For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVEL. The loudness of a sound measured through a filtering devise intended to simulate human hearing. The level is designated DB(A) or DBA.
COMMERCIAL ZONE. Zones designated as general business or commercial use as established in the Zoning Ordinance for the town.
DECIBEL or DB. A unit for measuring the sound pressure level of a sound.
FREQUENCY. An objective way to describe the pitch of a sound.
HERTZ or HZ. A unit for measuring the frequency of a sound, sometimes called CYCLES PER SECOND.
INDUSTRIAL ZONE. Zones designated as industrial use as established in the Zoning Ordinance for the town.
LIGHT MOTOR VEHICLE.
(1) Any motorized vehicle with gross vehicular weight less than 8,000 pounds, including automobiles, vans, motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, motor scooters, dune buggies, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, go-karts, minibikes, trail bikes and light trucks.
(2) (a) Vehicles heavier than 8,000 pounds are currently regulated by the ICC.
(b) The regulations are pre-emptive.
(3) The regulations may be lifted in the near future. If they are, this subchapter will be amended to include an enforcement procedure for trucks that local governments can use.
MODIFIED EXHAUST SYSTEM. Any exhaust system in which the original noise abatement devices have been removed, altered or replaced to produce more noise.
NOISE. Any unwanted sound.
OCTAVE BANK. A way to divide the entire frequency range of sound into sections for more accurate measurements.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
PLAINLY AUDIBLE. Any noise for which the information content is unambiguously communicated to the listener, including understandable spoken speech, comprehension of whether a voice is raised (agitated) or normal or comprehensible musical rhythms.
RESIDENTIAL ZONES. Zones designated residential, R-1, R-2 and R-3, as established in the Zoning Ordinance for the town.
SOUND LEVEL METER. An instrument designed to measure sound pressure levels.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL. An objective way to describe the loudness of a sound; 20 times the logarithm (Base 10) of the ratio of the measured sound pressure to a reference pressure of 20 micropascals, the SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL is expressed in decibels (DB):
SPL = 20 Log10 SOUND PRESS A
SOUND PRESSURE B
SOUND PRESSURE B
(1) SOUND PRESSURE A. Measured sound pressure.
(2) SOUND PRESSURE B. Measured sound pressure; 20 Micropascals.
(Ord. 4-1994, passed 2-7-94)