Spring Break
Noise suit moves to state Supreme Court
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: News
A court case involving University students found in violation of the noise ordinance last year has been scheduled for a hearing in the Georgia Supreme Court.
The case - Manlove v. the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County - is scheduled for a hearing in January, as announced Sept. 25.
Athens attorney Chuck Jones is representing students Robert Manlove and William Hoffman, who claim their right to free speech was violated because the ordinance applies equally across all of Athens, restricting citizens' ability to express themselves. The case mainly concerns areas near and in downtown.
Normal conversation (3-5'): 60-70 dB
Telephone dial tone: 80dB
City traffic (inside car): 85dB
Train whistle at 500': 90dB
Subway train at 200': 95dB
Sustained exposure may result in hearing loss: 90-95dB
Power mower at 3': 107dB
Snowmobile, Motorcycle: 100dB
Power saw at 3': 110dB
Sandblasting, Loud rock concert: 115dB
The original noise ordinance was changed last year to prohibit noise that is "clearly audible" 50 feet away or is greater than 85 decibels (about the same volume of a vacuum cleaner). It applies Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and Friday and Saturday night from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Violators can be charged with a fourth degree misdemeanor and receive a fine up to $1,000, but most violators face a verbal warning, police said.
This past weekend alone there were 48 violations called in, but none of which were formally filed, according to ACC police.
The case - Manlove v. the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County - is scheduled for a hearing in January, as announced Sept. 25.
Athens attorney Chuck Jones is representing students Robert Manlove and William Hoffman, who claim their right to free speech was violated because the ordinance applies equally across all of Athens, restricting citizens' ability to express themselves. The case mainly concerns areas near and in downtown.
NOISE DECIBELS
Whisper in a quiet library: 30dBNormal conversation (3-5'): 60-70 dB
Telephone dial tone: 80dB
City traffic (inside car): 85dB
Train whistle at 500': 90dB
Subway train at 200': 95dB
Sustained exposure may result in hearing loss: 90-95dB
Power mower at 3': 107dB
Snowmobile, Motorcycle: 100dB
Power saw at 3': 110dB
Sandblasting, Loud rock concert: 115dB
The original noise ordinance was changed last year to prohibit noise that is "clearly audible" 50 feet away or is greater than 85 decibels (about the same volume of a vacuum cleaner). It applies Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and Friday and Saturday night from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Violators can be charged with a fourth degree misdemeanor and receive a fine up to $1,000, but most violators face a verbal warning, police said.
This past weekend alone there were 48 violations called in, but none of which were formally filed, according to ACC police.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Captain Caveman
posted 10/07/08 @ 8:02 AM EST
Chuck Jones, wasting more court time. Way to go, Chuck.
Ted Mosby
posted 10/07/08 @ 2:05 PM EST
Hopefully the GA Supreme Court will show him some manlove, and drop the charges!!!
Concerned Citizen
posted 10/07/08 @ 2:19 PM EST
I'm not sure your article is correct on the terms of the Noise Ordinance. The Code as published on the Athens-Clarke County website says something completely different. (Continued…)
lee
posted 10/07/08 @ 8:06 PM EST
Charge him and fine all the boom cars. Booming music coming from cars is a crime!
Car253
posted 10/08/08 @ 10:44 AM EST
People deserve to the right to their peace and quiet.
Being too loud is disrespectful. It is selfish and not caring about others. Everyone should be respectful of others peace and quiet. (Continued…)
Larry
posted 10/08/08 @ 8:19 PM EST
Here is another example of one of our most important rights
(the right to free speech) being invoked to justify violating the rights of others. These college students
have their right to listen to their crap music but not the right to force everyone else to listen to it. (Continued…)
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