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Dade City Rings In New Noise Law

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By LAURA KINSLER

lkinsler@tampatrib.com

Published: March 12, 2009

DADE CITY - Fair warning Dade City - you might want to turn down your boom boxes, put away that table saw and wait a little later to crank up those lawn mowers. The city commission voted unanimously Tuesday to update its 35-year-old noise ordinance.
Dade City police have had a noise meter for years, but City Attorney Karla Owens said the old ordinance was so outdated it couldn't legally be enforced.

Now violators will have 15-minute grace period to cut down the volume or they could be on the receiving end of a $155 ticket. Each repeat offense would add an additional $155 to the fine.

Owens stressed that the ordinance is not aimed at a specific person or business. She pointed out that police have received 52 noise complaints in the past two months - and most of those targeted individual house parties.

Commissioner Curtis Beebe worried that neighbors would use the new ordinance "as a weapon" against each other, but Commissioner Camille Hernandez said that shouldn't be a reason not to update the law.

"They already call us," Hernandez said.

The difference is, now the city will have a tool to resolve the dispute.

The ordinance sets specific volume limits for residential and industrial activities, depending on the time of day, day of the week and proximity to homes.

For instance, after 10 p.m., apartment and condominium residents could not turn up the volume on stereos or television sets louder than an average dishwasher. Boat engines would have to be quieted at night to the level of normal human conversation.

The use of construction equipment would be prohibited between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Commissioners could grant waivers for special events or private parties.

"I guess I'm inclined to give this a shot and see if it works out," Beebe said.

The ordinance doesn't apply to noise that's generated outside the city limits. Some residents complained that some events at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, namely motocross races, can go on well past 1 a.m. on weekend nights.

Owens said the races violate the county's noise ordinance, but Pasco County has not cited the operator.

"We should go to the county and say, 'Listen, we're having a problem with this event and we'd like you to enforce your ordinance,'

" Mayor Scott Black said.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 779-4617.

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