Noise ordinance and first amendment rights

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live on Van Ness St a few blocks from the Israeli embassy. The anti-Israel protest has been going on there for months. In reality the protest is two or three people who lay out megaphones on the curb outside the embassy and then leave. The megaphones that I hear all day wailing from 7 am to 10 pm are just laying on the sidewalk. The protesters have left except the one sitting on the corner beating his tambourine.

So my question is does the DC noise ordinance allow just wailing of siren noise through megaphones 15 hours of the day. It is spring break and I cannot even open my windows (and yes I can hear it through the windows).

I think it is funny that we will shut a restaurant down in Ward 3 that wants to play live music for three hours on a Friday night, but these wailing sirens laying on the sidewalk have been "allowed" for months.

See what remote work has done! Even the protestors have gotten lazy.

I blame Trump!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just throw their crap away every time they leave it.

People need to get lives

This. I live a couple of blocks away on Davenport. Just pick up any unattended items and place in a municipal waste bin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live on Van Ness St a few blocks from the Israeli embassy. The anti-Israel protest has been going on there for months. In reality the protest is two or three people who lay out megaphones on the curb outside the embassy and then leave. The megaphones that I hear all day wailing from 7 am to 10 pm are just laying on the sidewalk. The protesters have left except the one sitting on the corner beating his tambourine.

So my question is does the DC noise ordinance allow just wailing of siren noise through megaphones 15 hours of the day. It is spring break and I cannot even open my windows (and yes I can hear it through the windows).

I think it is funny that we will shut a restaurant down in Ward 3 that wants to play live music for three hours on a Friday night, but these wailing sirens laying on the sidewalk have been "allowed" for months.

In three months you never thought to google the noise ordinance? I found it in 15 seconds including the page that specifically addresses first amendment protests. I’m sympathetic to your cause, but not enough to actually link what you can easily google.

[Anonymous]

keep alling 311 to report noise violations, get the whole neighborhood to join in eventually they will send someone. They can protest in silence no need for noise

[Anonymous]

If someone accidentally trips over it can they sue the protesters? What about someone potentially getting hearing damage from the noise (possible if over 70DB), can they sue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live on Van Ness St a few blocks from the Israeli embassy. The anti-Israel protest has been going on there for months. In reality the protest is two or three people who lay out megaphones on the curb outside the embassy and then leave. The megaphones that I hear all day wailing from 7 am to 10 pm are just laying on the sidewalk. The protesters have left except the one sitting on the corner beating his tambourine.

So my question is does the DC noise ordinance allow just wailing of siren noise through megaphones 15 hours of the day. It is spring break and I cannot even open my windows (and yes I can hear it through the windows).

I think it is funny that we will shut a restaurant down in Ward 3 that wants to play live music for three hours on a Friday night, but these wailing sirens laying on the sidewalk have been "allowed" for months.

In three months you never thought to google the noise ordinance? I found it in 15 seconds including the page that specifically addresses first amendment protests. I’m sympathetic to your cause, but not enough to actually link what you can easily google.

I know what the noise ordinance is. I have looked it up several times. It just never occurred to me that the EXACT same rules which prevent restaurants from having live music also allow a protestor to lay 6 sirens on the ground for 15 hours.

But yes, thank you, I am aware of the District of Columbia Noise Control Act . I did not ask "does anybody know the noise ordinance"

[Anonymous]

Put your own bullhorns outside Bowser's residence. See if there is a double standard. I imagine there is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live on Van Ness St a few blocks from the Israeli embassy. The anti-Israel protest has been going on there for months. In reality the protest is two or three people who lay out megaphones on the curb outside the embassy and then leave. The megaphones that I hear all day wailing from 7 am to 10 pm are just laying on the sidewalk. The protesters have left except the one sitting on the corner beating his tambourine.

So my question is does the DC noise ordinance allow just wailing of siren noise through megaphones 15 hours of the day. It is spring break and I cannot even open my windows (and yes I can hear it through the windows).

I think it is funny that we will shut a restaurant down in Ward 3 that wants to play live music for three hours on a Friday night, but these wailing sirens laying on the sidewalk have been "allowed" for months.

In three months you never thought to google the noise ordinance? I found it in 15 seconds including the page that specifically addresses first amendment protests. I’m sympathetic to your cause, but not enough to actually link what you can easily google.

I know what the noise ordinance is. I have looked it up several times. It just never occurred to me that the EXACT same rules which prevent restaurants from having live music also allow a protestor to lay 6 sirens on the ground for 15 hours.

But yes, thank you, I am aware of the District of Columbia Noise Control Act . I did not ask "does anybody know the noise ordinance"

This is what you asked: “ So my question is does the DC noise ordinance allow just wailing of siren noise through megaphones 15 hours of the day.”

Your answer is clearly spelled out on page 8, I believe.

[Anonymous]

What are the pro-Hamas protesters going to do then? Light their hair on fire?

[Anonymous]

An official in a former administration lived a few doors away and prompted some protests near his home. After taking the protests initially with good humor, neighbors began to get impatient with the disturbance. Turning on sprinklers during the day worked wonders. It seems that protesters melt when they get wet. Problem solved!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not political speech. It is sirens laying on the ground. There are not even people there. Just sirens.

Drove by today and they had three megaphones in folding chairs with umbrellas over them. OMG!

[Anonymous]

Yes they actually do put umbrellas over the sirens during inclement weather. They don't stand with them but sort of prop them underneath on a chair on the sidewalk. If there is a protestor there they are wearing big mickey mouse ears safety headphones.

[Anonymous]

So basically we have virtual protesting. Except for the impact on the local population. But that is OK becacause, hey, they chose to live in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So basically we have virtual protesting. Except for the impact on the local population. But that is OK becacause, hey, they chose to live in DC.

I thought the constant sirens were part of crime ticking up. We live 7 blocks away. Now I can't unhear them... Where does the buck stop? Can they lay a 100 sirens on the sidewalk? What's the impact on restaurants and schools nearby, sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Political speech is protected unless you are inciting a riot. Get with it.

Time, place and manner restrictions - get with it.