2008 Woodie Awards
Borough deals with noise
Emily O’Keefe
Issue date: 12/14/04 Section: News
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Many people think that most of the residents who receive noise violations are students. However, Lt. William A. Morris of the West Chester Borough Police Department strongly says that this is not the case.
"The majority of noise violation recipients are not students; they are everyone in the community," he said.
In a two month period, 55 noise violation citations were issued in the Borough. Noise in West Chester is a problem, but not one of the largest, according to Lt. Morris.
Some of the target areas in town are the 400-700 blocks of S. Matlack St., the 50-100 blocks of Gay St. and the 200-700 blocks of South Walnut St. Citations are issued for breaching any prohibited action from loud cars to operating heavy machinery between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Though it is not a large problem, there is some controversy regarding the degree of noise in the Borough. Families and residents of West Chester who are non-students are tired of the amount of noise they say is from college kids. A 35-yearold resident of Linden St. said, "The noise can be bad at times, but you become tired of getting mad about it and just learn to deal with it."
The fact that non-students are so adamant about having the amount of noise lowered makes it very difficult for the borough police to try and please everyone.
On one hand, the police want to make the non-students happy by cracking down on the noise, but this could make the students think that the police were targeting them. On theother hand, if the police were to be a little more lenient with the noise that the students make, it would infuriate the non-students and make them think that the police department is not fulfilling its responsibility as the law enforcer. They are trying very hard to be the mediators in this battle, but it turns out to be a lose/lose situation.
The penalty for violation of a provision in the Noise Ordinance Code can vary. The fine can be anywhere from $25 to $1,000 plus the cost of prosecution.
"The majority of noise violation recipients are not students; they are everyone in the community," he said.
In a two month period, 55 noise violation citations were issued in the Borough. Noise in West Chester is a problem, but not one of the largest, according to Lt. Morris.
Some of the target areas in town are the 400-700 blocks of S. Matlack St., the 50-100 blocks of Gay St. and the 200-700 blocks of South Walnut St. Citations are issued for breaching any prohibited action from loud cars to operating heavy machinery between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Though it is not a large problem, there is some controversy regarding the degree of noise in the Borough. Families and residents of West Chester who are non-students are tired of the amount of noise they say is from college kids. A 35-yearold resident of Linden St. said, "The noise can be bad at times, but you become tired of getting mad about it and just learn to deal with it."
The fact that non-students are so adamant about having the amount of noise lowered makes it very difficult for the borough police to try and please everyone.
On one hand, the police want to make the non-students happy by cracking down on the noise, but this could make the students think that the police were targeting them. On theother hand, if the police were to be a little more lenient with the noise that the students make, it would infuriate the non-students and make them think that the police department is not fulfilling its responsibility as the law enforcer. They are trying very hard to be the mediators in this battle, but it turns out to be a lose/lose situation.
The penalty for violation of a provision in the Noise Ordinance Code can vary. The fine can be anywhere from $25 to $1,000 plus the cost of prosecution.
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