record as to tbe manner in which this track was
In Ebur v. Alloy Metal Wire Co., 304 Pa. 177, 182, 183, 155 A. 280 (1931), we said: “It has been said that a ‘fair test as to whether a business lawful in itself, or a particular use of property, constitutes a nuisance, is the reasonableness or unreasonableness of conducting the business or making the use of the property complained of in the particular locality and in the manner and under the circumstances of the case’: 46 C. J. 655. It has also been said: ‘Whether the use is reasonable generally depends upon many and varied facts. No hard and fast rule controls the subject. A use that would be reasonable under one set of facts might be unreasonable under another. What is reasonable is sometimes a question of law, and at other times, a question of fact. No one particular fact is conclusive, but the inference is to be drawn from all the facts proved whether the controlling fact exists that the use is unreasonable’: 46 C. J. 656.” See also: Reid v. Brodsky, 397 Pa. 463, 469, 470, 156 A. 2d 334 (1959); Hannum v. Gruber, 346 Pa. 417, 31 A. 2d 99 (1943).
Although not entitled to absolute quiet in the enjoyment of property, every person has the right to require a degree of quietude which is consistent with the standard of comfort prevailing in the locality wherein he lives. See: Firth v. Scherzberg, 366 Pa. 443, 447, 77 A. 2d 443 (1951); Crew v. Gallagher, 358 Pa. 541,
The court below made, inter alia, the following findings of fact: “23. The noise made by the revving up. of the vehicles and during the time tests them-, selves is ‘somewhat analogous to an operating chain saw’,..almost-‘jet-like explosions’, a ‘complete shatter-ing npise’, but no matter how described has the effect, of. limiting; the- enjoyment of persons; not only living in the immediate community, but at least a mile, therefrom. ,24. -The resonance and intensity of the .sound is such that it can be heard at a distance-of three miles from the drag strip. 25: At homes approximately a mile from the .drag strip the noise is such as to make it impossible to carry on a conversation in a normal tone of voice, to prevent the enjoyment.of out-of-doors activities, to listen to television programs without turning on the sound at high volume, to cause windows, to rattle, and is disturbing to cattle. 26. In the. immediate area of .the race track the residents are. required to. close their windows in order that reasonable quiet, may prevail in .their homes. 27. At the Presbyterian Church of Deep Run, located on Elephant Road approximately two. miles from the track, the noise of the cars-going to . the- track disturbs church services. 28. During that time on Sundays when the track is in operation, -there is a great increase in traffic on the roads and highways approaching the track [as amended].”
Our examination and reading of this record reveal, that these findings of fact are fully supported by the testimony of record. That the noise which emanated from this drag strip racing was an annoyance and inr convenience to persons not only near at hand but some miles from the track is established beyond question:
The court below, within whose province rested the determination of the credibility of witnesses, in its
In Kohr v. Weber, 402 Pa. 63, 166 A. 2d 871 (1960), we had before us a situation in many respects similar to the instant situation. Upholding a decree enjoining the operation of a drag strip racing track in Lancaster County, we held that, in some circumstances, prolonged and excessive noise may constitute a nuisance in fact and that the operation of the track, including the noise and illumination therefrom, constituted a nuisance in fact. Although, unlike Kohr, in the case at bar the illumination of the track was not a matter of complaint, the evidence of noise was equally as
The principle underlying restraint of the operation-of this, drag strip racing track has been well enunciated by this Court in Edmunds v. Duff, 280 Pa. 355, 364, 124 A. 489 (1924), wherein we said: “No man. has a right to take from another the enjoyment of the. reasonable and essential comforts of life and, consequently, cannot commit acts on his own premises calculated to interfere with the reasonable enjoyment by others of their homes.” See also: Kohr v. Weber, supra, at 67.
While the record shows that the Vargos expended a sum in excess of $80,000.00 in connection with the construction of this track and -other improvements, they took a “calculated” risk in so doing. Granting-that drag strip racing -is not a nuisance per se, yet the instant record speaks clearly and emphatically to the effect that the operation of this track has become a nuisance in fact. Balancing the equities between the parties, we believe that the rights of those occupying properties adjoining or in the neighborhood of. this track are paramount , to the rights of the Vargos and that the former must be protected by equity in the. enjoyment of their homes.
We believe that the court below in its findings is amply sustained by the record, that it committed no error of law. or abuse of discretion and that it did -not place its imprimatur of belief on the Township witnesses in a capricious manner.
Decree affirmed. -The Vargos to pay costs.
Timing Association is a corporation which supplies services for drag races such as “running the clocks,” starting the cars and races, inspecting the ears, etc.
On June 7, 1958, Bedminster Township adopted an ordinance which declared the operation of drag strip racing in the Township to be a public nuisance and prohibited such racing within the Township limits. The Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County refused to enforce this ordinance on the ground that the Township, absent a legislative grant of power to do so, lacked any authority
In 1964 races were held on approximately twenty-five Sundays.
Dissenting Opinion
Dissenting Opinion by
Since in this action it has been determined that - drag racing is not a nuisance per se; I consider the
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Bedminster Township v. Vargo Dragway, Inc. Et Al., Appellants
- Cited By
- 18 cases
- Status
- Published