DCist: Noise Bill Passed, But Won't Do Anything About Noise

ibc

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:44:56 -0500

"This new version, which passed 9-4 with Cheh and Wells being joined by David Catania and Carol Schwartz voting against, limits noncommercial speech during the day to 80 decibels in residential areas only, as measured from within an occupied residence." See, who says that protesting outside Evans' house was in vain? They modified the bill to specifically prevent *that* behavior while leaving the original residents in NE unprotected. Yay, Democracy!

ElScorcho

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:12:57 -0500

Meh, seems like they split the baby.

Hillman

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:22:21 -0500

I wondered what that gurgling brown sludge was I saw passing by my house the other day, rolling toward either the Capitol or the Wilson Building, or both.

monkeyrotica

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:09:38 -0500

hillman - same reason why we can never pass a Bottle Bill that will get the homeless to collect and trade in empties for booze money. There's too much vested interest in the status quo. Also, there's the old saw, I believe by Voltaire, that, and I'm paraphrasing here, "S**t rolls uphill towards money."

Hillman

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:24:48 -0500

Proof positive that DC is still a banana republic. Why is is that we can't manage to pass a reasonable noise bill like, you know, every other major American city already has, and has had for some time? Yes, we've got new coffeeshops and hipsters by the truckload, but from an actual governance standpoint not that much has changed in DC.

bp

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:24:54 -0500

I'd agree with Mike about the need to limit vehicle noise, but the air conditioner roaring right outside my window is making me think twice about what's worse... This new law, on the other hand, is a joke. Does it specify windows open or closed? Does the noise still have to be going on when the noise enforcers arrive, or can I take a picture of my dB meter as evidence?

Mike Licht

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:27:16 -0500

How about a bill to enforce excessive vehicle noise regulations? That it what sets the level for the city's soundscape.

TimmyTucker

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:31:31 -0500

All you gotta do is say earmuffs and then you can say anything you want...

suances

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:23:15 -0500

80 dB within a residence is pretty loud. Normal conversation is 60 dB. 80 would be like having the Black Israelites sans amplifiers in your living room shouting at you. They only way to produce that level of sound from outside is with an amplifier.

DC Guy

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:20:20 -0500

BS, the Council behaving this way. Voters ought to remember this the next time at the polls, but alas, we won't.

Disco Stu

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:13:19 -0500

Boo

flapjack

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:58:23 -0500

that photo is too funny

OldPosterKnownAsCranky

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:43:48 -0500

Ah, Rees. Council got pwned! by the unions. As much as Gray complained about the hardball tactics the unions played with their protests and ads, it worked.

jrraddy

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:36:41 -0500

Sommer, So are you saying this bill is just a paper tiger?