Noise Control

Sea Isle civic group wants crackdown on noise
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Wednesday, August 9, 2006

SEA ISLE CITY — A local watchdog group wants the city to get tougher on noise issues and write more tickets.

Jack Glancey, a member of Town Watch/Town Pride, asked City Commissioners and police at a meeting Tuesday to issue noise-violations citations, because the fines and community service would deter the rowdy.

Glancey said in many cases police have been issuing tickets for other matters under tenant registrations but not noise violations, which pose heavier fines and community service.

A city law requires rented and leased apartments to list the names of the tenants.

James Iannone, the Commissioner in charge of police, said officers use their discretion. If an officer is unable to issue tickets for noise violations, that officer may issue tickets if a group is violating another local law.

“We cannot legally order a police officer to write a ticket for a certain matter. You have to leave it up to the patrolman,” Iannone said, and police will address the matter appropriate to the situation.
The issue of noise in Sea Isle City, as well as neighboring resort towns, becomes an issue each summer as more people flock to the ocean and live in buildings and condominiums that are side by side.

A city ordinance sets permissible decibel levels based on the time of day and location in the city.

Sea Isle City even designates noise-free zones — 18 residential areas marked with red street signs warning that noise fines are doubled.

Glancey said there were only three summonses issued specifically for noise between Memorial Day and late July.

“It looks like the town was quiet,” but it wasn't, he said.

At a recent Town Watch meeting, property owners reported loud and unruly tenants in a number of rental properties, according to the group.

Iannone listed police statistics from May to late July.

In that period, there were 346 noise complaints, but those include reports that turn out to be nothing, he said. During that time, 36 summonses were issued for tenant registry issues and noise, he said.

There were seven noise violations during the past weekend, he said at Tuesday's meeting.

“We're doing our job. We're doing it the best way we can, in a legal way,” he said.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:BIanieri@pressofac.com