By Pat Culverhouse
In the past, Minden police officers had to depend mostly on their ears to determine whether or not the city’s noise ordinance was being violated.
Now, officers will be able to accurately measure sound levels with the use of a hand-held device which digitally records sound levels.
“This meter takes the guesswork out of determining violation of our city ordinance,” Chief of Police Jared McIver said.
Minden’s city council passed an ordinance this year amending the environmental section governing newly defined amplified and nuisance noises, and maximum acceptable levels. Those are:
- Residential and commercial property: 80 dBA between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.; 60 dBA from 10:01 p.m. until 6:59 a.m.
- Industrial properties are excluded as source or receiver.
A volume level of 80 decibels is considered moderately loud and can be equivalent to the sounds of heavy city traffic, a passing freight train, an airport terminal, garbage disposal or hairdryer.
Sounds such as an air conditioning unit and laughter or engaged, casual conversation can create a level in the 60 decibel range.
“We get a number of complaints about loud music and things like vehicles with loud exhausts, and in now we don’t have to rely on judgement to determine what violates the ordinance,” McIver said. “This is one more helpful tool in the hands of our officers.”