May 7, 2001, 9:19PM And the beat goes on: Noise ordinance gains support By RACHEL GRAVES Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle Window-rattling bass from passing cars and the crashes and clangs of trash bins being emptied in the middle of the night are the intended targets of a proposal to beef up Houston's noise laws. "It's aimed at allowing residents to be able to sleep at night," said Councilwoman Annise Parker on Monday. She is shepherding the tougher ordinance through her Neighborhood Protection Committee. The Houston Police Department received 75,000 complaints about noise in the past year. Three percent of the complaints generated tickets. The proposal would allow police to ticket people playing music loud enough to be heard or felt 50 feet away, regardless of how many decibels are registered on a sound meter. City Council revised its ordinance several years ago to adopt decibel levels as the key to determining whether something was too noisy. Officials say it has not worked because low-frequency sounds, like thumping bass music, do not register on sound meters. Police also have found it difficult to enforce the law on moving vehicles. There are no regulations for the noise from emptying garbage bins. "What exists right now isn't worth the paper that it's printed on," said Vivian Harris, president of the South Houston Concerned Citizens Coalition. Harris said a rave party in her neighborhood was attended by thousands of people recently. The pounding music could be heard five miles away. The organizers of the party, which went on all weekend, said they had a city permit, according to Harris. "The police would not even go in there," she said. If the parties continue, "it will change our whole quality of life out here. It will just destroy our community." The existing law limits noise in residential areas at night, between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.; prohibits noisy vehicles, such as those without mufflers; and regulates loud animals. Most of the changes concern amplified sound, meaning loud music. Permits are available for special events. They are limited to two per month, each for a period of 14 hours or less. The penalty for violating the law is a fine of up to $500. The proposed changes likely will get some tweaking before being considered by City Council later this spring. Councilman John Castillo would like rodeos and festivals in nonresidential areas to be able to get permits more than twice a month. He also is concerned that the current draft allows complaints to be made anonymously because he fears people could use it as a device to harass businesses they do not like. Another complaint from some neighborhood activists and Castillo is that the noise ban in residential areas does not go far enough. "I think any noise above snoring is too loud in a residential area," Castillo said. But in spite of minor concerns, most council members have indicated support for the strengthened law. Parker said she expects it to be approved. "There's strong, strong interest in seeing something passed," she said. "It literally is an item that has come up at every town hall meeting that I've attended."
This noise ordinance fits my situation perfectly. I have a group of kids that live across the street from me who on a daily basis, blast their stupid booming stereos while they just SIT IN THEIR DRIVEWAY! They sit their, play their stereos, go to their trunk, adjust something, then go sit in their cars. Over and over on almost a daily basis. These idiots have no consideration for their neighbors or neighborhood. They are young, ignorant and uneducated oblivious to their disturbances. We also have these people that live behind us and play their car stereos, leave their car doors open, then, get this... go inside their homes!!! While the freakin' stereos are on! They use them as home entertainment systems! Idiots! Whatever... I know why they play them so loud, cause they can't hear! arghhh... rH [This message has been edited by rockHEAD (edited May 08, 2001).]
Oh damn, rockHEAD may feel some flames coming if enough people read this thread. I personally love loud music and crank my car stereo with its stock Bose system up as loud as it'll go without distortion. But I'm with you. I never crank it at night unless on the freeway or going down to Houston. I never crank it going by religious buildings (churches, mosques, synagogues, etc.). There are morons in this world that think that their system/car is an extension of their dingaling and the louder it is, the more man they must be. Take that stuff to crank contests where you'll be put in your place. What's even stupider is I'm listening to a new commercial for Tweeter audio. They have these girls saying that a loud car system will make them go out with a guy even if he's stupid or ugly. I about died laughing listening to this stupid crap. That says more about you than it does his system ladies. I'm on vacation at the moment waiting for my next job to start. I went out with some friends to eat last night and when I came back I heard someone just playing Jewel or something from his minivan as loud as the crappy stereo could play it. This little balding fella was cleaning the windows on his minivan at about 11:00pm at night with the stereo blaring. All I could think was how obvlivious he was to the idiot he is. ------------------ NBA Draft Lottery is May 20th. Start praying now.
Bring on the flames! I will fan them towards my neighbors! These kids are ignorant and uneducated which results in their disrespectful behavior. Flame on. rH ------------------ visit: The Psychedelic Groove House of Rockets Basketball Love! President, CEO & Charter Member of Rocketholics Anonymous [This message has been edited by rockHEAD (edited May 08, 2001).]
You wanna know where the LOVE is? That went out the freakin' window the first weekend. You try sleeping when all you hear are your windows are rattling and bass is thumping when you're trying to sleep! and it's 11 at night!! Where's the love there? Where's the freakin' respect?! That's what I want to know! rH ------------------ visit: The Psychedelic Groove House of Rockets Basketball Love! [This message has been edited by rockHEAD (edited May 08, 2001).]
www.bassinmydriveway.com www.basslove.com www.bassinyourface.com All your BASS belong to us! ------------------ "When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.'' [This message has been edited by mr_oily (edited May 08, 2001).]
