Kruzan Reminds Residents To Lower the Boooom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2008

For more information, contact:
Beverly Calender-Anderson, Safe and Civil City Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3560

Bloomington, IN -- As the school semester winds down and festivities around town increase, Mayor Mark Kruzan reminds all residents of the amendments made to the City of Bloomington Noise Ordinance that allow for increased and graduated fines for noise violations.

"These fines may seem extreme, especially if you're a student or on a fixed income," Kruzan said. "The fines are not meant to be punitive but because they are steep, we hope it will serve as a deterrent to unreasonable noise. It is important to understand that the health, safety and comfort of all Bloomington residents is an uppermost concern."

The terms of the ordinance state that a first time offender may be issued a warning; however if a citation is issued, the fine is $50. The second citation, within a 12-month period, carries a $100 fine and all subsequent violations bear fines of $500 each, also within a 12-month period. It's important to note that citations for noise follow the offender whether issued for noise emanating from a vehicle or a house or apartment.

For specific details about the Noise Ordinance, refer to the Lower the Boooom web site at www.bloomington.in.gov/boom.

Besides being an annoyance in residential neighborhoods, increased sound levels can adversely affect the hearing of listeners as well as make it difficult to hear emergency vehicles or warning sounds such as horns or verbal warnings.

The noise levels inside the average boom car register 120-140 decibels; car stereos with 2,000 watt subwoofer speakers can provide up to 135 decibels. As a means of comparison, federal guidelines state that industrial workers should not be exposed to noise of 100 decibels for more than two hours daily. The sound threshold for pain is 120 decibels; the sound of a jumbo jet taking off is 140 decibels.

As part of the ongoing Lower the Boooom! Campaign, City of Bloomington Police Department will conduct extra patrols in April in order to increase enforcement of the noise ordinance. The Lower the Boooom! Campaign message will also be seen on bus ads and heard through radio PSAs.

Residents who experience increased noise levels in their neighborhoods can file a complaint on the Lower the Boooom! Hotline at 355-7777 or use the non-emergency police number, 339-4477. Concerns or complaints may also be e-mailed to noise@bloomington.in.gov.

For additional information or to schedule a presentation to your neighborhood association or civic group about the Lower the Boooom! Campaign, contact City of Bloomington Safe and Civil City Director, Beverly Calender-Anderson, at safeandcivil@bloomington.in.gov or 349-3560.

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