Fredericksburg, Virginia, is planning on making their streets a little quieter in the late nights and pre-dawn hours.
WTOP reporter Megan Cloherty said community members complained the current noise ordinance is too vague about what is “unreasonable noise.” Yelling or shouting on the sidewalks after 11 p.m. was not specifically addressed.
Cloherty said the Fredericksburg City Council voted to change the ordinance and will vote again to change the law, making it illegal to shout in the streets between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Assistant City Attorney Rob Eckstrom says officers already carry a tool that lets them measure decibel levels at 100 feet away. College house parties were being patrolled, but noisy crowds after the bars let out weren’t getting enough attention.
Cloherty said Fairfax County, Virginia has been reworking noise ordinances since 2013. The county Board of Supervisors is slated to vote in November on proposed new rules.
