Knock Off That Noise!

Newsday ^ | 10/22/03 | Victor Manuel Ramos

[VermiciousKnid]

Knock Off That Noise! Party quietly in this town, or else . . .

By Víctor Manuel Ramos Staff Writer

October 22, 2003, 9:15 PM EDT

North Hempstead residents should forget about watching loud, late-night TV or partying past 10 p.m. If a neighbor can hear it, a new town law makes it illegal.

Vibrations that "a normal person" can sense "by touch or visual observation" in his property also are illegal. So the blast of bass speakers would be a no-no. And leaf blowers that sound like giant mosquitoes can be used only at specific daytime hours.

Residents also need to make sure pets learn to howl, bark, meow or squawk for less than 15 minutes at a time. Or else, a resident can report them to the town's noise police.

Those are some of the restrictions of a revised noise law North Hempstead approved Tuesday night. The law, proposed by Councilman Fred Pollack, passed in a 4-0 vote with one abstention. Undecided was Supervisor May Newburger, who wanted to make the law stricter. In her case, she complained, all it takes is one or two barks from her neighbor's dog to bring her out of slumber.

"On behalf of those who can't sleep, I have to abstain," she said.

[VermiciousKnid]

I'm entirely in favor of being a very good (and considerate) neighbor, but I can't help wondering...is this really necessary?

Regards,

[U S Army EOD]

If you had to listen to the boom boxes going up and down the road I have to listen to, you would be one of the first people in your town to want to have it where you live.

People have gotten so inconsiderate of others in their desire to have loud music, yes, we need to have something with teeth in it to stop it.

[Humidston]

I think it's about time people started addressing "noise pollution." Too bad it takes a law to force people to conform instead of plain old thoughtfulness and consideration.

Next, I think those loud 'boom box' cars with punk kids listening to hip hop should be shot on sight! ;-)

[webstersII]

Yes, I think it is.

My neighbor has one of those loud mufflers on his car. He gets up early in the morning and lets it run for about 15 minutes before he drives off (says it makes the engine last longer). He refuses to do anything about it and it's impossible to sleep past about 6:00 in the morning. If you are gonna put one of those loud mufflers on your car, why do you need to run it for 15 minutes every morning and wake up the neighborhood?

We used to have a dog across the street that barked off and on all night. The owner was able to sleep through it because she was on drugs most of the time, we found out later.

People have no civility anymore. They feel like it's their place to make all sorts of noise and not care if anyone else is waked up or seriously annoyed by it. It's like these people who work in a cubicle and talk on their speakerphones all day. Do they think everyone else wants to hear their conversation? How about the young kid in the car 3 cars back whose stereo is vibrating your car. Does he really have the right to do that with no regard for anyone else?

[ladyinred]

What are the breathing times on the schedule, anyone know?

[VermiciousKnid]

I was born and raised in NYC. I now live on Long Island (leaf blower heaven). I have heard my share of loud noises.

But they are not talking about LOUD noises. This law refers to ANY SOUND that can be heard by the neighbors. ANY sound.

Don't like your neighbor? Well, just call the cops & tell them you can hear him shout, "touchdown!" while he's watching Monday Night Football.

I don't know...it just seems like overkill to me.

You're right, though, it surely was a better world when folks were more considerate.

Regards,

[Senormechanico]

When you have quiet like we do, you can really appreciate it.
Visitors always tell us how lovely it is here with our sailboat at the dock in the backyard.
The only noise we have is seagulls, waves, and ships.
OTOH, the closest Home Depot, Starbucks, or any other franchise is a ferry ride and 30 miles of driving.
Come to think about it, that's and ADVANTAGE! lol

(Secret location, Whidbey Island WA)

[Concentrate]

from the article: "If you can't enjoy sitting in your living room and if you can't sleep at night because of noise, what else matters?"

Says it all.

[VermiciousKnid]

No, nobody should disturb the neighbors with loud noises if possible.

But this law states that ANY noise that can be heard is actionable, and I do think that is unreasonable.

What if the baby is crying all night long with colic? I know it happened in my house -- now, in North Hempstead, I guess the neighbors can report you for having a colicky baby.

There has to be a better way.

Regards,

[_Jim]

What are the breathing times on the schedule, anyone know?

Why - do you have an exceptionally noisy 'draw' or exhale?

[VermiciousKnid]

Oh, I've experienced extreme quiet, too. It's lovely, and one day I hope to escape New York and experience it all the time.

However, I can't do that quite yet (soon...very soon), and I know that for the time being I live where literally MILLIONS of other people do too. I don't think it's possible to have that perfect quiet with so many people around.

Regards,

[_Jim]

Don't like your neighbor? Well, just call the cops & tell them you can hear him shout, "touchdown!" while he's watching Monday Night Football.

Do you people on LI have paper-thin walls or something?

I had a neighbor whose son started playing the drums - THAT makes it's way through *two* exterior layers of brick ...

[org.whodat]

Next, I think those loud 'boom box' cars with punk kids listening to hip hop should be shot on sight! ;-)

I'd like to hang them,then shoot them.

[U S Army EOD]

I am sure you need to be reasonable on this, but I am talking about living in the country where you would expect a little bit of peace and quite and being able to hear an automobile coming over a mile away, over your TV set, inside your house when the house is 100 yards off of the road. I've made the measurements myself.

I guess the boom boxes is what I am after more than anything. I think these people should be fined and if that doesn't work have the autos impounded. Another cure would be limit the amount of amperage or wattage that could go into an automobiles sound system.

I lived in a fairly nice neighborhood where everybody is considerate of others. However, a housing project was started about a mile away and we have to listen to this garbage all hours of the day and night.

[cinFLA]

But this law states that ANY noise that can be heard is actionable,

Please read the article.

[cinFLA]

But this law states that ANY noise that can be heard is actionable,

NOT.

"It does, however, measure decibels for most nuisance cases, so town code enforcement officers and local police could act on neighbor complaints and their observations."

[U S Army EOD]

If you need help give me a call, I will furnish the rope and the ammo.

[Concentrate]

You're right, though, it surely was a better world when folks were more considerate.

I don't think things have really changed so much. The 15 minute law on barking dogs is really helpful. There's nothing worse than listening to a dog bark all day long while its owners are at work. Or all night long, while its owners sleep obliviously.

[Humidston]

Funny story: A cop was telling me about the time two punks were trying to out decibel each other at a red light. Punks were side by side and the cop was behind them.

Kid #1 pumped up the volume.
Kid #2 stared evil grin, pumped up HIS volume louder.

This went on and on until one of the kids literally exploded his entire back window with the vibrations.

That story makes me chuckle every time I think about it. If I'd only been able to see it myself!

[Museum Twenty]

bump for later