Noise abatement in STT?

You might want to call "The COP Show" on Radio One. Director Blake takes questions on all sorts of issues. I think it is 11am on Saturdays.

And Radio Shack has an SPL (Sound Pressure level) Meter that you could buy for yourself (lots of uses, such as calibrating a home theater, testing out a new muffler on the car, proving that the neighbors are too loud after 11, etc.) About $50 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103667 Hard to believe,, but I can produce a 117db whistle! 120bd is the approximate SPL of a jet taking off from 200 feet away!


Sounds dB SPL

Rocket Launching 180
Jet Engine 140
Thunderclap, Air Raid Siren 1 Meter 130
Jet takeoff (200 ft) 120
Rock Concert, Discotheque 110
Firecrackers, Subway Train 100
Heavy Truck (15 Meter), City Traffic 90
Alarm Clock (1 Meter), Hair Dryer 80
Noisy Restaurant, Business Office 70
Air Conditioning Unit, Conversational Speech 60
Light Traffic (50 Meter), Average Home 50
Living Room, Quiet Office 40
Library, Soft Whisper (5 Meter) 30
Broadcasting Studio, Rustling Leaves 20
Hearing Threshold 0

Pick up one of those and measure the volume and save it to show the police...or, take a measurement when the police arrive to show them that it's "too loud"...anything over 70db after 11pm is too loud, IMHO...

More info about SPL: http://www.jimprice.com/prosound/db.htm

The police department does not have the equipment. When you can to complain be prepared to wait a couple of hours. Buying your own decimal machine is not a bad idea or keeping a log of the noisy neighbor. Once you get your police report, go down to the AG's office with your log and make a complaint if it still continues after the police report. Although you may have to wait a couple of weeks or months for the police report.

Been through this so many times. I don't understand how people can disrespect their neighbors so badly. Especially in a climate where most of leave our windows open 24/7

Or....I could bring my Home Theater over to your house and we could p*ss off the entire neighborhood! I've got over twelve grand in equipment, and lemme tell ya....it maxes out the db meter...which only goes up to 126db!! haha! (Only! Heehee!)

Just for reference OSHA states the maximum noise level a worker may experience is an average of 90dB during an 8-hour day, above that requires a hearing conservation program (i.e. ear plugs and yearly audiograms) in addition if sound levels are above 120 dB you need double ear protection plugs covered with muffs.

I wonder if I should issue them to friends coming over to watch a movie? Haha! I only turn it up really loud to demonstrate it's capability! I usually listen to movies with it set around 100db during the loud explosions....but it still shakes the heck outta the house! Haha!

Thanks, Betty, for the helpful guidelines on how to approach the filing of a complaint. I am still interested to know if anyone else has had any actual dealings with any officials about the noise abatement ordinance, or if anyone knows any requirements or limits imposed by the law.

I'm sorry but thats what I'm saying, that they can't enforce it because they do not have the machines and there is no concrete plan for the police department to buy them..its all talk right now. You can try buying one and donating it. One of the AG's mentioned that to me. But seriously the AG department is so totally overworked you make not get taken as seriously as you wish. If you have something like a camcorder you could try using that to document your problem as well. Good Luck I know how frustrating it is to live next to someone who has no respect for their neighbors.

today, I was directed to the www.legvi.org website and the "bill tracking" link on that page. Act 6930 is the "Noise Pollution Control Act" and it was passed in July 2007. Among other things, this act appropriated $100,000 for sound level measuring equipment to be spent in the fiscal year ending September 2008. It is a shame these funds have not found their way to this legislated objective . . . I guess the police department was just trying to save taxpayers' money if they did not make that purchase!

The law prohibits operation of a sound amplification device to create a noise disturbance (defined as anything that "unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of life, quiet, comfort or outdoor recreation of an individual of ordinary sensitivity and habits", or also specifically any noise "exceeding a sound level of 75 dBA"). The law does not make ANY provisions about time of day, by the way: a loud event in the afternoon is only different from one at night to the extent that individuals may be ordinarily less sensitive about the daytime noise. Unfortunately, I suppose so few of us would be considered of ordinary sensitivity and habits that this rule might never apply - ha ha??! Well, the rule is there for anyone else who has an interest in it... I guess there is a wide chasm between having a law and having one enforced - but sometimes maybe, that works FOR each of us too!