MOORPARK : Council Adopts Noise Ordinance

Concerned by a skyrocketing rise in noise complaints from city residents, the Moorpark City Council has adopted a new ordinance that it hopes will help quiet city streets.

After a 54% rise in complaints over the past several months, the council approved an ordinance Wednesday that defines a violation as noise that “disturbs the reasonable peace, quiet, or comfort of any person who is more than 50 feet away.”

The move is designed to give patrolling Ventura County sheriff’s deputies the authority to arrest people who create a public nuisance by playing their car stereos too loudly or have loud parties.

Those found in violation of the ordinance twice in any 24-hour period can be billed for the cost of arresting and prosecuting them if they are convicted.

“It’s something that has been needed in this city for a while,” said Councilman John Wozniak, who feels that it is important that deputies responding to noise complaints now have a city law to back them up.

“Up until now, there wasn’t much they could do and they didn’t have much bite,” he said. “This gives them more bite.”

Mayor Paul Lawrason said residents convicted of violating the ordinance could wind up paying as much as $2,000.

“As far as the fine is concerned for the violation, that could be as much as $1,000 for a misdemeanor,” Lawrason said. “And we’re talking about as much as another $1,000 for the costs of the officers and all the processing.”

The ordinance covers noise from radios, television sets and musical instruments or other sound-making devices, as well as the human voice.