Rowdy Martin County bars muffled by ‘acoustic fence’
February 11th, 2009 by TCPalm.comSTUART — The party hearty crowd at local bars is going to have to tone down the sound as a result of stricter new noise rules set to go into effect this weekend.
The Martin County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to ban noise from traveling more than 150 feet beyond an entertainment venue’s property line during the day and evening.
The new rules will ban noise from crossing an entertainment venue’s property line between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
But the commissioners didn’t change the maximum fine of $500 for violations.
The new rules will make it easier for sheriff’s deputies to enforce because it does not require the use of a calibrated noise meter to determine whether sounds exceed county standards, said county Building Official Larry Massing.
But generally, the new noise rules won’t be enforced unless someone complains, Massing said.
County Attorney Stephen Fry said the updated noise ordinance would go into effect Friday or Saturday, depending on how quickly it is processed by the state government.
Three North County homeowners said loud music emanating from local taverns had disrupted their peace and quiet.
Ed Maxwell, of Jensen Beach, said he supports the new noise rules because they will create “an acoustic fence” around taverns with loud music.
But Charles Johnson, a residential property owner near the Harley Davidson motorcycle dealership on U.S. 1, said the new rules don’t address the noise created by the movement of bikes in and out of the building at the start and end of the business day.
Commissioner Doug Smith, whose district includes Jensen Beach, said the new rules don’t solve all the noise problems in Martin County, but they are helpful.
In other business, the Martin County Commission took the following action:
• Endorsed a proposal in the state Legislature to increase the state cigarette tax by $1 to $2 per pack.
• Approved the construction of an addition to the Vought Aircraft Industries assembly facility that will house a new paint booth.
• Approved a liquor license for Hog Wild restaurant, 2902 S.E. Gran Park, Stuart (The old R.J. Gators).
• Delayed action until March 17 on the final site plan for the renovation of the Snake Road Auto Salvage business at 1650 Salerno Road.
By George Andreassi
Tags: Aircraft, bars, deputies, deputy, government, housing, liquor, Martin County Commission, Mass, motorcycle, noise, painting, property, restaurant, roads, sheriff, travel, vote
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February 11th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Good for Martin County!
We can only hope that this kind of thinking spreads south!
How reasonable to expect a modest amount of peace and quiet in your own home.
February 12th, 2009 at 6:50 am
The obvious “target” of this law is bars with live bands. But since bars are “allowed” to have live bands the commission in its infinite wisdom has decided to create a vague law and target “entertainment venues”. What this could mean quite frankly is NO MORE Pineapple Festival, NO MORE Martin County Fair, NO MORE Jensen By Night, etc., etc., etc.
So instead of maintaing a few properly calibrated decibal meters to enforce the law ALREADY on the books, which by the way is the standard across the country, Martin County has decided to forfeit millions of dollars in sales tax revenue created by these “entertainment venues” instead.
Absolutely ridiculous!
February 12th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Its about time, I hope West Palm Beach gets on board with this. every night exspecialty bike night. I have to listen to the rude bikers 25 yards from by back door. fight,smoke dope loud music and loud pipes and reved up the engines to the point of blowing them. then tear off down the road. this is very annoying at 2:00-5:00am every night. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!
May 11th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Punishing venues that host loud music without any real set of criteria other than some one complained and the officer can physically hear the noise is not a fair law. the law should include a reasonable decible rating. as this laws now stands it is hurting local businesses that host live entertainment and hurts the local entertainers. For those of you that have to listen to loud, fighting, dope smoking reved up speeding down the street bikers. Last time i checked, fighting, dope smokig and speeding are all different offenses so if it is as bad as you say, call the police. THere was also a noise ordenance before this passed that said loud noise over a certain decible rating after 11 pm was illegal. this new law hurts local business and musicians trying to make a living.