[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Dickinson 8-13-2007 by L.L. No. 8-2007 (Ch. 79 of the 1983 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Animals — See Ch. 229.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 528.
Motor-driven vehicles — See Ch. 541.
Zoning — See Ch. 600.
This chapter shall be known as the "Noise Control Law of the Town of Dickinson."
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Town of Dickinson to prevent excessive, unnecessary or unusually loud noise. It is further declared that the provision and prohibitions hereinafter contained and enacted are in pursuance of and for the purpose of preserving, protecting and promoting the public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare and prosperity and the peace and quiet of the Town of Dickinson and its inhabitants.
Unless otherwise indicated by context, the following terms and phrases shall have the following meanings:
DEVICE
Any machine, mechanism or equipment which is intended to or which actually produces sound or vibration.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, company, public or private corporation, association, firm, organization, political subdivision, governmental agency, administration or department, municipality, trust, estate, group of individuals or any other legal entity whatsoever.
SOUND REPRODUCTION DEVICE
Any device that is designed to be used or is actually used for the production or reproduction of sound, including but not limited to any musical instrument, radio, television, tape recorder, photograph or any other sound-amplifying device.
UNNECESSARY NOISE
Any excessive or unusually loud sound or any sound which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of a person or which causes injury to animal life or damage to property or business. Standards to be considered in determining whether unnecessary noise exists in a given situation include, but are not limited to, the following:
A. 
The intensity of the noise.
B. 
Whether the nature of the noise is usual or unusual.
C. 
Whether the origin of the noise is associated with nature or with man-made activity.
D. 
The intensity of the background noise, if any.
E. 
The proximity of the noise to sleeping facilities.
F. 
The nature and the zoning district of the area from which the noise emanates.
G. 
The time of the day or night the noise occurs.
H. 
The time duration of the noise.
I. 
Whether the sound source is temporary.
J. 
Whether the noise is continuous or impulsive.
K. 
The volume of the noise.
The Town Board shall have the authority to make, amend and rescind such procedural rules as may be necessary to carry out the provisions and intent of this chapter.
Nothing in this chapter shall restrict any right which any person might have under any statute, including but not limited to the Environmental Conservation Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Labor Law and the Industrial Code, or the common law, to seek enforcement of any noise control requirement contained in such statutes or common law or to seek any other relief.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue, aid, countenance, cause to be made or assist in making any unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on any Sunday or holiday, except as otherwise hereinafter provided, within the limits of the Town of Dickinson in such a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of Town residents or of any other reasonable person of normal sensitiveness, whether residing in the Town or not.
B. 
For the purposes of this chapter, the Code Enforcement Officer or any police officer having jurisdiction within the Town of Dickinson shall be considered a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness, whether residing in the area or not.
C. 
For the purposes of this chapter, it shall be presumed that the owner, tenant, person or persons in possession, control or occupancy of the particular premises are jointly or severally causing or permitting such sound.
The following acts are prohibited and declared to be a violation of this chapter, said enumeration not to be deemed exclusive:
A. 
The keeping in any building or upon any premises of any animal, bird or fowl which produces and creates noises of a degree and kind or in such a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of Town residents or of any other reasonable person of normal sensitiveness, whether residing in the Town or not.
B. 
The playing of music or a sound reproduction device or the operation of any radio, television or stereo device in such a manner and with such volume as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the Town residents or of any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness.
C. 
The playing of music by any band or orchestra or a sound reproduction device in such a manner as to disturb the sleep, comfort, repose, health or safety of Town residents or of any other reasonable person of normal sensitiveness.
D. 
The operation of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or other motorized device in such a manner as to cause unnecessary noise (e.g., spinning or squealing the tires, loud muffler or exhaust system) of such vehicle so that it disturbs the peace, quiet and comfort of Town residents or of any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness.
E. 
The operating or permitting to be operated in a place of public entertainment, including but not limited to a restaurant, bar, cafe, discotheque or dance hall, a sound reproduction device in such a manner as to disturb the sleep, comfort, repose, health or safety of Town residents or of any other reasonable person of normal sensitiveness.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the production of music in connection with any military, civic or authorized parade, funeral procession or religious ceremony, nor to prevent any musical performance conducted with the consent of the Town Board or its designee.
The Town Board is hereby authorized to suspend by resolution any of the provisions of this chapter in connection with any holiday celebration or upon any occasion of special public interest, for such time and upon such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Town Board.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Any person committing an offense against any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine not exceeding $250 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The continuation of any offense against any provision of this chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct offense hereunder for each period of 24 hours in which the offense is continued.