ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The city of St. Augustine is trying to get a grip on the noise coming out of its downtown at night.
The city aims to review its local noise law, and it could possibly make it easier for police to track down the sound and determine how loud it really is.
A lot of people pour into downtown St. Augustine for the nightlife and a little live music.
However, some people who live close by say the sounds are too loud, and they call the police.
"We do have a large nightlife in the downtown area. A lot of those noise complaints originate from that area," St. Augustine Police Assistant Chief Anthony Cuthbert said.
He explained his officers are in a little bit of a jam with the way the local noise ordinance is written. When a complaint comes in, he said, an officer has to go to the property where the person is filing the complaint, not the believed source of the noise, to take a reading.
Regarding what he would like to see with the noise ordinance, Cuthbert said, "If the noise ordinance can be changed, and the legality of it be cleared up, as far as where we can take the noise measurement readings, and anything that makes the job easier for the men and women on the street, I’m all for."
Recently, the city commission asked the police department to review the ordinance in order to consider updating it. The city has contracted with a noise expert to evaluate the current local law.
Last year, the city commission considered creating a different law. It was a nightlife ordinance, partly because of noise complaints late into the night regarding bars and businesses that stay open late. That did not pass. However, this possible revision of a noise ordinance may address any loud sound issues.
Cuthbert says the local noise ordinance the city is addressing will tap into residential and commercial noise.