It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to use or operate or cause to be used or operated within designated areas of the City of Hazleton, any mechanical device designed to aid in braking or deceleration of any vehicle which results in excessive, loud, unusual or explosive noise from such vehicle. Mechanical braking devices are sometimes otherwise known as "Jake brakes" or engine brake retarders and the use thereof often known as Jake-braking. The mechanical braking devices are also sometimes known as compression-release engine brakes.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hazleton as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 9-22-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-15]
This article shall not apply to any municipal or volunteer fire department. The use of mechanical braking devices in an emergency when it is necessary to protect persons and/or property shall not be a violation of this article.
Signs shall be posted at the entrances of those prohibited areas within the City of Hazleton.
This article shall be in effect in all posted, designated areas within the City of Hazleton.
[Adopted 4-24-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-8]
A.
The Council for the City of Hazleton finds that excessive levels of sound/noise are detrimental to the physical, mental, and social well-being of the people, as well to their comfort, living conditions, general welfare, and safety and being. Therefore, a public health and welfare hazard, the Council for the City of Hazleton hereby declares it necessary to provide for the greater control and more effective regulation of excessive sound/noise and the sources of excessive sound/noise within the City of Hazleton.
B.
This article aims to ensure that public health, safety and welfare shall not be abridged by the making and creating of public nuisances from disturbing, excessive or offensive sound/noises in the City of Hazleton. The residents of the City of Hazleton recognize that uncontrolled sound/noise represents a danger to the health and welfare of their neighbors, and that each person in the community is entitled to live in an environment in which the level of sound/noise is minimized for the good of the community. This article attempts to foster mutual respect among residents and to establish a community position against sound/noise pollution. The community believes that it should rely on the good sense of all residents to respect one another's living and working environments, and one another's right to an environment that is free from sound/noise disturbances.
C.
To achieve the intent and purpose of the Council for the City of Hazleton, this article regulates sound/noise in two manners: (1) through an objective, reasonable person standard of annoyance (as set forth in § 312-8); (2) through per se prohibitions on certain types of sound/noise known to cause annoyance (as set forth in §§ 312-9 and 312-10). Noncompliance with either of these two methods of sound/noise control constitutes a violation of this article and is subject to the penalties provided herein.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
D.
This article applies to all persons, property, animals, equipment, appliances, instruments, and other sound-/noise-emitting devices, as regulated herein.
E.
The provisions of this article are not intended to interfere with, abrogate, or annul other rules, regulations, or ordinances, including the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, or any Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. If more stringent requirements concerning sound/noise abatement are contained in the other rules, regulations, or ordinances, the more stringent regulation shall apply.
For the purpose of this article, the following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except when the context clearly indicates a different meaning. All terminology used in this article, not defined below, shall be in conformance with the applicable publications of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI and its revisions) or its successor body.
The all-encompassing sound/noise associated with a given environment, being usually a composite of sounds/noises from many sources near and far.
The City of Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
The erection, repair, renovation, demolition, or removal of any building or structure; and the excavation, filling, grading, and regulation of lots in connection therewith.
Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage.
Any work performed for the purpose of preventing or alleviating the physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an emergency.
Sound/noise of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay. Examples of impulsive sound/noise include explosions, drop forge impacts, and the discharge of firearms.
A device designed for decreasing or abating the level of sound/noise escaping from an engine or machinery system.
Any individual, association, trust, partnership, or corporation, including any members, directors, officers, employees, partners, or principals thereof. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty, "person" includes the members, trustees, partners, directors, officers, managers, and supervisors, or any of them, of partnerships, associations, corporations, or other forms of entity.
Any self-propelled airborne, waterborne, or land-borne plane, vessel, or vehicle which is not designed to caddy persons including but not limited to any model airplane, boat, car, or rocket. This definition shall also include dirt bikes, four-wheelers, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) being used to carry persons, but which are not being operated on a street, boulevard, circle, highway, or similar place. To the extent that dirt bikes, four-wheelers, or ATVs are being operated on a public right-of-way, the restrictions in this article for such shall be governed by the motor vehicle prohibitions as set forth in § 312-10 below.
An imaginary line or "party wall" that separates adjoining lands or the dwelling units of apartments, condominiums, town homes, or duplexes, drawn through the points of contact of adjoining lands, or, in the case of apartments, condominiums, townhouses, and duplexes owned, rented, or leased by different persons, a demarcation or a line of separation between dwelling units or properties. In the circumstances of any two or more buildings sharing common grounds, the line drawn midway between any two such buildings. All areas devoted to public right-of-way or a common or shared area shall be deemed to be across the property line.
