Elkhart revises city noise ordinance

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Elkhart noise ordinance

The Elkhart City Council passed a noise ordinance that will increase fines and make it easier for police to enforce. (WSBT photo)

By Jim Pinkerton

Story Created: Jul 7, 2008 at 8:29 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 7, 2008 at 10:15 PM EST

ELKHART — Prepare to pay if you make noise in Elkhart. The City Council approved an updated noise ordinance Monday night.

Changes include how much someone can be fined and how the city tests for sound levels. Fines under the new ordinance start at $250 and go up to more than $2,000 for a fourth offense within three years.

Elkhart's police department will dedicate one officer to enforcing the new law.

The city's mayor says it will help improve the quality of life in Elkhart.

"This is a war on noise, like a war on crime. It is not a war on things that make noise. It is not a war on a car or a motorcycle or a boom box or anything like that," said Mayor Dick Moore.

"Teenagers ask me what I have against music. I love music. I used to sing hard rock. It's the volume that they play their music and the disturbance that it creates in a residential neighborhood," said Victor Burson, who supports the ordinance.

The changes will take effect once the mayor signs the ordinance.

South Bend has a similar ordinance. The first offense costs $100, the second $250 and the third $500.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 5:32 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Going after the little things makes a significant dent in the big things. Ignoring the little things leads to big things and helps to support them. And it's not "just a little noise". And "just a little noise" is like Chinese water torture if you have to sit in your own living room and listen to it thumping over and over again. Stupid should hurt.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 12:37 AM Wayne wrote ...

I'm glad I live in South Bend now!

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 11:36 PM Granger, Mom wrote ...

I really wish the cops would focus on such things as child abuse, wife beatings, bank robberies, crooked and shady cops, things that REALLY HURT people instead of a little noise now and then. OH!!! sorry, I forgot this is much easier!!! Hear some loud sounds and turn on your sirens and act all cool, oh gosh, dumb me :)

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 6:24 PM Mike wrote ...

For Tim Yes Harley's are loud. People don't pay attention to motorcycles. They pull out in front of them even though they hear us coming. How bad will it get when they can't hear us. If you wreck your car you have a pretty good chance of not getting hurt. A motorcycle is a different story. What would you rather do. Hear me or kill me.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 5:36 PM Jeremy wrote ...

In Elkhart police go after the kids for being young and playing their music but they cant seem to catch crackheads on garfield and blaine. Wonder why? Oh ya its probably because its easy prey and crack dealers have guns so they are afraid of them. To protect and to serve!

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:55 PM Bring it here wrote ...

It would be so nice if the city of Plymouth would enforce a sound ordinance too. I can't figure why north Michigan street is a "testing" ground for loud bass cannon stereos in cars. Not much ever gets enforced here. Not even muffler laws. Wait...is there a muffler law??

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:35 PM Victim wrote ...

Maybe that one officer you saw on the other side of the street was not the one officer Mayor Moore dedicated to enforce the ordinance. You know those Elkhart Officers, if it's not in their job description they won't lift a finger to do it unless for a donut.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:19 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Riddle me this Batman, I bounce through your hood and you hear my thump for less then 30 seconds, whereas your neighbor Police Chief Gordon spends over 3 hours cutting trimming and vaccuming his lawn all with-in ear shot, Just who deserves a ticket !!

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 1:08 PM Lee - Granger wrote ...

Would be nice if they would "enforce" it. There was a car behind me that had the "booming" so loud, I rolled up my windows and my car still shook from the vibration. This is an invasion of my space. I am sitting with car windows up. On the other side of the street is a police car, I'm sue he could hear it, he had his window down. But to no avail, the individual with the loud booming did not get stopped.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 12:28 PM Tim wrote ...

You know, it's all about revenue. The city really needs more money to operate and "taxing" it's citzens for "crimes against humanity" is one of them. The only people who aren't getting pulled over are senior citizens who don't drive fast, who don't listen to their music loud, who do nothing wrong. The younger generation is being targeted. They know the youth won't do anything. The youth care complacent. Dick Moore is a joke! How this guy get in office? Oh, we voted him!

