<div> </div>
<div>All:</div>
<div> </div>
<div>For an explanation of what a decibel is etc., info at this web link:</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="http://physics.mtsu.edu/~wmr/log_3.htm">http://physics.mtsu.edu/~wmr/log_3.htm</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Different "weightings" involved in measuring decibels, and other complexities, are discussed at the web link below:</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/2004-About-dB/">http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/2004-About-dB/</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Note OSHA's noise standards for safety using decibels defined under dB(A) slow response measurement:</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTt5X&EnXF6EVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666">http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTt5X&EnXF6EVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666</a>--</div>
<div> </div>
<div>------</div>
<div>OSHA, and law enforcement, use decibels as an objective standard for noise exposure safety, and annoyance, for legal definitions. I don't doubt there are problems with accuracy that can arise with the use of decibel meters by law enforcement, but other cities use decibels as an objective means of regulating nuisance noise as defined in code:
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Below read about Lewiston Idaho city code referencing decibel levels:</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="http://www.cityoflewiston.org/police/City%20Codes%20(FAQ's).htm">http://www.cityoflewiston.org/police/City%20Codes%20(FAQ's).htm</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div><i><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a name="Sec. 24-40 How loud can a car stereo be played">How loud can a car stereo be played?</a></font></b></i></div>
<div>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><i><b>Sec. 24-40. Maximum permissible environmental noise and sound levels.</b></i></font></p>
<ol type="a">
<li>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: -8px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">No person shall cause or permit noise or sound(s) to intrude into the property of another person, which noise or sound(s) exceeds the maximum permissible noise levels set forth below in this section.
</font></p>
<li>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">The sound limitations established herein are as set forth in the following table after any applicable adjustments provided for herein are applied, which, when said sound limitations are exceeded, shall constitute excessive and unnecessary sound(s) and shall be violations in their own right, as well as being prima facie evidence of noise.
</font></p>
<li>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">No sound shall exceed any of the below-established zone limits by fifteen (15) dbA at any point in time.</font></p>
<li>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">The sound shall not exceed any of the below-established zone limits by ten (10) dbA for a cumulative total of one (1) minute or more out of any ten-minute period.
</font></p>
<li>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">The sound shall not exceed any of the below-established zone limits by three (3) dbA continually for a period of five (5) minutes, or for a cumulative total of five (5) minutes or more out of any ten-minute period.
</font></p>
<li>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: -8px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">Noise buffering measures shall be provided to mitigate the impacts of noise on receiving land uses. Decibel meter readings entering the land uses listed shall not exceed the listed maximum decibel levels except as allowed in this code:
</font></p></li></li></li></li></li></li></ol>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><u>Maximum Decibel <i>Land Use Category Levels</i></u><br>Residential – Multiple-family, dormitories, etc. 60<br>Transient lodging 65
<br>School classrooms, libraries, churches 62<br>Hospitals, nursing homes 55<br>Auditoriums, concert halls, music shells 60<br>Sports arenas, outdoor spectator sports 70<br>Playgrounds, neighborhood parks 65<br>Golf courses, riding stables, water recreation, cemeteries 65
<br>Office buildings – Personal, business and professional 70<br>Commercial – Retail, movie theaters, restaurants 70<br>Commercial – Wholesale, some retails, industry, manufacturing, utilities 75<br>Manufacturing, communication (noise-sensitive) 62
<br>Livestock farming, animal breeding 70<br>Agriculture (except livestock), mining, fishing 80<br>Public rights-of-way 80<br>Extensive natural recreation areas 75<br><br><i><u>Land Use Category</u></i></font></p>
<table style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" width="19%">
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> </p></td>
<td style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" width="40%">
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">Maximum Decibel Levels Permitted from 7 am until 10 pm of the Same Day </font></p></td>
<td style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" width="41%">
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">Maximum Decibel Levels Permitted from 10 pm until 7 am of the Following Day</font></p></td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" width="19%">
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">Residential –<br>Single-family, duplex, mobile homes <br> </font></p></td>
<td style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" align="middle" width="40%">
<p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman">60</font></p></td>
<td style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" align="middle" width="41%">
<p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman">50</font></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman"> (Ord. No. 3560, § 1, 3-9-81; Ord. No. 3919, § 1, 5-16-88; Ord. No. 3949, § 1, 5-30-89)</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">---------------------------------------</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman">Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett</font></p></div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote"></span> </div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 11/15/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">KRFP</b> <<a href="mailto:krfp@radiofreemoscow.org">krfp@radiofreemoscow.org</a>> wrote:</span></div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">This actually could be a concern. Unless things have changed<br>drastically in the years since I used one, Decibel meters are actually
<br>quite hard to get an accurate reading with. A person (or an officer)<br>with experience with the device could make it read almost anything (s)he<br>wants.<br><br>A decibel is NOT an absolute value, it is a CHANGE in value. To say
<br>"that noise is 90dB" is an incorrect statement. You can say "that noise<br>is 90 dB above <insert some other sound pressure level here>", but it<br>needs a base reference. Which is only one place where inaccuracies in a
<br>reading can come from.<br><br>For the record; I calibrated and repaired electronic test equipment in<br>the Navy. And also often measured the sound pressure of car stereos at<br>Optimum Sound over in Pullman, where I was the Service Manager.
<br><br>Dave<br><br><br>Ted Moffett wrote:<br>><br>> I have not heard any substantial arguments why a decibel meter is not<br>> advisable to measure noise law enforcement is monitoring for<br>> restrictive action. As long as the decibel meter is calibrated and
<br>> used correctly (same issue with radar for speeding), this provides an<br>> objective standard for enforcement, avoiding subjective biased or<br>> random standards.<br>><br>> Ted Moffett<br>><br>>
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