Any street, avenue, boulevard, circle, highway, sidewalk, or similar place which is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
Any real property, or structures thereon, which is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
All land, whether publicly or privately owned, whether improved or not improved, with or without structures, exclusive of any areas devoted to the public right-of-way.
An oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity, or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that causes compression and rarefaction of that medium, or the superposition of such propagated oscillation which evokes an auditory sensation. The description of sound/noise may include any characteristics of such sound/noise, including duration, intensity, and frequency.
Any sound/noise which annoys or disturbs humans, or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans, excepting any law enforcement activity, including but not limited to training sessions.
Any sound/noise which endangers, would endanger or is likely to endanger, or injures, would injure or is likely to injure, the safety or health of humans or animals, annoys, would annoy or is likely to annoy, or disturb a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities; endangers, would endanger or is likely to endanger, or injures, would injure or is likely to injure, personal or real property; disturbs, would disturb or is likely to disturb, the peace; or creates, would create or is likely to create, a nuisance; a violation of § 312-9 or 312-11 of this article.
The land use districts as established by the Code of the City of Hazleton, and all subsequent amendments.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make or cause to be made a sound/noise disturbance within the limits of the City of Hazleton, except as otherwise permitted in this article.
The following acts, and the causing thereof, are declared to be sound/noise disturbances, and therefore in violation of this article:
A.
Radios, television sets, musical instruments, and similar devices. Operating, using or playing of any radio, television, phonograph, drum, musical instrument, sound/noise amplifier, automobile radio, automobile stereo, high-fidelity equipment, or similar device which produces, reproduces, or amplifies sound/noise to the extent that such use creates a sound/noise disturbance:
(1)
At any time and in such a manner as to cause a sound/noise disturbance across a property line (boundary), or between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., so as to be plainly audible across a property line (boundary);
(2)
In such a manner as to create a sound/noise disturbance across a property line (boundary) or at 20 feet from such device, whichever is less, when the device is operated in or on a motor vehicle, or hand carried, on a public right-of-way or public space; or
(3)
In such a manner as to create a sound/noise disturbance to any person other than the operator of the device, when operated by any passenger on a common carrier.
C.
Construction tools or equipment. Operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction operations, drilling, or demolition work:
[Amended 2-23-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-4]
(1)
Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, or at any time on Sundays or any holidays recognized by Luzerne County, such that sound/noise therefrom creates a sound/noise disturbance across a residential property line (boundary), except for emergency work; or
(3)
This Subsection C shall not apply when a permit is requested and a compelling reason is given for construction operations to be performed between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, or at times on Sundays or any holidays. Any permit issued pursuant to this section shall be narrowly tailored to the least amount of time required to complete the operations and will not exceed 30 days. If time is needed beyond 30 days, the applicant must reapply and be approved for a new permit. The permit needs to be requested through the Hazleton Code Department and approved by the Mayor's office.
D.
Domestic power tools. Operating or permitting the operation of any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, grinder, lawn/garden tool, or similar device used outdoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, so as to cause a sound/noise disturbance across a residential property line (boundary), except in an emergency.
E.
Loading and unloading. Loading, unloading, opening, closing, or otherwise handling of boxes, crates, containers, building materials, garbage cans, or other objects between the hours of 10:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, in such a manner as to cause a sound/noise disturbance across a residential property line (boundary). Such restrictions shall also apply to truck idling and truck refrigerants.
F.
Street sales. No person shall offer for sale or sell by shouting, outcry, or by any other amplified or unamplified sound/noise, except between the hours of 7:00 a.m. of one day and 7:00 p.m. of the same day.
G.
Animals and birds. Owning, possessing, harboring, or controlling any animal or bird which howls, barks, meows, squawks, or makes other sound/noises continuously and/or incessantly for a period of 10 minutes, or makes sound/noise intermittently for 30 minutes or more to the disturbance of any person at any time of the day or night, regardless of whether the animal or bird is situated in or upon private property; provided, however, that at the time the animal or bird is making such sound/noise, no person is trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property in or upon which the animal or bird is situated, or for any other legitimate cause which teased or provoked the animal or bird.
H.
Tampering. No person shall remove or render inoperative, other than for purposes of maintenance, repair, replacement, or other work, any muffler or sound-/noise-dissipative device or element of design or sound/noise label of any product; intentionally move or render inaccurate or inoperative of any sound-/noise-monitoring instrument or other device positioned by or for the City or other government entity, provided that such device or the immediate area is clearly labeled or posted to warn of the potential illegality; or use a product which has had a muffler or sound-/noise-dissipative device or element of design or sound/noise label removed or rendered inoperative with knowledge or reason to know that such action has occurred.
