For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AMBIENT NOISE LEVEL. The sound level which exists at a point of measurement in the absence of the sound the noise emission of which is measured, being the total effect of all other sounds coming from near and far.
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE. Any of the following vehicles when equipped and identified according to law:
(1) A vehicle of a Fire Department;
(2) A publicly owned police vehicle or a privately owned vehicle used by a police officer for police work under agreement, express or implied with the local authority to which he or she is responsible;
(3) An ambulance, whether publicly or privately owned;
(4) An emergency vehicle of a municipal department or a public service corporation; and/or
(5) Any volunteer rescue squad operating pursuant to M.S. § 383C.425.
AUXILIARY DEVICE. An instrument, tool, instrument, appliance, utensil or contrivance.
BACK-UP ALARM DEVICE. A warning device in any truck such as a horn, bell or whistle in the rear thereof, sounded only while the truck is backing up.
CENTERLINE OF A VEHICLE. A line which passes through the geometric center of a vehicle, or, if the vehicle is in motion, that line passing through the geometric center of the vehicle along which the geometric center moves.
DAY. The 24-hour time period starting at local midnight, 12:00 a.m.
DAYTIME. 6:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.
dB. Abbreviation for decibel.
dBA. A composite abbreviation for decibel and A-weighted sound level.
DECIBEL. Unit of sound level.
EMERGENCY SITUATION. A situation wherein immediate work is necessary to restore property to a safe condition following a public calamity or immediate work is required to protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger.
EMIT. The noise emitted by a vehicle shall be construed as the noise level created at a specified distance from the vehicle. It shall not be construed as the maximum noise-generating capability of a vehicle.
EVENING. The time period from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
EXCESSIVE NOISE. Sound which is injurious or which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property. Measured noise levels in excess of those specified as limits in these regulations or those specified in a valid permit are declared to be excessive.
GOOD PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. The methods and procedures used by a person whose skills have been developed by intensive training and by experience and whose work is accepted by others of similar training and experience as competent.
HEAVY VEHICLE. A vehicle which has a gross weight in excess of 12,000 pounds, or which has a passenger capacity in excess of 15.
HOLIDAY. A day fixed by the United States or by state law for suspension of business in whole or in part.
LIGHT VEHICLE. A vehicle not specifically identified as a heavy vehicle.
MEASUREMENT DISTANCE. The shortest interval of length between a centerline of a vehicle and a point of measurement
NEAREST POINT OF VEHICLE APPROACH. The point along the centerline of vehicle travel which is closest to the point of measurement.
NIGHT. The time period from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
NOISE. Sound of any sort and its environmental interaction.
NOISE LEVEL. The sound level.
OPERATE. Perform any operation with or on a vehicle or auxiliary device at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration.
OWNER. The legal owner of a vehicle including lessee (of whatever term) and the purchaser of a vehicle under a conditional sales contract but and not including the holder of a security interest therein.
POINT OF MEASUREMENT. The point in space at which the microphone of the sound measurement equipment is located.
SOUND LEVEL. A quantity measured with a sound level meter and expressed in decibels.
SOUND LEVEL METER. An instrument, or combination of instruments, which meets or exceeds the requirements for a type S1A or S2A sound level meter as specified in American National Standards Institute specification for sound level meters S14-1971, or its most recent revision.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL. The value in decibels expressing the relationship between a root-mean-square sound pressure, p, and a reference pressure, Pref, where sound pressure level and Pref = 0.0002 microbar. The abbreviation for sound pressure level is SPL.
(SPL) = LOG | p |
10 pref |
TRAFFIC WAY. The entire area within the property lines of every way or place, including parking areas, publicly or privately owned or maintained, which is open to the use of the public for purposes of automotive traffic.
VEHICLE. Any device, or combination of devices, used for or capable of being used for transporting persons or property. VEHICLES include, but are not limited to, the following: automobiles; trucks; buses, motorcycles; motorized bicycles; scooters; go-carts, midget racers and the like devices; farm machinery; industrial machinery; highway graders; trailers and semitrailers.
(Prior Code, § 8.20, Subd. 2)