[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Township Council) of the Township of Eastampton 10-26-1970 by Ord. No. 1970-6 (Ch. 66 of the 1974 Township Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Animals — See Ch. 145.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 205.
Public health nuisances — See Ch. 347.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 370.
Peddling and soliciting — See Ch. 374.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 456.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 510.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others within the limits of the Township.
The following acts, among others, are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this section, but said enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive, namely:
A. 
Horns, signaling devices. The sounding of any horn or signaling device on any automobile, motorcycle, streetcar or other vehicle on any street or public place of the Township, except as a danger warning; the creation by means of any such signaling device of any unreasonably loud or harsh sound and the sounding of any device for an unnecessary and unreasonable period of time; the use of any signaling device except one operated by hand or electricity; the use of any horn, whistle or other device operated by engine exhaust; and the use of any such signaling device when traffic is for any reason held up.
B. 
Radios, televisions, phonographs. The using, operating or permitting to be played, used or operated any radio receiving set, television, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants or at any time with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for the person or persons who are in the room, vehicle or chamber in which such machine or device is operated and who are voluntary listeners thereto. The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph, machine or device between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
C. 
Loudspeakers, amplifiers for advertising. The using, operating, or permitting to be played, used or operated any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, loudspeaker, sound amplifier or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound which is cast upon the public streets for the purpose of commercial advertising or for any other purpose, unless a permit is obtained as provided in § 343-4 hereof and provided that such sound:
[Amended 5-28-1974 by Ord. No. 1974-5]
(1) 
Will not disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the inhabitants; and
(2) 
Is produced or caused to be produced only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon and between 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, in the months of April through September, inclusive, and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon and between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., prevailing time, in the months of October through March, inclusive.
D. 
Yelling and shouting. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office or in any dwelling, hotel, motel or other type of residence or of any persons in the vicinity.
E. 
Whistles. The blowing of any whistle except to give notice of the time to begin or stop work or as a warning of fire or danger or upon request of proper Township authorities or as may be required by general law or ordinance. No fire siren or whistle shall be blown during the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except that the siren or whistle may be blown in the event that there is a structure or building fire in the Township.
[Amended 5-26-1987 by Ord. No. 1987-8; 8-25-1987 by Ord. No. 1987-16]
F. 
Exhausts. The discharge into the open air of the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal-combustion engine or motor vehicle except through a muffler or other device which will effectively prevent loud or explosive noises therefrom.
G. 
Operation of vehicle. The use of any automobile, truck, bus, motorcycle, minibike or other vehicle so out of repair, so loaded or in such a manner as to create loud and unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling or other noise.
H. 
Colliding automobiles. The intentional collision of automobiles, either into each other or into fixed obstructions in any place, public or private, which creates excessive noise so as to constitute a disturbance to neighbors or passersby in the vicinity.
I. 
Loading, unloading and opening boxes. The creation of loud and excessive noise in connection with loading or unloading any vehicle or the opening and destruction of bales, boxes, crates and containers.
J. 
Construction or repair of buildings. The erection (including excavating), demolition, alteration or repair of any building other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except in case of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the Township Engineer, which permit may be granted for a period not to exceed three days or less while the emergency continues and which permit may be renewed for periods of three days or less while the emergency continues. If the Township Engineer should determine that the public health and safety will not be impaired by the erection, demolition, alteration or repair of any building or the excavation of streets and highways within the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays or 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and if he shall further determine that loss or inconvenience would result to any party in interest, he may grant permission for such work to be done within the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. weekdays and within the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, upon application being made at the time the permit for the work is awarded or during the process of the work.
[Amended 12-27-1989 by Ord. No. 1989-11]
K. 
Schools, courts and churches. The creation of any excessive noise on the street adjacent to any school, institution of learning, church or court, while the same is in use, which unreasonably interferes with the working of such institution or which disturbs or unduly annoys the occupants thereof, provided that conspicuous signs are displayed in such streets indicating that the same is a school, hospital or court street.
L. 
Drums. The use of any drum or other instrument or device for the purpose of attracting attention by the creation of noise to any performance, show or sale.
M. 
Hawkers and peddlers. The shouting and crying of peddlers, hawkers and vendors which disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 374, Peddling and Soliciting.
N. 
Metal rails, pillars and columns; transportation thereof. The transportation of rails, pillars or columns of iron, steel or other material over and along streets and other public places upon carts, drays, cars, trucks or in any other manner so loaded as to cause loud noises or as to disturb the peace and quiet of such streets or other public places.
O. 
Railroad cars and buses; operation thereof. The causing, permitting or continuing of any excessive, unnecessary and avoidable noise in the operation of railroad cars, locomotives and buses.
P. 
Pile drivers, hammers. The operation other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays of any pile driver, steam shovel, bulldozer or other earthmoving machinery, pneumatic hammer, derrick, steam or electric hoist or other appliance, the use of which is attended by loud or unusual noise.
Q. 
Blowers. The operation of any hoist-creating blower or power fan or any internal-combustion engine, the operation of which causes noise due to the explosion of operating gases or fluids, unless the noise from such blower or fan is muffled and such engine is equipped with a muffler device sufficient to deaden such noises.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to apply to church bells or chimes or to prohibit playing by a band or orchestra in a hall or building or in the open air, or the operation of lawn mowers between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. prevailing time, or to emergency repairs which may be made by any public utility.
[Added 5-28-1974 by Ord. No. 1974-5]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to use or operate any sound device, loudspeaker, amplifier or apparatus in, upon, near or adjacent to any public street or place for commercial or business advertising or for political or public announcement purposes, without having obtained a permit for such use and except as provided in § 343-2C.
B. 
Applications. Each applicant for a permit to use and operate a sound device, loudspeaker, amplifier or apparatus in, upon, near or adjacent to any public street or place shall file a written application with the Township Clerk not later than five days before the date on which such sound device, loudspeaker, amplifier or apparatus is to be used or operated. Such application shall be on forms furnished by the Township Clerk and shall describe the name and address of the applicant, the name and address of the owner of the premises and specific location of the premises or place for which the permit is sought, the day and hour or hours during which such use and operation is proposed, the make or type and other identification of the sound devices, loudspeaker, amplifier or apparatus to be used, the volume of sound which is proposed to be used measured by decibels or other efficient method of measuring sound, and such other information as may be necessary for the carrying out of the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
The Township Clerk shall collect a fee of $5 for each permit for the use and operation of each sound device, loudspeaker, amplifier or apparatus. Each permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive days.
For violation of any provision of this chapter of the Code of the Township of Eastampton, County of Burlington, including revisions, amendments and supplements thereto, where no specific penalty is provided regarding the section or sections violated, the maximum penalty shall, upon conviction of such violation, be as set forth in Chapter 1, Article II, Penalties for Violations, of the Township Code. Each and every day on which a violation exists of any provisions of this chapter shall constitute a separate violation.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).