Noise violations could hit $499 per shout

Planning and Building Director Mark Knight presented St. Augustine City Commissioners with a proposed noise ordinance revision at their regular meeting last night that will increase fines for violations to $499 for repeat offenses.

Commissioners advanced the proposed revisions to a public hearing — fines that could be assessed, “however many times it occurs, every half hour if necessary,” Knight said.

Current code limits fines to $250, and doesn’t allow continued fines in short time periods.

The revision, prompted by complaints against Local Heroes on Spanish Street, sets the fine below the $500 allowed by state statute, letting the alleged violator choose whether to accept the fine or go through a more expensive court process.

Local Heroes goes before the city Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) next Tuesday to seek a use by exception to operate as a bar and tavern. This was prompted by charges it is operating as a bar – selling more alcohol than food – without a permit.

Over recent years, city commissioners have discussed and had demonstrated the use of noise meters to determine violations.

They’ll go through it again after resident Bruce Maguire raised the question of why permissible decibel levels are set five points higher in commercial areas than in residential areas.

Commissioners will get a meter demonstration at an upcoming meeting, despite Police Chief Loran Lueder’s offering the use of his cell phone – which includes a decibel meter.