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| Noise Ordinance Gets Loud |
The noise ordinance the Galesburg City Council said it wanted during a work session last month has less of a chance of happening now.
Aldermen Monday debated on first reading the city's proposed new noise ordinance ahead of a final vote next month. The proposal is mirrored after one in place in Peoria. Vehicles would be towed every time music coming from them can be heard at least 75 feet away, and could result in the it being towed along with only fees being paid on the first offense, and $250 and $500 fines being imposed on the second and third offenses, plus towing fees.
One of the issues some aldermen had with the proposal was towing. That's a reason Third Ward Alderman Russell Fleming says he won't vote for the measure.
"I'd have no problem having a sting operation, where the Police sit on a corner for a certain period of time, and issue tickets," Fleming said. But, as this is written, it impounds the car on a first offense. I could go along with a third offense. First offense? I don't think so."
Seventh Ward Alderman Mike Lummis says he somewhat agrees, but that might not stop him.
"The public outcry has been such that even though I don't like the impoundment, I would vote in favor of the ordinance," Lummis said."
Lummis expressed disappointment the ordinance didn't also cover certain types of brakes used by semis, while some residents were concerned that loud motorcycle mufflers weren't included.
For all that disagreement, Fifth Ward Alderman Karen Lafferty wondered why they even bothered creating such an ordinance.
"I thought we had a work session on this," Lafferty said, "and it was decided by council for administration to bring us something back with these stipulations in it. So, now we're questioning what we did in our work session. So, was there any sense to have a work session?"
Resident Mike Kroll says not only will the ordinance provide no satisfaction to residents because drivers still won't get caught, it does something worse, and forgets something, too.
"By having an ordinance that specifies only the stereos, what you're essentially doing is you're creating an ordinance that's targeted at teenage and 20-something young males," Kroll said. "You're eliminating middle-aged adults who pay that ridiculous amount of money to make their motorcycles obnoxiously loud. I think that is discrimination of the worst kind. And you're setting your police department up for being charged with profiling."
Police confirmed loud mufflers were not covered by the proposed new ordinance.
Mayor Sal Garza says the time was not wasted at all despite all the questions and Kroll's accusation.
A final vote will come May third. |
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| 04 08 10 by Newsroom |
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