Takoma Park Adopts Amended Noise Ordinance

PHOTO| Takoma Park

The Takoma Park Mayor and Council amended the city’s  Noise Control Ordinance last week.

City Councilmember Fred Shultz, Ward 6, introduced the amendments, which went into effect on Feb. 24. According to a blog post by City Councilmember Schultz, the amended ordinance now allows enforcement officers the power to write and deliver municipal citations to violators immediately.

Police will also have authority to shutdown events. A violation that causes a shutdown will be considered as a class B criminal misdemeanor, while the normal municipal citation will not be considered a criminal offense. The amendment states that enforcement officers will no longer have to use sound meters to issue a violation.

The Noise Control Board (NCB) will also be reconstituted under the new ordinance. The NCB will hear cases from residents and recommend penalties. The city will be searching for five to seven volunteers to serve on the Board.

For more information about the amended Noise Ordinance, visit the Takoma Park website.

About Maureen Chowdhury

Maureen Chowdhury is a multimedia journalist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at mchowdhury@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @MediaMaureen. Maureen authors the blog Sound Check on MyMCMedia.

View all posts by Maureen Chowdhury