DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / November 10, 2000

LUTCHER – If your hobby is your car stereo and your pride and joy is that bass system your friends can recognize from across town, watch your step in Lutcher.

Ordinance 00-12 was passed “to provide for the prohibition of noises interfering with enjoyment of property or public peace and comfort and matters related thereto.”The ordinance comes after complaints were raised of vehicles cruising with loud stereo systems. The ordinance passed Tuesday was based on acombination of several other cities’ noise ordinances, said Mayor Troas Poche.

The ordinance specifically targets producers of loud noises, such as steam whistles, unmuffled engines, loud radios, loudspeakers and other such devices. The ordinance also forbids the use of any “abusive, indecent,profane or vulgar language in a public place when the language by its very utterance tends to incite and immediate breach of the peace.”As far has cruising vehicles are concerned, playing the radio at a volume that “may disturb the peace, quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any dwelling, apartment, hotel or other type of residence” is illegal.

The noise ordinance also makes the use of loudspeakers and sound amplifiers illegal within 150 feet of a residence unless designated by publication in a local newspaper. Loudspeakers may not be operated within150 feet of a hospital, school in session, nursing home or facilities that provide surgical services.

Violation of the ordinance will be prosecuted as a misdemeanor offense.

Fines for violation are no less than $10 and no greater than $500.

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