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HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-554i ORDINANCE NO. 55,0 AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING UNNECESSARYPOISES, WITH MAXIMUM DECIBELS ALLOWED AND PROVISIONS FOR INFORCMENT AND THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE SAME. Section 1 CA) The making and creation of excessive, unnecessary or unusually loud noises within th_elimits of the City of Fairhope, Alabama, is a condition which has existed for some time and the extent and volume of such noises is i ncreasi..ng : CB) The making, creation o^ maintenance of such excessive unnecessary) unnatural or unusually loud noises which are prolonged, unusual and unnatural in their time, place and use affect and are a detriment to the public heal.th, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare and prosperity of the resrdants of the I City of Fairhope; and j (C) The necessity in the public interest for the provisions and prohibitions hereinafter contained and enacted, is declared as a matter of legislative determination and public policy, and it is further declared that he provisions and prohibitions hereinafter contained and are enacted or in persueance of and for the purpose of securing and promoting the Public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare and prosperity and the peace and quiet of the City of Fairhope and its inhabitants.. Section 2 It shall be unlawful for aly person to make, continue, or cause to j be made or continued ay excessive, unnecessarily or unusually loud noise or any noise which either annoys,.,disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, within the limits of the City of Fairhope. Section 3 NOISES PROHIBITED -UNNECESSARY NOISE STANDARD. The following acts among others are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this Ordinance, but said enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive, mainly: (A) HORNS, SIGNALING DEVICES, ETC. The sounding of any horn or signa ing devise on any automobile, motorcycle, or other.vebicle on any street or public place in the City, except as a danger warning; the creation by means of any such signaling devise of any unreasonably loud or harsh sound; and the sounding of any such devise for an uinecessary and unreasonable period of time. The use of any signaling devise excerpt me operated by hand or electricity; the use of any horn, whistle or other devise operated by engine exhaust; and the use of any -such signaling devise when traffic is for any reason held up. (B) LOUD SPEAKERS, AMPLIFIERS FOR ADVERTISING. The using, operating or peomiting to be played, used or operatedof any radio receiving set, musical I instrument, phonograph, loud speaker, sound amplifier, or other machine or devise for the producing or reproducing of sound which is on the public streets for th2 purpose of commercial advertis ing or attracting the attention of the public to any bui.ldi.ng or structure. (C) YELLING, SHOUTING, ETC. Yelling, shouting, houting, whistling, or sing ing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort; or repose of persons in any office, or in any dwelling, hotel or any other type) of residence, or of any persons in the vacinity. ! (D) EXHAUST The dicharge into the'open air of the exhaust of any internal combustion aigine, motor boat or any other motor vehicle except through! a muffler or other devise which will effectivly prevent loud or explosive noise therefrom. f f (E) The use of any automobile, motorcycle, motorscooter, go cart, or any other vehicle so out of repair, or so loaded or in such matter to create loud and unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling, or other noise, including excessive noise coming through the exhaust thereof. (F) EXEMPTIONS The following uses and activities shall:,be exempt from noise level regulations. (1) Noises of safety signals, warning devises and emergency pressure relief valves. 1 (2) Noises resulting from any authorized emergency vehicle, when re-. sponding to an emergency call or acting in the time of an emergency. NI:MLQ' MODEL ORDINANCE SERVICE TABLET - LIMITING NOISE LEVELS'FOR USE DISTRICTS j Octave band Maximum Permissible Sound Pressure ! Center frequency, (Levels. in Decibels re 0.0002 Microbar� ) Cycles'Per Second Use Di.stri ct Residential Commercial Manufacturing Belov 75 75-1 50 65 79 $0 150-300 60 74 75 300-600 55 66 70 600-1200 55 59 64 1200-2400.. 45 53 58 2400-4800.. .45 47 .53 Above 4800 40 41 49 40 49 46 C41 If the noise is not smooth and continuous-, one or more of the corrections in Table II below shall be'added to or subtracted from each of the decibel levels_ given i.n Table I of subsection 3 of this section. TABLE II TYPE OF OPERATION IN .CHARACTER OF NOISE (Correction i,n Decibels) Noise source operated less than 20% of any one -hour period; plus' 5*. Noise source operated less than 5% of any one -hour period; plus 10*. Noise source operated less than 1% of any one -hour period; plus;l5*. Noise of impulsive character (hammering, etc:): mi.nus.5. Noise of periodic character (hum, screech, etc.): minus 5. (5) If the noise occurs between the hours of 10 P.M. - 7 A.M. on onday through. Saturday or at any time on Sunday or Holidays, 7 seven) shall be subtracted from each of the decibel levels given in Table 1 of Subsection 3 of this section. (D) Motorized Vehicles. It shall be unlawful to operate a motorized vehicle wi.th.in the City limits which creates a noise -or sound which exceeds the noise level limits set out in Table III. below. TABLE III - LIMITING NOISE LEVELS'FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. (a) Trucks. and buses: Over 10 000 pounds: 87 d6 A measured at 50 93 dB�A measured at 25 Under 10,000 pounds: 80 dB(A) measured at 50 86 dB(A) measured at.25 (b) Passenger Cars: . 78 dB(A) measured at 50 feet -Maximum Allowable Limit feet -Maximum Allowable Limit feet -Maximum Allowable Limit feet -Maximum Allowable Limit feet -Maximum Allowable Limit *Apply one of these corrections only. MODEL NOISE ORDINANCE 84 dB(A) measured at 25 feet -Maximum Allowable Limit (c) Motorcylces, including other veh-icles: 87 dB(A) measured at 50 feet -Maximum Allowable Limit 93 dB(A) measured at 25 feet -Maximum Allowable Limit (3) Any other noise resulting from activities of the temporary duration permited by law and which a lisence or permit therefore has been granted by the city in accordance with its ordinances aid laws. (G) TEST FOR UNLAWFUL NOISE. The standards which shall be considered in determining whether a•violation of the preceeding Sections exist shall includ but shall not be.limited'to'the following: - (1) 'The'volume of the noise. (2). The intensity of the noise. C3). Whether the nature of the noise is usual or unusual. C4)'.'Whether the'origin of the'nois.e is natural or unnatural. C5) The volume and intensity of the background noise, if any. (6) The proximity of the noise to residential sleeping facilities. (7)• The nature and zoning of the area within the noise iminates. '(8).. The density of inhabitation of the area within which the noise iminates. (9). The time of the day orright'.the noise occurs. (10) The duration of theroise. (11) Whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent or constant. (12) Whether the noise is produced by'a commercial or noncommercial activity. Section 4 Any person violating any of th.e'provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in an amount not exceeding $200.00, or e.imprisoned in the City or County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both fine and imprisonment. Each day such violation is commi.ted or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as'a separate offense and shall be punishable as hereinabove set out. Section 5 I:t is the intention of the City Council that each separate provision of this Ordinance shall be deemed independant of all other provisions herein, and it is further the intention of the City Council that if any provision of Is Ordinance be declared invalid, all other provisions thereof shall remain valid and enforceable, I This Ordinance shall-take,effect upon its due adoption and publicatjon as required by.Law. f ADOPTED THIS THE' -2 "W'' ' DAY OF 1975. A� ST �CIT LERK