August 25, 2005
Dear Community Friends:
General Noise Complaints
Seattle Police receive numerous noise
complaints on a daily basis. The City has many
diverse neighborhoods; commercial, residential
and those zoned for mixed use. Therefore, a
level of tolerance is expected. If the noise is
illegal, as defined here, police may intervene.
I
llegal Noise
Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) ordinance
25.08.505 states that property under one’s
possession cannot be knowingly used for a
residential disturbance. By city ordinance, it is
unlawful to knowingly cause, make or allow
unreasonable noise which disturbs another and
to refuse or intentionally fail to cease when
ordered to do so by a police officer.
“Unreasonable Noise” includes loud, raucous,
frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds made
by: animals; horns or sirens other than
emergency equipment; motor vehicles being
repaired, tested, etc.; musical instruments or
sound amplifiers; and human voices, amplified
or unamplified. These restrictions apply
between the hours of 10pm - 7am Sunday
through Thursday; 11pm - 7am Friday and
Saturday.
What You Can Do
For an immediate noise problem, we suggest
you initially try contacting the person(s)
responsible for the noise. Often, people are
unaware of the discomfort they are causing
others and if you talk to them about it, that may
solve the issue.
However, if you feel uneasy contacting the
person(s), or if he/she has been uncooperative,
call our non-emergency line 625-5011 for
assistance.
I
f the noise stops prior to the
officer’s arrival, call us back to let us
know. This frees up the officers
responding to that complaint to go to other calls
for service that may be holding. Ask the
operator for the event number and note it for
future reference. Your complaint will be
documented in the computer.
If the noise is a constant, chronic issue, you
should mobilize your Block Watch support
system to start documenting the disruptive
behaviors. Keep a log to note the date, time,
location, type of noise, whether police were
called, attempts to talk with the person(s)
responsible, etc. These logs are powerful tools
that can be used to educate the offending
person(s). Often when people see the severity
of the problem and the nuisance they have
created for the neighborhood, their behaviors
change in a positive fashion.
If the offending parties don’t change behaviors,
then you and your neighbors have the option of
pursing civil nuisance action. How to take civil
action against a nuisance problem or property
will be discussed in an upcoming newsletter.
Police Priorities
Police respond to situations that impact the
safety and well being of people first. Please
keep in mind that a noise complaint is a lower
priority call than crimes against persons or
property, such as an assault or burglary. As a
result, it may be awhile before an officer can
respond, and often by then the noise has
ended. In order to issue a noise violation, the
officer has to hear the noise him/herself. This is
why we encourage you to talk with the offender,
log the activity, and consider civil action as a
potential remedy if all else fails.
Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon
South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
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