[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Camden 6-13-1995; amended 11-8-2016. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - Exhibit A, Designated Area
A. 
In accordance with the provisions of Title 30-A, Section 3001, of the Maine Revised Statutes, and by the authority granted therein under Section 3001, for the purpose of promoting the general welfare and providing for public safety and convenience, the inhabitants of the Town of Camden adopt this Noise Ordinance.
B. 
The Town of Camden has determined by virtue of complaints to the Police Department and the Board of Selectmen from citizens, downtown merchants, and visitors to the Town that certain conduct within portions of the Town designated in this chapter is preventing persons residing within those areas from fully enjoying their property and having a reasonable degree of quiet, particularly during nighttime hours, and is also preventing members of the public from enjoying public parks and other public spaces.
C. 
The Town further finds that reasonable regulations concerning noise are necessary in order to preserve a downtown area which is attractive to customers, visitors and residents and maintains a nonthreatening environment within the downtown area, including public parks and public spaces.
D. 
The Town further finds that existing state laws and regulations do not fully and adequately address the difficulties experienced within the Town of Camden which are sought to be addressed by this chapter, and that enforcement of such laws and regulations, when brought by officials not associated with the Town of Camden, is not sufficiently vigorous or timely in order to resolve the difficulties experienced in the Town.
E. 
Accordingly, exercising the home rule powers conferred upon the Town, the Town does hereby adopt the following chapter, which shall be referred to as the "Public Noise and Conduct Ordinance."
The following acts undertaken within the designated area of the Town of Camden as set forth in Exhibit A[1] are hereby declared to be a violation of this chapter:
A. 
Unreasonable, loud and raucous noise. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, singing, or the production of any other noise, in a loud and raucous manner, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on the following morning within the area set forth in Exhibit A, so as to unreasonably annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort, or repose of any persons located more than 50 feet from the source of that noise, shall be prohibited.
B. 
Obstructions of a public way. Knowingly and intentionally causing an unreasonable obstruction of a public way, road, street, sidewalk or walkway in a public park shall be prohibited within the designated area of the Town of Camden as set forth in Exhibit A.
C. 
Unreasonably loud sound production. The playing, using or operating of any radio, receiving set, musical instrument, or other machine or device for the production or reproduction of sound in such a manner as to unreasonably annoy or disturb the peace, quiet, comfort or repose of any other person located more than 50 feet from the source of that sound shall be prohibited between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following morning within the area set forth in Exhibit A.
D. 
Unreasonable sounds from horns or signaling devices. The sounding of any horn or signaling device for an unnecessary or unreasonable length of time or for a purpose not associated with the proper and legitimate signaling activity undertaken in conjunction with the operation of a motor vehicle shall be prohibited within the areas set forth in Exhibit A.
E. 
Unacceptable noise levels. Any sound level exceeding 65 dBA when measured at the property line and persisting for five minutes or more between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and before 7:00 a.m. is prohibited unless a permit has been obtained for a specific event.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A. 
Any violations of this chapter shall be a civil violation, which shall be prosecuted through the issuance of a civil summons by the Camden Police Department in the same form and in the same manner of prosecution as would be the case with a parking violation. The regulations governing prosecution of parking violations are set forth in the Camden Code, Chapter 250, § 250-15.17A. Actions shall be prosecuted by the Camden Police Officers or by the Town Attorney in the District Court for Knox County, located in Rockland, Maine.
B. 
For any first violation of this chapter, there shall be a civil fine or penalty imposed in an amount not less that $50 and not more than $100. Each subsequent violation of this chapter within a period of two years from the date of the first violation shall result in the imposition of a minimum civil fine or penalty of $100 and a maximum fine or penalty of $250.
C. 
In addition to civil penalties for any violation of this chapter, the Court shall require the violator to pay the Town reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in connection with the prosecution of the violation, together with costs and filing fees incurred by the Town in connection with that prosecution.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all areas of the Town of Camden.
In the event that any provision of this chapter shall be held illegal, it is intent that all remaining provisions of this chapter which are not declared illegal shall remain in full force and effect.