The Board of Trustees finds that:
A. The making and creating of disturbing, excessive or offensive
noises within the jurisdictional limits of the Village of Oxford is a condition
which has persisted, and the level and frequency of occurrences of such noises
continues to increase. These noise levels are a detriment to the public health,
comfort, convenience, safety and welfare of the citizens.
B. Every person is entitled to an environment in which disturbing,
excessive or offensive noise is not detrimental to his or her life, health
or enjoyment of property. The law is to be construed liberally, but it is
not intended to be construed so as to discourage the enjoyment of residents
of normal, reasonable and usual activities.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following acts:
A. The emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons
to the existence of an emergency.
B. Noise from a municipally sponsored or permitted celebration
or event.
C. Noise from individually sponsored events where permission
is received from the Village Board.
D. The operation or use of any organ, radio, bell, chimes
or other instrument, apparatus or device by any church, synagogue or school
licensed or chartered by the State of New York that is in use at the time
of establishment of this chapter and for any new use, only between the hours
of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
E. Noise generated by the normal operation and installation
of maintenance of utilities.
F. Practice session by school bands or loudspeakers used
at organizational, athletic or scholastic events.
G. Weddings, parades and other organized events which customarily
use motor vehicles and sounding of their horns during events.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty
of a violation and shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $250 and/or a
jail term of 15 days for each offense, and a separate offense shall be deemed
committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
The Police Department may in its discretion, confiscate the offending device
at the scene of the offense and the return of said device shall be in the
sound discretion of the court. The village may also seek injunctive relief
to prevent the continued violation of this law.
This chapter shall become effective immediately upon filing with the
Secretary of State.