Except as expressly provided otherwise in this subchapter, the following acts are violations of this subchapter:
(A) Sounding any horn on any right-of-way or in any public space except when the sounding of the horn is intended as an emergency or danger warning signal. However, sounding a horn continuously or intermittently in a manner that is plainly audible for more than five consecutive seconds shall be a violation of this section.
(B) Operating or causing to be operated a public or private motor vehicle or motorcycle on a public right-of-way at any time in such a manner that the sound level emitted by the motor vehicle or motorcycle, when measured at a distance of 50 feet or more, exceeds the level set forth in the following table. This section shall not apply to motor carrier vehicles engaged in interstate commerce.
Sound level in dBA | ||
Vehicle class | Speed limit 25 mph or less | Speed limit over 25 mph |
All motor vehicles of GVWR or GCWR of 6,000 lbs or more | 86 | 90 |
Any motorcycle | 82 | 86 |
Any other motor vehicle or any combination of vehicles towed by any motor vehicle | 76 | 82 |
(C) Operating, loading or unloading any vehicle, including but not limited to trucks, or the opening and destruction of bales, boxes, crates and containers in the outdoors during nighttime.
(D) Operating or causing to be operated during nighttime any equipment used in construction, repair, alteration or demolition work on buildings, structures, alleys, real property, or appurtenances thereto in the outdoors in any zoning district. This includes, but is not limited to, lawn care, tree maintenance or removal, and other landscaping activities. This section shall not apply to construction of public projects, the repair or maintenance work performed on such projects, or work performed by private or public utility companies for the repair of utility facilities or restoration of services.
(E) The playing of radio, phonographs, television, tape or disc players, musical instruments or drums, sound amplifiers or other devices which produce, reproduce or amplify sound in such a manner as to emit sound that is plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the source or that is plainly audible inside another dwelling unit; provided, however that the provisions of this division shall not apply to any outdoor performance, parade, gathering, dance, concert, show, sporting event, or other event sponsored by the town.
(F) Talking, yelling, shouting, screaming, singing, or any other form of human sounds produced by any person or group of people, or any human-produced excessive noise at nighttime in such a manner as to be plainly audible across property boundaries or plainly audible inside a dwelling unit other than the dwelling unit from which the sound originates.
(G) Sounding or permitting the sounding of any amplified signal continuously or intermittently from any bell, chime, siren, whistle or similar device from any one location that is plainly audible for more than ten consecutive seconds in any hourly period. This provision shall not apply to public bodies or agencies for testing, traffic control or other public purposes.
(Ord. O-2023-14, passed 9-5-2023)