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 11:31 AM A Concerned Citizen wrote ...

The health issues concerning noise are many, including heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, high blood pressure, etc...The people making the noise are not your boy scouts/girl scouts...these are your thugs, punks, drug dealers, gang bangers, and felon wanted on outstanding warrants. The EPA, set a national standard of 80dcb. for all manufacturers of motorcycles. Unfortunately, the aftermarket pipes put on so often hit 140 dcb. or more. Boomboxes and luud motorcycles are the worst.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 10:13 AM DC wrote ...

Sounds like the City Council is going after the easy prey. Why not go after the train whistles or is that too big of a fight! Oh yea, you can't get any revenue from that.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 9:39 AM Enid wrote ...

I really support this kind of thing. I have a supersensitve hearing aid that I bought from a TV ad, you know the ones. And I have to turn it down so much when there is noise so having the police clamp down on this is great. One that is very hard to stop though is body noises, they're so quick. My harold makes them and they scare me awake sometimes. I dont want him fined but I just wish he'd stop. Boom boxes are terrible too. So, I vote yes!

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 9:31 AM Seriously wrote ...

"...war on noise, like a war on crime." Because we all know how a war on crime works out so well... are we crimeless yet? Not even close.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 8:24 AM Tim wrote ...

Nevermind the loud motorcycles!! I love sitting at a stop light and having to roll up my window because the guy next to me drives a harley!! Just one more thing to hate the police for. Elkhart is being taking over by nazi's!

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 8:06 AM Jon Mitchell wrote ...

The train horn is a good point. What will be done?

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 8:02 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I love how noise is an issue but nazi symbols are not a problem. Mayor, I think you need to take a look at your priorities

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:24 AM MGM From Elkhart wrote ...

This Idiot Mayor we have would not know the difference between hard rock and Lawrence Welk. I retire in 6 years. I can't wait to get out of this city, but there will probably be a law saying I can't leave town by then .

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:13 AM Mike wrote ...

Did Elkhart suddenly become Nazi Germany?? This idiotic Mayor and city council need to concentrate on real issues. This smoking and noise ordinance is insane. If the police want to they could ticket you for mowing your lawn or running a snow blower or chain saw or even a generator if the power goes out. I will now sell my motorcycle because quite motorcycles are dangerous. 1 less wheel tax you will collect. Whats next? Will I have to be home before dark in the near future??

Monday, Jul 7 at 10:50 PM lives on 33 ! wrote ...

NOW HOW COULD YOU ENFORCE IT WITH THE 210db train horns blasting over it , every 15min. ?

Monday, Jul 7 at 10:00 PM Anonymous wrote ...

How about telling your kids and friends to just turn the thumping obnoxious music down and ask them if they are willing to pay the $250.00 fine. Please remind them when their music is so loud that they cannot hear the sound of a police car or ambulance coming. I have seen it. Ridiculous! Turn it down! I seriously doubt if someone gets pulled over for the loud music there will be NO WARNINGS.

Monday, Jul 7 at 9:23 PM Elkhart wrote ...

Whispering trains would be a great start!! Their noise is the biggest nuisance in this town by far!

Monday, Jul 7 at 9:15 PM Billwagon wrote ...

Ok can we say HARASSMENT !! I "love" loud music, as they say music calms the savage beast !! I am older and respect the neighborhoods, but on major roads I "rock" !! And you want to pull me over ?? My stereo makes no more noise then an after market exhaust on a car or motorcycle or even an old junk lawn mower. And its TONS safer then talking on a cell phone !!

Monday, Jul 7 at 9:03 PM Harry Nempeart wrote ...

Wow. Your journalistic integrity must be faltering. You accidentally got a few facts in this article. Good job missing out some important ones, like what the new test threshold is and how they plan to enforce it. I guess everyone's just going to have to tiptoe around whispering until we get more info, huh?

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