Section 9.16.030 Prohibited noises.
Prior to the adoption of Ord. 2002-03 on 05/15/2002, Section 9.16.030 read as follows.
The following acts among others, are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary
noises in violation of the ordinance codified in this chapter, but the enumeration shall not
be deemed to be exclusive, namely:
A. Horns, Signaling Devices, Etc.
1. a. The sounding of any horn or signaling device
on any automobile, motorcycle,
street car or other vehicle on any street or public place of the City, except as a danger
warning,
b. The
creation by means of any signaling device of any unreasonably loud or
harsh sound, and
c. The
sounding of any such device for an unnecessary and unreasonable period
of time,
2. a. The use of any signaling
device except one operated by hand or electricity,
b. The
use of any horn, whistle or other device operated by engine exhaust, and
c. The use
sounding of any such signaling device horn when the traffic is for any
reason held up;
B. Radios, Phonographs,Television sets,
Etc. The uUsing, operating, or permitting to
be played, used or operated, of any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph,
or other machine or device for the producing or amplifying of sound in such manner as to
disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants or at any time with
louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for the person or persons who are
in the room, vehicle, or chamber in which such machine or device is operated and who
are voluntary listeners thereto. The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph,
machine or device between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner as to
be plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet from the building, structure or vehicle in
which it is located, shall be prima facie evidence of violation of this section;
C. Yelling, Shouting, Etc. Yelling, shouting, hooting,
whistling or singing in
residential or noise sensitive places or from any private place, from any public place
or on
the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or at any
time or place so as
to
unreasonably annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort, or repose of
persons of
ordinary sensitivities in any office, or in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or
of any persons of ordinary sensitivities in the vicinity;
D. Animals, Birds, Etc. The keeping of any animal or
bird which by causing frequent
or long continued noise disturbs the comfort or repose of any persons of ordinanry
sensitivities in the vicinity;
E. Motor vehicle.
1. No person
shall drive or move or cause or knowingly permit to be driven or
moved a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles at any time in such a manner as to
exceed the following noise limits for the category of motor vehicle shown in the
following table. Noise shall be measured at a distance of at least twenty-five feet (seven
and one-half meters) from the near side of vehicle being monitored and at a height of at
least four feet (1.2 meters) above the immediate surrounding surface.
|
|
Speed
limit 40
mph or
less
|
Speed
limit
over 40
mph
|
|
Motor vehicle
with a
manufacturer's
gross vehicle
weight rating
(GVWR) or
gross
combination
weight rating
(GCWR) of
10,000 pounds
or more or any
combination
of vehicles
towed by such
motor
vehicles.
|
90
decibels
|
94
decibels
|
|
Any other
vehicle or any
combination of
vehicles towed
by any motor
vehicle.
|
80
decibels
|
84
decibels
|
2. This section shall apply to
the total noise from a vehicle or combination of
vehicles and shall not be construed as limiting or precluding the enforcement of any other
provision of this chapter relating to motor vehicle mufflers for noise control.
3. Sound level measurement. Sound
level measurement shall be made with a
sound level meter.
4. No person shall operate or
cause to be operated any motor vehicle unless the
exhaust system of the vehicle is;
a. free
from defects which affect sound reduction;
b. equipped
with a muffler or other noise disipative device; and
c. not
equipped with any cut-out, by-pass or similar device.
5. Dynamic braking devices, commonly
referred to as Jacobs Brakes,. No motor
vehicle shall be operated with a dynamic braking device engaged except for the aversion
of imminent danger.
6. Responsibility for enforcement. The Chief of Police or his authorized
representative shall have primary, but not exclusive, enforcement responsibility for this
chapter as it relates to vehicular noise sources, and joint enforcement responsibility with
appropriate law enforcement agencies as it relates to vehicular noise sources.
Exhausts. Improperly muffled vehicle engines, when the same are rapidly accelerated or
decelerated, and especially during such hours where they are likely to interfere with the
sleep or peaceful calm of residential neighborhoods;
F. Defect in Vehicle or Load. The use of any automobile,
motorcycle, or vehicle so
out of repair, so loaded, or in such manner as to create loud and unnecessary grating,
grinding, rattling or other noise;
G. Loading, Unloading, Opening Boxes. The creation of
a loud and excessive noise
in connection with loading or unloading of any vehicle, the opening and destruction of
bales, boxes, crates and containers, and the loading or unloading of trash between the
hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.;
H. Construction or Repairing of Buildings. The erection
(including excavation),
demolition, alteration or repair of any building other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m.
and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, except in the case of urgent necessity in the interest of public
health and safety, and then only with a permit from the Building Inspector, which permit
may be granted for a period not to exceed three (3) days or less while the emergency
continues, and which permit may be renewed for periods of three (3) days or less while
the emergency continues. If the Building Inspector determines that the public health and
safety will not be impaired by the erection, demolition, alteration or repair of any building
or excavation of streets and highways between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and
if he further determines that loss or inconvenience would result to any party in interest, he
may grant permission for such work to be done within the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00
a.m., upon application being made at the time the permit for the work is awarded or
during the progress of the work;
I. Schools, Courts, Churches, Hospitals. The creation
of any excess noise on any
street adjacent to any school, institution of learning, church or court while the same are in
use, or adjacent to any hospital, which unreasonably interferes with the workings of such
institution, or which disturbs or unduly annoys patients in the hospital, provided
conspicuous signs are displayed on such streets indicating that the same is a school,
hospital or court street;
J. Hawkers, Peddlers. The shouting and crying
of peddlers, hawkers and vendors
which disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood;
K. Drums. The use of any drum or other instrument
or device for the purpose of
attracting attention by creation of noise to any performance, show or sale;
L.J. Metal Rails, Pillars and Columns,
Transportation Thereof. The transportation of
rails, pillars or columns of iron, steel or other material, over and along streets and other
public places upon carts, trays, cars, trucks, or in any other manner so loaded as to cause
loud noises or as to disturb the peace and quiet of such streets or other public places;
M.K. Piledrivers, Hammers, Etc. The
operation between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and
7:00 a.m. of any piledriver, steam shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick, steam or electric
hoist or other appliance, the use of which is attended by loud or unusual noise;
N.L. Machinery. The operation of any
noise-creating machinery or other machinery
outside of an industrial zone, which causes noise audible on adjoining property due to the
explosion of operating gases or fluids, or noise created from electrical harnessing, unless
the noise from such machinery is muffled and such machinery is equipped with a muffler
device sufficient to deaden such noise. (Ord. 91-17 § 3; as amended during 1993
recodification)