Perry Township Noise Control Resolution

NOISE CONTROL

(Adopted October 3, 2000, Resolution No. 2000-45)

Section No.

One DEFINITIONS

Two NOISE DISTURBANCES PROHIBITED

Three SPECIFIC PROHIBITIONS

Four MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE

Five INSPECTIONS

Six SPECIAL VARIANCES

Seven NOTICE OF VIOLATION

Eight OTHER REMEDIES

Nine EXCEPTIONS

Ten APPLICABILITY

Eleven USE OF RADIOS OR OTHER SOUND-MAKING DEVICES OR INSTRUMENTS IN VEHICLES

Twelve PENALTY

Section One DEFINITIONS

All definitions and terminology used in this Resolution not defined below shall be in conformance with applicable publications of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) of its successor body.

As used in this Resolution:

A. Modified Exhaust System - An exhaust system in which the original noise abatement devices have been physically altered causing them to be less effective in reducing noise or the original noise abatement devices have either been removed or replaced by noise abatement devices which are not as effective in reducing noise as the original devices, or devices have been added to the original noise abatement devices such that noise levels are increased.

B. Commercial Area - Any parcel of real property located within a B, B-2 or other B District.

C. Construction - Any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration, or similar action, but excluding demolition, for or on public or private right of way, structures, utilities or similar property.

D. Demolition - Any dismantling or intentional destruction or removal of structures, utilities, public or private right-of-way surfaces, or similar property.

E. Emergency - Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage or loss which demands immediate action.

F. Emergency Work - Any work performed for the purpose of preventing or alleviating the physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an emergency.

G. Light Motor Vehicle - Any automobile, van, motorcycle, motor driven cycle, motor scooter, dune buggy, snowmobile, all terrain vehicles, go-carts, mini-bikes or trucks with gross vehicular weight of less than 8,000 pounds.

H. Motor Vehicle - Every vehicle defined as a motor vehicle in the Ohio Revised Code.

I. Motorcycle - Every vehicle defined as a motorcycle in the Ohio Revised Code.

J. Motorized Bicycle - Every vehicle defined as a motorized bicycle in the Ohio Revised Code.

K. Noise - Any sound which annoys or disturbs persons of normal sensibilities or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological effect on persons.

L. Noise Disturbance - Any sound which endangers or injures the safety or health of human or animals; annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities; or endangers or injures personal or real property.

M. Person - Any individual, association, partnership or corporation and includes any officer, employee, department, agency or instrumentality of a state or any political subdivision of a state.

N. Place of Public Entertainment - Any commercial facility open to the general public for purposes of entertainment.

O. Powered Motor Vehicle - Any self-propelled airborne, waterborne, or landborne plane, vessel or vehicle which is not designed to carry persons, including but not limited to, any model airplane, boat, car or rocket.

P. Public Right of Way - Any street, road, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk, alley, or other roadway.

Q. Real Property Boundary - Any imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another person.

R. Residential Area - Any parcel of real property located within a R, ER-1, ER-2, ER-3, or other Residential District.

S. Sound - An oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity, or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that cause compression and rarefaction of that medium. The description of sound may include any characteristic of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency.

Section Two NOISE DISTURBANCES PROHIBITED

In addition to the specific prohibitions outlined in this Resolution, no person shall unreasonably make, continue or cause to be made, continued or permitted, any noise disturbance. This Resolution shall not apply to noncommercial public speaking and public assembly activities conducted on any public space or public right of way. This Resolution applies to all liquor establishments to which a D Permit has been issued by the Division of Liquor Control.

Section Three SPECIFIC PROHIBITIONS

The following acts and the causing or permitting thereof, are declared to be in violation of this Resolution.

A. Air Conditioners - Maintaining any refrigeration machinery or air conditioning, consisting of air compressors or rotating or reciprocating machinery, in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary.

B. Construction - Operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling or demolition work between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary, except for emergency work of public service utilities or by special variance. This paragraph shall not apply to the use of domestic power tools subject to subsection (C) hereof.

