Fan of the Fan

Before Monday, the law just specified “excessive noise” as being unlawful. Now that term has been explained a little bit more in detail. Thanks to Charles Samuels.

Here are some highlights. Personally, I don’t really mind too much what noise is made during normal hours of the day, it’s more the nighttime ones that I appreciate. I hope my neighbors are reading this. . .

• Between 7am and 11pm you can’t play music, TV, etc. inside your home so loudly that it can be heard outside your home or 50 feet away from the device (stereo, computer, TV, etc.) (Note: the word “phonograph” was actually in the ordinance – they know it’s 2010, right?)
• Between 11pm and 7am sound from such equipment (stereo, TV, etc.) can only be loud enough for the person playing it to hear it
• • Between midnight and 7am you can’t make noise in your home that can be heard in another home, apartment, etc.
• • It is unlawful to let an animal or bird be so loud that it can be heard at least once a minute for 10 straight minutes from a neighbor’s home or 50-feet from the barking dog, chirping bird, etc.
• • You can’t play your car radio so loudly that it can be heard 50 feet from your car
• • You can’t drive a car so beat-up that it rattles so loudly it can be heard 350 feet away from the car
• • You can’t honk your horn just to honk, it needs to be used as a warning of on-coming danger
• • You can’t make lots of noise taking out your trash between 10pm and 5am
• • You can’t make lots of noise doing yard work between 10pm and 7am
• • You can’t make lots of noise doing home improvement stuff between 7pm and 7am
• There are exceptions to the noise rules like special permits, religious services, and sounds made by police cars.

(thanks to CBS 6 for the condensed version)

Punishment is class 2 misdemeanor charges – confinement in jail for up to six months and a fine of up to $1,000, either or both.

What do you think? These laws sound reasonable? Too much? How about the punishment?

read entire noise ordinance

There are probably some parents who are a little upset and concerned about some recent events near Maggie Walker Governor’s School.  Here’s what Councilman Charles Samuels has to say about it:

“Recent events this week in the vicinity of Maggie Walker Governor’s School are of great concern to me. These events include: a suspicious package being found (empty tool box) in the school parking lot; a fire at a homeless encampment near School Street that the Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services extinguished promptly; and, the discovery of a body in a ravine in the 1000 block of Lombardy Avenue.

The body has been identified by the Richmond Police Department as Joseph C. McCray, 54, of no fixed address, and is being investigated as a homicide due to death by blunt force trauma.

Each of these events is sufficient to cause great concern for those who attend Maggie Walker Governor’s School and the neighbors in the Newtowne West Community.  Should neighbors, families or community organizations wish to come together for solace and understanding of these events, I will support them in any way that I can.

I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family of Mr. McCray and ask that anyone with any information regarding this incomprehensible act to call Richmond Crime Stoppers, at 804.780.1000.

Samuels also shares some resources in Richmond that help the homeless population:

·        Richmond Police Department Homeless Outreach Partnership Enforcement (HOPE) patrol (804.646.4395 tel)

·        Richmond Department of Social Services (804.646.7212 tel)

Provides child, family, adult, employment and financial assistance services.

·        Freedom House (804.233.4064 tel)

·        Community Shelter (804.232.1949 tel)

Providing a stable environment for residents to begin to address issues that led to their homelessness and set goals for a better future.

·        The Conrad Center – Conrad Center (804.225.1853 tel)

Serving breakfast and dinner to Richmond ‘s homeless and working-class poor.

·        Daily Planet (804.783.0678 tel)

Operates free standing health care center in the area providing primary health care to the homeless, uninsured and underinsured regardless of their ability to pay.  Additionally, Daily Planet provides a 12-week job training and placement program to the unemployed homeless and offers at no charge to those in need:  eye care, dental care, mental health and psychiatric care, laundry and shower facilities, case management, mail and substance abuse services.”