Delaware County scraps noise ordinance proposal in favor of state law

Delaware County is scrapping a noise ordinance that was within the works, leaving the county with out such a proper regulation. The county sheriff informed officers Monday he prefers to make use of a state statute as a substitute.

A drafted noise ordinance for the county would have required responding sheriff’s deputies to measure sound ranges in decibels and measure distances between what’s making noise and different properties.

Delaware County Sheriff Tony Skinner says, as a substitute of his deputies having to hold that additional gear, he’d relatively they apply the state’s disorderly conduct statute.

“I believe it has extra tooth. It’s jailable – it’s a misdemeanor. You recognize, it doesn’t have any time of day. It doesn’t should be at evening or day,” Skinner stated. “This state statute really applies on non-public property simply as in public property.”

The state statute calls out individuals who “recklessly, knowingly, or deliberately,” combat, make unreasonable noise, or disrupt a lawful gathering. Relying on the circumstances, prices can escalate to a felony.

For disruptive barking canine, Skinner reminded commissioners that the county already has an ordinance protecting canine.

Two of the three commissioners are regulation enforcement officers, and all agreed to drop the drafted ordinance. President Sherry Riggin put it merely.

“Simply be a superb neighbor,” Riggin stated.

Municipalities inside counties can move their very own noise ordinances. Muncie has one. And the town’s Board of Works is contemplating a request from Muncie police and fireplace officers to cease giving so many late-night exemptions to the ordinance, due to security considerations within the faculty city.