Laserfiche WebLink
• <br />EXHIBIT "B" <br />BILL RELATING TO LOCAL ADOPTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF <br />A NOISE ORDINANCE <br />An Act to amend Chapter 384 of the Acts of Assembly of 1946, which <br />provided a charter for the City of Charlottesville, by adding a <br />section numbered 50.5, relating to adoption and enforcement of <br />local ordinances regulating loud, disturbing and excessive noise. <br />Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: <br />1. That Chapter 384 of the Acts of Assembly of 1946 is amended by <br />adding a section numbered 50.5 as follows: <br />Section 50.5 Authority of City Council to adopt and enforce <br />noise ordinances. <br />A. The City Council may by ordinance prohibit or regulate <br />loud, disturbing or excessive noises originating within its <br />jurisdiction. Such ordinance may prescribe the decibel levels, <br />degrees or types of sound which are unacceptable within the City <br />limits. <br />• B. The decibel level of any such noise may be measured by the <br />use of a sound level meter which measures sound pressure levels. <br />Such measurements shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of the <br />level of noise at issue in any court or legal proceeding. The <br />accuracy of the sound level meter may be tested by a calibrator. <br />In any court or legal proceedings in which the accuracy of the <br />calibrator is in issue, the court shall receive as evidence a sworn <br />report of the results of any test of the calibrator for accuracy. <br />Such report shall be considered by the court or jury in both <br />determining guilt or innocence and in fixing punishment. <br />C. Any individual operating a sound level meter pursuant to <br />the provisions of this section and the local noise ordinance shall <br />issue a certificate which will indicate: <br />1. that the sound level meter used to take the decibel <br />level reading was operated in accordance with the manufacturer's <br />specifications; <br />2. that the City has on file a sworn report which states <br />that the sound level meter has been tested within the past twelve <br />months and has been found to be accurate; <br />3. the name of the accused; <br />4. the location of the noise; <br />5. the date and the time that the reading was made; and <br />6. the decibel level reading. <br />The certificate, as provided for in this section, when duly <br />• attested by the operator taking the decibel level reading, shall <br />be admissible in any court in any criminal or civil proceeding as <br />evidence of the facts therein stated and of the decibel level <br />reading. A copy of such certificate shall be delivered to the <br />accused upon his or his attorney's request. <br />Approved by Council <br />December 19, 1988 (,/Clerk ot Uounce 88-6-66(B) <br />