Residents weigh in on county noise rules

This is not a new phenomena. Noisy neighbors have been a problem since people began moving next door to each other. However, in Placer County there was never a solid, unbiased answer to the ultimate question: How loud is too loud?At least, there wasn't until last year when the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved and later implemented the first-ever noise ordinance March 9 for the unincorporated areas of Placer County. Now, after nearly a year of being enforced, residents differ on whether it's working. While some say yes, others believe it's too stringent and should be left up to common sense and courtesy.The ordinance prohibits any constant noise louder than 55 decibels during the daytime, or 70 decibels for sporadic noise, like gunfire, in a two-hour period of time. The level is lower at night, between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., when 45 decibels is the maximum level for constant noise and 65 decibels is the max for gunfire-type noise.Every patrol deputy with the Placer County Sheriff's Department was issued a decibel reader in January that is kept in the trunk of their patrol cars. If dispatched to a noise disturbance call, they use the small, microphone-type instrument to determine the level of noise from a person's property line. If the noise does exceed the permitted level, first-time offenders will receive a warning citation. Second-, third- and fourth-time offenders will be issued a $100, $300 and $500 fine, respectively.Exemptions include anything used in the event of an emergency, like fire engines, cop cars or ambulances, noise coming from public playgrounds, school grounds or entertainment venues sanctioned by the county. Also included are sounds coming from construction during hours stated on their permits. Agricultural activities and gunfire while hunting legally are also exempt. Sheriff's Lt. George Malim said in the time since the noise ordinance was instituted in March until Dec. 31, 2004, his department received 424 noise-related complaints. Forty-six of these calls came from the Loomis community, while Granite Bay had 62. Although the number of complaints hasn't lowered, Sgt. Wayne Woo of the Sheriff's substation in Loomis said it has been helpful in handling these kinds of calls. "What these have done has taken the objectivity out of these calls," Woo said. "Everyone has their own opinion about what too loud is. Now we have an actual reading and factual data that shows either it's too loud or it's not too loud." According to statistics, of the 400-plus complaints received in the ordinance's first year, 163 were regarding loud music and 64 dealt were about off-road vehicles. Malim said the noise meters have only been used four times."A lot of times, by the time we're called, they've stopped," Malim explained. A code enforcement team handles ongoing problems by setting up large decibel readers for a 24-hour period. "They have been used, but I can't tell you how often," Woo said. The ordinance is still in the trial period. Woo said it will be reviewed for a second time in the spring. Granite Bay resident Suzanne Stanford is pleased with the new rules, saying it gives a guideline of what residents can and cannot do in order to be a courteous neighbor. "Since we all have different ideas of what is acceptable, it is imperative that we have guidelines, or ordinances, to tell us what is and is not acceptable," she said. Donna Gifford, who also calls Granite Bay home, disagrees. She said a neighbor called the Sheriff's Department on her family when her son was practicing his drums. "I think it's too restrictive of things that normal families might want to do on their properties," she said. "I think if you want to have a barbecue with 10 people, you could be in violation of the noise ordinance. That's very restrictive."She also believes it's a waste of law officers' time. "I think our deputies have better things to do than go on frivolous calls like these," she said. "Maybe it is easier for them because they have a black and white answer, but is it reasonable for the general public out there living their lives?"While Stanford can see her point, she thinks the time is worth it. "While I do think it is a shame to a take an officer off the road to monitor sound, they are protecting the peace," she said. Jamie Trump can be reached at jamiet@goldcountrymedia.com.