HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 4301 ' ' � • • Amends Ordinance No. 3478
CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGT�N
ORDINANCE NO. 4301
AN ORDTNANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AMENDING
CHAPTER 7, NOISE LE'i�EL �.EGULATIONS, OF TITLE VIII (HEALTH
AND SANITATIOIQ) , OF �RDIDtANCE NO. 9���0 ENTITLED "CODE OF
GENERAL ORDINANCES OF TRE CITY OF RENTON, W.ASHINGTON" BY
ADDING SUBSECTIOIQ 8"-7-3.H AND SECTIONS 8-7-6 AND 8-7-7
RELATING TO NOISE CONTROL, AND AMENDING SECTION 8-7-5
RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION.
WHEREAS, the Renton City Council finds that noise is a form of
pollution which has harmful effects upon the health and weifare of
persons exposed to such sound; and ',
WHEREAS, the Renton City Council finds that noise which is loud
enough to interfere with conversation at a distance of seventy-five
feet or more from its source unreasonably disturbs or interferes
with the peace and comfort of others; and
WHEREAS, the Renton City Council finds that certain individuals
have mad�, or caused to be made, noise which is loud enough to be
heard from a distance. of seventy-five feet or more, and this has
disturbed the peace of others; and
WHEREAS, the Rentdn City Council finds that a common source of '
these ioud noises is portable or motor vehicie audio equipment; and
WIiEREAS, the Renton City Council finds that excessive noise
lowers the val�e of neighboring properties and generally adversely
affects the livability, peace, and comfort of the impacted
neighborhoods in the city as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the Renton City Council finds that the portable nature
of tape players, radios, or disc players, as well as the portable
nature of motor vehicle audio equipment, has the effect of
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ORDINANCE N0. 43�1
discouraging many members of the public from utilizing certain park
areas; and II
WHEREAS, the Renton City Council believes that people have a
right to an environment free from excessive sound and vibration
which may jeopardize their health, welfare, and safety, or degrade i
the quality of their life; and
WHEREAS, the Renton City Council finds that noise from said
portable or motor vehicle audio equipment which can be heard from a
� distance of seventy-five feet or more from its source presents a
danger to traffic safety when occurring in or near vehicular '�
traffic; and
WIiEREAS, technology has allowed the proliferation of '
commerciall accessible t es of audio e ui ment both ortable and
Y YP q A � P
installed, in motor vehicles which can be amplified so as to .produce
excessive noise which can be heard from a distance of seventy-five
feet or more from the source of the sound; and
WHEREAS, the Renton City Council finds that excessive noise
being generated from such equipment is a public nuisance and
constitutes a public disturbance; and
WHEREAS, the Renton City Council finds that this ordinance is
in the interest of the public's health, safety, and welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON,
WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS :
SECTION I. Chapter 7, Noise Level Regulations, of Title
VIII (Health and Sanitation) , of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled "Code
of General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" is hereby
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ORDINANCE NO. 4301
amended by adding subsection 8-?-3 .H and sections 8-7-6 and 8-7-7 as
follows:
Section 8-7-3.H: Any sound from a motor vehicle audio system
or portable audio equipment such as a radio, tape player, or compact
disc player which is operated at such a volume that it interferes
with conversation or which causes vibrations to be felt from a
distance of seventy-five feet or more from the source of the sound.
Section 8-7-6: Content Not Governing Sound. The content of the
sound �ill not be considered in determining a violation of this
ordinance.
Section 8-7-7 : Severability. These regulations are declared to
be severable. If any section, subsection, paragraph, clause or
other portion is, for any reason, held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or
constitutionality of the remaining portions . If any section,
subsection, paragraph, clause or any portion is adjudged invalid or
unconstitutional, is applied to a particular person or use, the
application of such portion to other persons or use shall not be
affected.
SECTION II. Section 8-7-5 of Chapter 7, Noise Level
Regulations, of Title VIII (Health and Sanitation) , of Ordinance No.
4260 entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton,
Washington" is hereby amended to read as follows :
Section 8-7-5: Penalties for Violation: Except as otherwise
provided, any person violating any portion of this Chapter shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by imprisonment for not
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ORDINANCE N0. 4.301
more than six ( 6) months in jail, by a fine of not more than five
hundred dollars ( $500 . 00) , or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Any person violating subsection 8-7-3 .H of this Chapter shall be
guilty of a civil violation and may be punished by a fine of not 9
more than $75 . 00 . Each day that a violation continues shall be �
considered a separate offense. The penalties set forth herein shall
not be deemed exclusive, the City may obtain an injunction against ;
such violation from the Superior Court of King County. Any
ordinance of the City inconsistent with any portions of this Chapter
is repealed except that any ordinance defining noise as a nuisance
shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION III. This ordinance shall be effective upon its i
passage, approval, and thirty days after publication.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 17th day of T,PC PTllti)PY__,,1 . y99�0 .
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Marily � . Peterserx, _City G1E�rk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this J,7th day of Decembe-r~��� �990. �
Earl Clymer, M or
Approve as to f m:
�,�.
Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
ORD: 156-11/29/90
Date of Publication: December 21, 1990
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