Kingston Noise Ordinance Would Limit Bar Noise Level to Conversation at Property Line

Submitted by WhitesCreek on October 11, 2012 - 6:46am.

I understand the problem of living near a bar that has bands playing outside. Frankly, I like having a band play outside, but I like to sleep well also. I haven't read the proposed Kingston ordinance but I will. It could cause problems down the road as a result of unintended consequences. According to the RCN the level of sound allowed at the property line would be somewhere between conversation and a vacuum cleaner, that would be 500 times less (25 db) than a diesel truck going by on highway 70. I would like to know if any sound studies have been done alongside the road to see what the ambient noise level is without the band. I suspect not, but wouldn't that be a good idea?

Sometime the solution can be worse than the problem if the Kingston City Council isn't careful.

Here's a link that explains sound levels.

Here's the RCN story (pay wall)

Agree - there should be a study...
Submitted by RoaneBooster on October 11, 2012 - 11:39am.

... of the ambient backgroud noise - particularly at the time of day in question. The law should probably be worded such that a violation occurs at a certain dB level ABOVE the ambient noise level at a cerrtain location. This is similar to the way radiation dangers have to be figured. If you're living in a place where the background count is 13 rad and there is a source of 4 rad in the general area, there's really not a problem.

Time frame of peak levels probably shold be taken into account as well.

RB

WhitesCreek's picture
Along those lines, RB, Let's
Submitted by WhitesCreek on October 11, 2012 - 12:39pm.

Along those lines, RB, Let's say you and I are having a conversation at the property line and we're getting into it and the db meter reads 65 db and them a truck goes by and the meter reads 90. This is a dangerous type of ordinance, often enacted with the best of intentions.

I absolutely agree, WC
Submitted by RoaneBooster on October 11, 2012 - 4:45pm.

The law of unintended consequences can come back and bite 'em in the butt! There needs to be a reasonable point of reference for THAT location. And I think to be safe, if enacted, such an ordinance should also contain a clause that it can be revisited of later evidence indicates it should be adjusted.

RB

onetahiti's picture
How will people mow their lawns?
Submitted by onetahiti on October 11, 2012 - 12:54pm.

Or bring down dangerous trees?

- OneTahiti

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