[Vision2020] Noise Ordinance

[Mike Finkbiner]

I'm a firm believer that people ought to be able to do what they want on 
their own property, but when the results pass the property line they become 
an issue for the neighbors.  If you paint your house chartreuse and purple 
or post obnoxious slogans people don't have to look, but if you crank your 
stereo in the middle of the night or have a 50 million candle power yard 
light, not looking doesn't do the job.

I agree that we should be able to find a compromise for the noise ordinance. 
  While Garrett is right to have some concerns about the police being able 
to cite people at any time for unspecified noise complaints, the current 
system is too cumbersome.

One problem with requiring a name on a complaint is that some offenders will 
want to retaliate, so allowing officers to investigate on their own makes 
sense.  Perhaps a written warning for the first offense, and a citation on 
the second offense within a month.  I don't know what the legalities are, 
but if the written warning is considered formal notice to everyone living at 
an address, whoever is responsible for subsequent noise incidents gets the 
citation.

Political speech should be protected, but if my neighbor wants to hold a 
high-energy Perot for President gathering in a residential neighborhood at 
midnight, I think they should be told to take it someplace else.


Mike Finkbiner
mike_l_f at hotmail.com

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