Noise Bylaw: No More Yelling, Singing, Hooting

Milford residents who are tired of hearing late-night parties, screeching tires, dogs that , and karaoke that can be heard from down the street may be getting some relief.

Selectmen endorsed a new bylaw Monday that would give Milford police the power to ticket people and businesses who disturb others with excessive noise. To take effect, it requires Town Meeting approval.

Penalties include a fine up to $300 for each violation. If the noise is made by renters, the landlord must be notified in writing that an offense has taken place.

The new bylaw is based on those used in other communities, and would:

• Prevent people from playing radios, TVs, musical instruments and at a volume that would disturb "the reasonable quiet, comfort or repose" of people living or working in the vicinity.
• Ban yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, singing or any other such noise on public streets or in public spaces between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Prohibit owners from keeping animals or birds that make frequent or continued noise that disturbs others.
• Ban drums, horns or other instruments that create noise that disturbs others.
• Give police officers the authority to make reasonable judgements about noise. The bylaw does not tie noise to a specific decibel level.
• Prohibits noise generated by construction, and other businesses, including jack hammering, use of power tools and idling of diesel trucks, between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The bylaw includes exemptions for emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks, for necessary repair of streets or public utility installation, and for noise made by farm animals. Parades and public sporting events, which have appropriate permits, also would be exempted.

Selectmen unanimously endorsed the proposal, written by Town Counsel Gerald Moody and reviewed by Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin, whose officers are the ones who generally respond to noise complaints.

Moody explained that the existing town policy is only a "vague and rather weak" zoning bylaw, which gives police officers no power over noise issues. The new bylaw would be a general bylaw relating to noise, and would give them that authority.

Chairman Dino DeBartolomeis said, coupled with a new proposal to prevent , the noise ordinance would go a long way toward assuring a "peaceful existence" for Milford residents.