Chapter 13
NOISE

Sections:

13-1.    “Sound truck” and “sound-amplifying equipment” defined.

13-2.    Registration of sound trucks – Required.

13-3.    Same – Contents and filing of registration statement.

13-4.    Same – Amendment of registration statement.

13-5.    Same – Refusing approval of proposed registration.

13-6.    Same – Certification, issuance, possession and display of registration statement.

13-7.    Regulations for use of sound trucks.

13-8.    Violations.

13-1 “Sound truck” and “sound-amplifying equipment” defined.

The words “sound truck” as used in this chapter shall mean any motor vehicle, or other vehicle, having mounted thereon, or attached thereto, any sound-amplifying equipment.

The words “sound-amplifying equipment” as used in this chapter shall mean any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music or any other sound. “Sound-amplifying equipment” as used in this chapter shall not be construed as including standard automobile radios when used and heard only by occupants of the vehicle in which installed or warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles or horns or other warning devices on other vehicles used only for traffic safety purposes. (Ord. No. 271, § 1.)

As to motor vehicles generally, see ch. 12 of this Code.

13-2 Registration of sound trucks – Required.

No person shall use, or cause to be used, a sound truck with its sound-amplifying equipment in operation in the unincorporated area of the county before filing a registration statement with the county clerk in writing and before the receipt of the copy of the registration statement as provided in section 13-6. (Ord. No. 271, § 2.)

13-3 Same – Contents and filing of registration statement.

The registration statement required by section 13-2 shall be filed in duplicate and shall state the following:

(a)  Name and home address of the applicant.

(b)  Address of place of business of applicant.

(c)  License number and motor number of the sound truck to be used by applicant.

(d)  Name and address of person who owns the sound truck.

(e)  Name and address of person having direct charge of sound truck.

(f)  Names and addresses of all persons who will use or operate the sound truck.

(g)  The purpose for which the sound truck will be used.

(h)  A general statement as to the sections of the county in which the sound truck will be used.

(i)  The proposed hours of operation of the sound truck.

(j)  The number of days of proposed operation of the sound truck.

(k)  A general description of the sound-amplifying equipment which is to be used.

(l)  The maximum sound producing power of the sound-amplifying equipment to be used in or on the sound truck, stating the following:

(1)  The wattage to be used.

(2)  The volume in decibels of the sound which will be produced.

(3)  The approximate maximum distance for which sound will be thrown from the sound truck. (Ord. No. 271, § 2.)

13-4 Same – Amendment of registration statement.

All persons using or causing to be used, sound trucks for any purpose shall amend any registration statement filed pursuant to section 13-2 within twenty-four hours after any change in the information therein furnished. (Ord. No. 271, § 2.)

13-5 Same – Refusing approval of proposed registration.

The board of supervisors shall not refuse approval of any proposed registration pursuant to this chapter unless it appears from such registration or from other evidence submitted to the board of supervisors that the applicant would violate the regulations prescribed in section 13-7 or the provisions of some other ordinance of the county or the law of the state. (Ord. No. 271, § 2.)

13-6 Same – Certification, issuance, possession and display of registration statement.

The county clerk shall, upon approval of the board of supervisors, return to each applicant under section 13-2, one copy of the registration statement duly certified by the county clerk as a correct copy of such registration statement. Such certified copy of the statement shall be in the possession of any person operating the sound truck at all times while the sound truck’s sound-amplifying equipment is in operation and such copy shall be promptly displayed and shown to any law officer of the county or the state upon request. (Ord. No. 271, § 2.)

13-7 Regulations for use of sound trucks.

The use of sound trucks in the unincorporated area of the county with sound-amplifying equipment in operation shall be subject to the following regulations:

(a)  Permitted sounds. The only sounds permitted are music or human speech.

(b)  Hours of operation. Operations are permitted for four hours each day, except on Sundays and legal holidays when no operations shall be authorized. The permitted four hours of operation shall be between the hours of eleven-thirty a.m. and one-thirty p.m. and between the hours of four-thirty p.m. and six-thirty p.m.

(c)  Minimum speed; operating while stopped. Sound-amplifying equipment shall not be operated unless the sound truck upon which such equipment is mounted is operated at a speed of at least ten miles per hour except when such truck is stopped or impeded by traffic. Where stopped by traffic the sound-amplifying equipment shall not be operated for longer than one minute of each such stop.

(d)  Operating near churches, hospitals, etc. Sound shall not be issued within one hundred yards of hospitals, schools, churches, or courthouses.

(e)  Speech, etc., not to be indecent, slanderous, etc. The human speech and music amplified shall not be profane, lewd, indecent, or slanderous.

(f)  Control of volume of sound. The volume of sound shall be controlled so that it will not be audible for a distance in excess of one hundred yards from the sound truck and so that such volume is not unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing, or a nuisance to persons within the area of audibility.

(g)  Maximum permitted wattage. No sound-amplifying equipment shall be operated with an excess of fifteen watts of power in the last state of amplification. (Ord. No. 271, § 2.)

As to unlawful utterances, etc., generally, see § 14-16 of this Code.

13-8 Violations.

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or who operates any sound truck in violation of the regulations set forth in section 13-7 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 271, § 4.)

As to general penalty, see § 4-12 of this Code.