I.
Vehicle, motorboat, or aircraft repairs and testing. No person shall build, repair, rebuild, test, or otherwise work on any motorcycle, automobile, or other motor vehicle, motorboat, or aircraft in such a manner as to cause a sound/noise disturbance across a property line (boundary).
J.
Powered model vehicles. No person shall operate a motorcycle, truck, automobile, or other motor vehicle in such a manner as to cause to create a sound/noise disturbance.
A.
Motor vehicles and motorcycles on public rights-of-way. No person shall operate or cause to be operated a public or private motor vehicle, motorcycle, or any equipment attached to such a vehicle, on a public right-of-way at any time in such a manner that the sound/noise level emitted by the motor vehicle, motorcycle, or any equipment attached to such a vehicle, exceeds the level set forth in 67 Pa. Code, Chapter 157, Established Sound Levels.
B.
Standing motor vehicles. No person shall operate or permit the operation of any motor vehicle or any auxiliary equipment attached to such a vehicle for a period longer than 15 minutes in any hour while the vehicle is stationary, for reasons other than traffic congestion, anywhere within 150 feet of any residential property line (boundary) in such a manner as to cause a sound/noise disturbance across a residential property line (boundary).
C.
Unnecessary horn blowing. No person shall at any time sound the horn or other warning device of a vehicle, except when absolutely necessary as a warning while actually driving such a vehicle, or unless necessary in the testing of such for state inspection purposes. (Exception: A brief, momentary use of the automobile horn shall be permitted in appropriate situations, such as greeting a pedestrian or arriving at a residence, so long as such use does not become a nuisance or result in a danger to the public.)
D.
Sound trucks. No person shall operate amplifying equipment mounted on or attached to any motor vehicle at any time in such a manner as to exceed the maximum permissible motor vehicle sound/noise emissions as set forth herein.
The sound/noise prohibited in §§ 312-8, 312-9 and 312-10 of this article that disturbs two or more residents who are in general agreement as to the times and durations of the sound/noise, and who reside in separate residencies, including apartments and condominiums located within the same building, located across a property line (boundary) from the property on which the source of the sound/noise is generated, shall be prima facie evidence of a sound/noise disturbance. This is not the exclusive example of a prima facie violation.
The following sounds/noises are exempted from these provisions:
A.
Blasting. Only if performed in accordance with a permit issued by the official in charge of the City's Code Enforcement Office or its designee. Such blasting may occur only between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, unless specifically authorized otherwise by the permit.
B.
Concerts, etc. Band concerts, carnivals, or other performances, or similar activities, publicly or privately sponsored, and presented in any public or private space outdoors, so long as:
C.
Emergency work. Sound/noises caused by the performance of emergency work, or by the ordinary and accepted use of emergency apparatus and equipment.
D.
Municipal and utility services. Sound/noises resulting from the provision, repair and maintenance of municipal/governmental facilities, services or public utilities.
E.
Amplified announcements. Sound/noises created by organized school-related programs, activities, athletic and entertainment events, or other public programs, activities, or events, other than motor vehicle racing events.
F.
Warning devices. Sound/noises made by warning devices operating continuously for three minutes or less, except that, in the event of an actual emergency, the limitation shall not apply.
G.
Celebrations. Sound/noises made by bells, chimes, carillons used for religious purposes, or in conjunction with national, state, or local celebrations or public holidays; existing bells, chimes, carillons, and clock strike mechanisms that are currently in use for any purpose.
H.
Snow blowers. Sound/noises made by snow blowers or similar snow removal equipment used in the maintenance of private or public property following snowstorms.
This article shall be enforced by the Hazleton Police Department, Code Enforcement Office, Health Department, and Fire Department.
[Amended 7-8-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-13; 4-12-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-3; 7-11-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-3]
A.
Upon the first violation, any person who violates or permits the violation of any provision of this article may be issued a citation by the City of Hazleton in the amount of $150. Each section or provision of this article that is violated may constitute a separate offense, and each day or portion thereof in which a violation of this article is found to exist may constitute a separate offense, each of which violation may be punishable by a separate fine imposed by the City of Hazleton of $500.
B.
Upon any subsequent violations, any person who violates or permits the violation of any provision of this article may, upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District Judge, be guilty of a summary offense and may be subject to the penalties provided in Chapter 1, Article II, Violations and Penalties.