C. Domestic Power Tools - Operating or permitting the operation of any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, grinder, lawn or garden tool, lawnmower, or other similar device used outdoors, other than powered snow removal equipment, outdoors between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or on Saturday or Sunday before the hour of 8:00 a.m.

D. Emergency Signaling Devices - The intentional sounding or permitting the sounding outdoors of any fire, burglar or civil defense alarm, siren, whistle or similar stationary emergency signaling device, except for emergency purposes or for testing, as provided in this section. Testing of a stationary emergency signaling device shall occur at the same time of day each time such a test is performed, but not before 7:00 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m. or the closing time of a commercial establishment, whichever shall occur later. Any such testing shall use only the minimum cycle test time. In no case shall such time exceed sixty seconds. Testing of the complete emergency signaling system, including the functioning of the signaling device and the personnel response to the signaling device, shall not occur before 7:00 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m. In no case shall such test exceed ten seconds.

E. Explosives, Firearms, and Similar Devices - The using of firing or explosives, firearms, or similar devices which create impulsive sound so as to cause a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary or on a public space or right of way, without first obtaining a special variance. This section shall not apply to permitted hunting or target shooting.

F. Loading and Unloading Materials - Loading, unloading, opening, closing, or other handling of boxes, crates, containers, building materials, garbage cans or similar objects between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary.

G. Loudspeakers/Public Address System
1. Using, operating or permitting the operation of any loudspeaker, public address system, mobile sound vehicle or similar device amplifying sound therefrom on a public right of way or public space for any commercial purpose.

2. Using, operating or permitting for any noncommercial purpose any loudspeaker, public address system, mobile sound vehicle, or similar device between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary.

H. Powered Model Vehicles - Operating or permitting the operation of a powered model vehicle or vehicles so as to create a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary or in a public space between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

I. Vehicle or Motorboat Repairs and Testing - Repairing, rebuilding, modifying or testing any motor vehicle, motorcycle, motorized bicycle or motorboat in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Section Four MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE

No person shall operate a motor vehicle which causes excessive noise levels, as a result of a defective or modified exhaust system, as a result of an unnecessary rapid acceleration, deceleration, engine revving, tire squealing, or as the result of the operation of audio devices such as, but not limited to radios, phonographs and tape players.

Section Five INSPECTIONS

Any Deputy Sheriff, in addition to any other authority vested in him, has the power, upon presentation of proper credentials, to enter and inspect any dwelling, multi-family dwelling, building, structure or premises within the Township as may be necessary to enforce the provisions of this Resolution provided permission is obtained from the occupant or, in the case of unoccupied property, from the owner or his agent. If such permission is refused, or is otherwise unobtainable, a search warrant must be obtained upon the showing of probable cause to believe that a violation of this Resolution may exist, before such entry or inspection is made.

Section Six SPECIAL VARIANCES

A. The Board of Township Trustees or their designated representative shall have the authority, consistent with this section, to grant special variances.

B. Any person seeking a special variance pursuant to this section shall file an application with the Board of Township Trustees, or their designated representative. The application shall contain information which demonstrates that bringing the source of sound or activity for which the special variance is sought into compliance with this Resolution would constitute unreasonable hardship on the applicant, on the community or other persons. Notice of an application for special variance shall be given by the Board of Township Trustees or their representative to persons who frequent the area of the sound or activity and who may be adversely affected by the granting of the variance. Any individual who claims to be adversely affected by allowance of the special variance may file a statement with the Board of Township Trustees or their representative containing any information to support his or her claim.

C. Application for extension of time limits specified in special variances or for modification of other substantial conditions shall be treated like applications for initial special variances.

D. The Board of Township Trustees, or their designated representative, may issue guidelines approved by the Board of Township Trustees defining the procedures to be followed in applying for a special variance and the criteria to be considered in deciding whether to grant a special variance.

E. Enforcement of this Resolution shall be stayed as to any person filing an application for a special variance pursuant to this section, until such time as the application is acted upon by the Board of Township Trustees or their designated representative provided, however, that the application is filed to allow the Trustees a reasonable time to act upon such application.

