BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer
FAIR HAVEN — Getting up early on Saturday to mow the lawn or blowing a whistle could become a costly proposition in the borough.
That’s because for the second time in two years, an ordinance has been introduced that would restrict noise levels in the borough. In this version, the borough would levy fines for violations.
Borough Administrator Julie Keizer said at Monday’s council meeting that this is at least the fourth draft of the noise ordinance, though only two have been introduced by the council.
The most significant change in the new draft is the addition of a schedule of fines.
According to the ordinance, for any violations of the noise regulations, the party responsible for creating the disturbance would be charged a$50 fine.
For any subsequent violations within 12 months of the first infraction, the fine would be $99.
With regard to noise generated by landscapers and other contractors, the property owner would be held responsible for the fines.
The ordinance would limit noise generated by construction equipment to between 8 a.m. and sunset on weekdays, and between 9 a.m. and sunset on weekends.
Those limits would also apply to the operation of power-driven lawn maintenance equipment and leaf blowers.
In the case of car horns, the ordinance is more restrictive.
“The sounding of a horn or signaling device on an automobile, motorcycle, bus or other vehicle is prohibited except when required by law, or when necessary to give timely warning of impending danger,” the ordinance states.
Also, sounding a horn or other signaling device that is unreasonably loud or harsh for an excessively long time would be prohibited.
The ordinance also targets a new fad involving a whistle that runs off engine exhaust. The whistle emits a very loud, blaring sound as the vehicle speeds up and causes more exhaust to be pushed through. These devices would be prohibited.
The ordinance also limits loud music, either live or played on a radio or television, to certain times of the day if it can be clearly heard from a distance of 50 feet.
Between 10 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. from Sunday through Thursday, and between midnight and 7:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, all electronic auditory devices must not be audible from a distance of 50 feet from the building.
Blowing whistles would also be prohibited, except as a warning for a fire or at a sporting event.
Ruth Blaser, River Road, has been a strong advocate for a noise ordinance, but said Monday she wants to make sure it is done right.
Blaser said the draft introduced does not speak to who would enforce the ordinance.
According to Keizer, job descriptions for borough police and code enforcement officers say they must “uphold the laws of the borough,” which would include the noise ordinance, scheduled for a vote at the next council meeting on Nov. 8.
Blaser also said the ordinance is not inclusive, leaving out noise generated by people themselves, for instance.
“It deals with mechanical noise rather than all sources of noise,” she said. “I think it should deal with all noise.”