By James Griffin

Copyright keenesentinel

For years, the residents of Key Road have had to put up with drivers burning rubber, speeding, revving their engines, and blowing horns at all hours of the day and night. Despite the best efforts of the Keene Police Department, enforcement efforts have been largely unsuccessful, because the perpetrators take off before an officer arrives.

Most of the trouble used to take place at night, centered around the Key Road Car Wash. Complaints by neighbors and diligent work by the Keene Police reduced the disturbances for a while. However, the violations have started up again, including an incident recently where three men spent close to 20 minutes burning rubber inside the car wash’s bays, then on Key Road itself. Tire smoke filled the air all around the car wash and Keene Elm City Hotel, causing hazardous conditions for anyone with a breathing ailment.

The staff at the Key Road Car Wash ignored all this, in fact one slammed the door in our faces when we went to ask why he didn’t stop the drivers from this behavior. A Keene officer did speak to him, but got nowhere.

The absentee owner of the Key Road Car Wash is almost impossible to reach, and has refused to address the issue in any event.

Therefore, most of the residents of Key Road will be doing everything we can to stop this breach of our peace. We will be photographing any offenders and turning the pictures, including license plates, over to the Keene Police. In addition, we will be exploring the possibility of legal or civil action, including having the Key Road Car Wash declared a public nuisance for the owner’s refusal to take even the least bit of action to prevent the disturbances which emanate from their property.

We are also hoping residents of the city will patronize any of the other car washes in the city, establishments that maintain good relationships with their neighbors. Perhaps being hit in the pocketbook will finally convince Key Road Car Wash’s owner to finally take action.

And with the announcement that Revo Casino intends to move to Key Road, we look forward to the possibility their relocation will lead to increased enforcement of motor vehicle and noise laws on our street.

JAMES GRIFFIN