Section Seven NOTICE OF VIOLATION

Violation of any provision of this Resolution shall be cause for a notice of violation to be issued by any Deputy Sheriff.

Section Eight OTHER REMEDIES

No provision of this Resolution shall be construed to impair any common law or statutory cause of action, or legal remedy therefrom, of any person for injury or damage arising from any violation of this Resolution or from other law.

Section Nine EXCEPTIONS

The provisions of this Resolution shall not apply to the following:

A. The emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency, or for the performance of emergency work.

B. Organized school-related programs, activities or parades or other public programs, activities or events authorized by the Board of Township Trustees or their designated representative.

C. Agricultural activities as defined in Ohio Revised Code, Section 1.61, are exempt from the provisions of this Resolution.

Section Ten APPLICABILITY

Nothing in this Resolution shall be construed to permit conduct prohibited by any other statute, resolution, or regulation or to prohibit the enforcement thereof.

Section Eleven USE OF RADIOS OR OTHER SOUND-MAKING DEVICES OR INSTRUMENTS IN VEHICLES

A. It is unlawful for any person operating or occupying a motor vehicle on a street or highway to operate or amplify the sound produced by a radio, tape player or other mechanical sound-making device or instrument from within the motor vehicle so that the sound is:

1. Plainly audible at a distance of 100 feet or more from the motor vehicle; or

2. Louder than necessary for convenient hearing by persons inside the vehicle in areas adjoining churches, schools, or hospitals.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any law enforcement motor vehicle equipped with any communication device necessary in the performance of law enforcement duties or to any emergency or public safety vehicle equipped with any communication device necessary in the performance of any emergency procedures.

C. The provisions of this section do not apply to motor vehicles used for business or political purposes, which, in the normal course of conducting such business, use sound-making devices.

D. The provisions of this section do not apply to the noise made by a horn or other warning device required or permitted by State law or these codified resolutions.

E. As used in this section, "plainly audible" means any sound produced by a radio, tape player or other mechanical or electronic sound-making device or instrument, from within the interior or exterior of a motor vehicle, including sound produced by a portable sound-making device, that can be clearly heard outside the vehicle by a person using his or her normal hearing faculties, at a distance of 100 feet or more from the motor vehicle.

F. A Deputy Sheriff who hears a sound that is plainly audible, as defined herein, shall be entitled to measure the sound according to the following standards:

1. The primary means of detection shall be by means of the Deputy's ordinary auditory senses, so long as the Deputy's hearing is not enhanced by any mechanical device, such as a microphone or hearing aid.

2. The Deputy shall have a direct line of sight and hearing to the motor vehicle producing the sound so that he or she can readily identify the offending motor vehicle and the distance involved.

3. The Deputy need not determine the particular words or phrases being produced or the name of any song or artist producing the sound. The detection of a rhythmic bass reverberating-type sound is sufficient to constitute a plainly audible sound.

G. The motor vehicle from which the sound is produced shall be located upon (stopped, standing, or moving) any street or highway within the Township. Parking lots and driveways are included when any part thereof is open to the public for purposes of vehicular traffic.

H. The standards set forth in subsection (G) hereof, shall also apply to the detection of sound that is louder than necessary for the convenient hearing of persons inside the motor vehicle in areas adjoining churches, hospitals, or parks.

I. Whoever violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a Minor Misdemeanor for each offense and shall be subject to the penalty provided in Section Twelve.

Section Twelve PENALTY

A. Whoever violates any provision of this Resolution is guilty of a Minor Misdemeanor. If the offender has previously been convicted of violating any provision of this Resolution then the offender shall be guilty of a Misdemeanor of the Fourth Degree. When the offense is continuous or repetitious in nature, then each day that violation continues or is repeated shall be deemed a repetition of the offense and shall be punished as a separate distinct offense.

B. Fines levied and collected under this section shall be paid into the Township general revenue fund.

C. Any person allegedly aggrieved by another person's violation of a regulation or order adopted under this Resolution may seek, in a civil action, a declaratory judgment, an injunction, or other appropriate relief against the other person for committing the act or practice that violates that resolution or order. The court involved in the civil action may award to the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees limited to the work reasonably performed.