[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Laconia 7-29-1985 as Ord. No. 108-85.11. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Animals — See Ch. 113.
Licensing — See Ch. 161.
It is found and declared that:
A. 
The making and creation of loud, unnecessary, unreasonable or unusual noises within the limits of the City of Laconia is a condition which has existed for some time and the extent and volume of such noises is increasing;
B. 
The making, creation, maintenance or continuation of such loud, unnecessary, unreasonable or unusual noises which are prolonged, unusual, unreasonable or unnecessary in their time, place, use and effect are a detriment to the public comfort, repose, health, peace, safety, convenience, welfare and prosperity of the residents of the City of Laconia; and
C. 
The necessity and the public interest for the provisions and prohibitions hereinafter contained and enacted is a matter of legislative determination and public policy, and it is further declared that the provisions and prohibitions hereinafter contained and enacted are in pursuance of and for the purpose of securing and promoting the public comfort, repose, health, peace, safety, convenience, welfare and prosperity of the City of Laconia and its inhabitants.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to make, continue or cause to be made or continued or to allow to be continued any loud, unreasonable noise or any noise which would annoy, disturb, injure or endanger the comfort, repose, health, peace, safety, convenience, welfare and prosperity of a reasonable person within the limits of the City of Laconia.
A. 
"Loud, unreasonable noises" shall include, but not be limited to, any noise occasioned by any one or more of the following actions of the operator of a motor vehicle operated within the limits of the City of Laconia:
(1) 
Misuse of power exceeding tire traction limits in acceleration, sometimes known as "laying down rubber" or "peeling rubber."
(2) 
Misuse of braking power exceeding tire traction limits in deceleration where there is no emergency.
(3) 
Rapid acceleration by means of quick upshifting of transmission gears with either a clutch and manual transmission or an automatic transmission.
(4) 
Rapid deceleration by means of quick downshifting of transmission gears with either a clutch and manual transmission or an automatic transmission.
(5) 
Racing of engines by manipulation of the accelerator, gas pedal, carburetor or gear selection, whether the vehicle is either in motion or standing still.
(6) 
The blowing of any horn, except as a warning signal, or the use of any other noise-making device, whither the vehicle is either in motion or standing still.
(7) 
The operation of a mobile refrigeration unit or other types of compressors between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. while the vehicle is not in motion, except for emergency use or while actually loading or unloading.
B. 
Any person who is the owner or a tenant or a resident or otherwise in control of any house, apartment, condominium unit, structure or any other property located within the City of Laconia shall be responsible and liable for any loud, unreasonable noises created by one or more persons gathered on said property which disturbs the public comfort, repose, health, peace, safety, convenience, welfare or prosperity of a reasonable person of the City of Laconia. Further, any person who is the owner, tenant, resident or otherwise in control of any house, apartment, condominium unit, structure or other property located within the City of Laconia is responsible and liable for any loud, unreasonable noises if he permits or allows any gathering of one or more persons to continue to make loud, unnecessary, unreasonable or unusual noises upon such property after having been advised of the disturbing affects such noise such noise is having on any other resident of the City and said noise then continues to disturb the public comfort, repose, health, peace, safety, convenience, welfare and prosperity of a reasonable person of the City of Laconia.
Without limitation of the prohibition contained in § 167-2, it shall be unlawful for any person within any residential, commercial, retail or industrial zone of the City to use or operate any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, television set, loudspeaker or any other sound-amplifying machine or device for the purpose of producing or reproducing sound in such manner as to disturb the comfort, repose, health, peace, safety, convenience, welfare and prosperity of any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area. For the purpose of this section, any person who uses or operates any such sound amplifying machine or device for the purpose of producing or reproducing sound which is either located outside of an enclosed structure or located in a window, door or other opening of an enclosed structure so that the sound is directed outside of said structure shall constitute a prima facie violation of this section if any noise or sound can be heard by or any reasonable person while upon any adjoining private property. Nothing in this section shall prevent the use of loudspeakers or other sound-producing or a reproducing machine or device to be used, provided that it is duly licensed under the provisions of Chapter 161, Licensing, § 161-6, of this Code; and provided, further, that the Licensing Board has authorized a license to any function or activity involving public noises that it deems reasonable, and its determination shall be final.
[Amended 7-23-2007 by Ord. No. 10.2007.10]
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation, and a penalty shall be imposed upon him not to exceed the sum of $250. Such person shall be deemed to be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of this chapter is committed, continued or permitted by such person and shall be punishable therefor as provided herein.