[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Chesterfield 11-10-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-9. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Animals — See Ch. 74.
Construction activity — See Ch. 92.
Dogs — See Ch. 106.
Nuisances — See Ch. 138.
Parks and recreational areas — See Ch. 146.
Motor-driven vehicles — See Ch. 186.
It shall be unlawful for a person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any noise which does or is likely to annoy, disturb, injure or endanger the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others.
A. 
Without intending to limit the generality of § 136-1 above, the following acts are hereby declared to be examples of loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise in violation of this section:
(1) 
Radios; televisions; sound systems. The playing, use or operation of any radio receiving set, television, musical instrument, phonograph, compact disc player or other machine or devise for the producing or reproducing of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring inhabitants or with unreasonably loud volume than that which is necessary for convenient hearing for persons who are in the room, vehicle or area in which the machine or device is operated and who are voluntary listeners. The operation of such a set, instrument, phonograph, machine or device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., so that it is clearly audible at a distance of 100 feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
(2) 
Yelling; shouting. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time or place, which is unreasonable under the circumstances or annoys or disturbs the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office, dwelling, hotel, motel or other type of residence or of any persons in the vicinity.
(3) 
Animals; birds. The keeping of animals or birds which, by causing frequent or long-continued noise, disturbs the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity, but nothing herein contained is intended to apply to:
(a) 
A dog pound or kennel licensed and operating in accordance with the law; or
(b) 
Animals that are part of a standard farm operation.
(4) 
Horns. The sounding or a horn or warning device on an automobile, motorcycle, bus or other vehicle except when required by law, or when necessary to give timely warning of the approach of the vehicle, or as a warning of impending danger to persons driving other vehicles or to persons on the street. No person shall sound a horn or warning device on an automobile, motorcycle, bus or other vehicle which emits an unreasonably loud or harsh sound, or for an unnecessary or unreasonable period of time.
(5) 
Exhaust. The discharge into the open air of the exhaust of a steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine motor vehicle, or other machinery or equipment, except through a muffler or other device which will effectively prevent unreasonably loud or explosive noises.
(6) 
Defect in vehicle or load. The use of an automobile, motorcycle or vehicle so out of repair or so loaded that it creates unreasonably loud and unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling or other noise.
(7) 
Schools; courts; churches; hospitals. The creation of excessive noise on a street adjacent to a school, institution of learning, church or court while in use, or adjacent to a hospital, which unreasonably interferes with the working of the institution or which disturbs or unduly annoys patients in the hospital, provided that the presence of the school, institution, court or hospital is known or reasonably should have been known to the individual creating the excessive noise.
B. 
The above enumeration is intended to give typical illustrations of prohibited noise and shall not be construed as exclusive.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to apply to:
A. 
The use of bells, chimes or sound amplifiers by churches engaged in church activities.
B. 
Activities of municipal departments in the performance of their duties, drills or public demonstrations.
C. 
Activities in public parks, playgrounds or public buildings under permission or authority of municipal officials.
D. 
The playing by a band or orchestra in a hall or building or in the open air, where duly authorized.
E. 
Noise generated or associated with standard farm operations.
Sound trucks may be operated in accordance with the following regulations upon the issuance of a permit by the Township Committee for each occasion and each location.
A. 
Sound trucks shall not be operated in residential or commercial zones in the Township before 9:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m.
B. 
Moving sound trucks shall keep to the extreme right-hand side of the road and shall proceed at a speed of not less than 10 miles per hour.
C. 
Stationary sound trucks are prohibited in all residential zones in the township, but may be operated in commercial zones during the hours referred to in Subsection A above.
This chapter shall be read to coincide with and further support § 92-4 governing construction activity, prohibited times and practices, and not in derogation of the provisions set forth therein.
Any person, firm, corporation or other entity convicted of a violation of this chapter or any section thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,250 per violation or a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, in the discretion of the sentencing court.