Jeff, here in my home town and the other major cities in Australia apartment complexes are going up everywhere in the middle of the city, often these new developments are built next to pubs and other music venues. And then what happens but the residents complain about the noise repeatedly and the venues get shut down, it has completely destroyed the live music scene in several cities. Here in adelaide this week an application was before the city council for building approval of some apartment/townhouse complex and was right next door to the Grace Emily, a small pub that is a sensational live music venue in the city. Happily after two protests at the last two council meetings the application was yesterday knocked back. WOooooo Hooo Long live Live music Venues. Smegster ------------------ Pollution is Killing the Earth..... and the main rockets forum!
rock rock, you gotta stop talking about your dealers like that. Seriously, I live in the opposite spectrum of this whole thing. If I don't hear the constant buzz and noise of the city, I get really nervous. I guess we choose our environment. But I understand you didn't ask for those guys to move in and ruin the neighborhood. You could cross the street and let them know how you feel. You know, just reach out and be a neighbor? ------------------ Everything you do, effects everything that is.
The big problem comes with encroachment by residential developers on business areas and vice versa. Since Houston remains un-zoned, it can create real problems. ------------------ So, I took the million dollars and bought a steam shovel...
Buy some earplugs, or tell them to shut the **** up. Or get in your car, turn it on, and hit the gas, if its like mine it makes a most agreeable rumble when you hit the gas, drowning out the offending noises. ------------------ Founder and President of the Houston Homers Club(HHC) - Are you a homer? Join now! The Rockets will be NBA champions. Believe.
I actually wrote to Annise Parker last night. Here was the email conversation... Ms. Parker, I have always been a strong and vocal supporter of yours even though I have never lived in your district. However, I have some serious concerns regarding your proposed noise ordinance. My concern is that I am a musician and have been in Houston for 17 years. I completely understand and respect the wishes of residents who want their neighborhood free of noise pollution. I feel that way too. The problem is that, without zoning, the ordinance could effectively put a number of clubs and restaurants out of business and encourage harassment of those who would remain in business. My concern is for complaints made against clubs and restaurants not in residential areas. I know the ordinance is intended for residential neighborhoods but so many people live in areas that are mixed use - businesses and residences. Some of the clubs and restaurants that produce the noise that would be ticketed under your ordinance have been there as long or longer than the residences. Take the Satellite Lounge, for example. Fifty feet would be the other side of Washington Avenue. On the other side is a residential apartment complex that has been there about half as long as the Satellite. There are places like Fitzgerald's which has been in business since the 70's. Cody's in the Village is half a block from homes but it has been a staple of the Houston music scene for 20 years. And then there are private residences. I can hear my neighbor listen to the blues on Sunday afternoon from 50 feet away but it is rarely loud enough to be a nuissance. Should he get a ticket? Where are people supposed to go to enjoy live music? I realize your ordinance is well-intentioned and I applaud your efforts, but I would encourage a revision that isn't as strict as any music audible from 50 feet. I just hope you consider that it will create as many problems as it will solve. Thank you for your time. Jeff Balke Here's her response: Mr. Balke, Perhaps the article wasn't clear. The fifty feet portion of the ordinance is for car stereos (or hand held boom boxes), not for fixed locations. You can't effectively use a sound meter for a mobile violation. If an officer can hear your stereo from fifty feet away, it is too loud. For fixed sites, the current ordinance will not change substantially, i.e. you cannot produce more than 65dB measured by a sound meter at your property line. However, the new ordinance would allow a police officer discretion to determine that "bleeding" bass sounds are in violation (if he can feel the vibration at a neighboring residence, for example) even when the meter is legal for higher frequencies. Living in urban areas requires compromises. I enjoy live music. In fact, I live down the street from Anderson Fair, which is a very good neighbor in a residential area. But there is no reason that a live music venue should be heard from down the street, and certainly not after 10:00 p.m. Owners have a responsibility to sound proof their buildings. As to your neighbor's music, under both the existing and the proposed ordinances, you may be able to hear it, but it may be entirely legal as far as dB readings. Annise Parker My final response... Ms. Parker, I thank you both for your prompt reply and your explanation. You are correct in that the article was not entirely clear because they discussed a rave in one neighborhood which was obviously in a fixed location. I recognize the need for curbing low end. As a bass player of many, many years, boy do I know it! I own a recording studio/production facility in the Heights and have great relationships with my neighbors because I know how to keep the sound down. Thanks again for your assistace. Keep up the good work. Jeff Balke Interesting stuff. ------------------ So, I took the million dollars and bought a steam shovel...
