Noise ordinance and first amendment rights

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Found this thread because I live farther away than OP (on Yuma St) and the sirens have been getting louder. Today I can hear them inside my house.

Is there really nothing that can be done about this?

DC has very prescriptive noise ordinances:
https://dob.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dob/Noise%20Regulation%20Handbook.pdf

Musical instruments, loudspeakers, radio, tape recorder, TV, CD player, stereo, and car stereos, unamplified voices
Maximum Level (in dB): 60 or zone max
Time: Any
Measurement Locations: 1 meter from source

MPD is supposed to enforce this. If they are refusing to enforce, then this constitutes a work stand-down.

Next step is for local residents to file for injunctive relief with the DC Courts for the Mayor's office to act on the issue. So get a local attorney in the neighborhood to draw up an action for relief. The protestors must keep all amplified sound at 60db or less when measured from 1 meter away. If you can hear it on Yuma Street, it's breaking the noise ordinance.

If you hear noise, call MPD to complain 202-715-7300. Call the mayor’s office and Matt Frumin’s office too 202-724-8062

^ Write them, too, and all the at-large council members

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Found this thread because I live farther away than OP (on Yuma St) and the sirens have been getting louder. Today I can hear them inside my house.

Is there really nothing that can be done about this?

DC has very prescriptive noise ordinances:
https://dob.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dob/Noise%20Regulation%20Handbook.pdf

Musical instruments, loudspeakers, radio, tape recorder, TV, CD player, stereo, and car stereos, unamplified voices
Maximum Level (in dB): 60 or zone max
Time: Any
Measurement Locations: 1 meter from source

MPD is supposed to enforce this. If they are refusing to enforce, then this constitutes a work stand-down.

Next step is for local residents to file for injunctive relief with the DC Courts for the Mayor's office to act on the issue. So get a local attorney in the neighborhood to draw up an action for relief. The protestors must keep all amplified sound at 60db or less when measured from 1 meter away. If you can hear it on Yuma Street, it's breaking the noise ordinance.

Or, just go get the abandoned trash and dispose of it.

+1. That no one in the neighborhood has done this is insane. The MPD is refusing to enforce the law about noise? OK. Why do you think they're going to enforce the law against you if you throw these out? That would look terrible for the city. Not everything has to be about lawyers.

Because when you have progressive criminal prosecutors wanting to create an "equitable" justice system they will absolutely arrest someone considered "privileged" who violated the law. Also, residents have a lot to lose by engaging these protestors as they have threatened and assaulted people who are Jewish or appear to support Israel.

What law is being violated when a citizen disposes of abandoned trash left on the sidewalk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Opinions and beliefs about Israel/Gaza aside….. and maybe the noise has stopped by now— ?? I didn’t walk past the area today, but yesterday the sirens were going full-blast… So if they did continue today, here’s my view:

Blaring sirens that can be heard throughout at least a half-mile radius accomplish only the driving of everyone within earshot who’s trying to live, work, or study (and who’s not equipped with industrial-grade headphones) ABSOLUTELY FREAKING BONKERS!!!!!!!!

This astonishingly tone-deaf (no pun intended) performance will not move the dial AT ALL among the people who have true power to stop the war. This is simply becoming an indiscriminate sonic assault on all nearby residents, workers and students (many of whom, after all, do support a Gaza cease-fire!). So….. what the frick is the end game here?!

— posted by the niece of an OG D-Day veteran who lived happily for decades on nearby Yuma Street and passed away in time to be spared this auditory torture — he would have stomped over there to tell the young whippersnappers that protesting is fine, just for the love of god use voices and signs, NOT sirens, please!!!

Apparently, it's working just fine.

It's working if annoying neighbors (who do not have representatives in Congress, btw) is the goal. How does that help their cause exactly?

[Anonymous]

People "protesting" left sirens plugged in and aren't even there "protesting"?

I am shocked the neighbors haven't repeatedly tossed stuff in the nearest dumpster. Or broken it "accidentally". Wow. I would have been out there there first day.

[Anonymous]

I will add that protests like this do the opposite of their intended effect--this would very much turn me against anyone's beliefs who thought this was acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People "protesting" left sirens plugged in and aren't even there "protesting"?

I am shocked the neighbors haven't repeatedly tossed stuff in the nearest dumpster. Or broken it "accidentally". Wow. I would have been out there there first day.

There's usually like one or two protestors standing/sitting around, multiple bullhorn type sirens wailing on the ground. They are itching for someone to cause a confrontation (ie, touch or try to remove their sirens) so they can get publicity etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People "protesting" left sirens plugged in and aren't even there "protesting"?

I am shocked the neighbors haven't repeatedly tossed stuff in the nearest dumpster. Or broken it "accidentally". Wow. I would have been out there there first day.

There's usually like one or two protestors standing/sitting around, multiple bullhorn type sirens wailing on the ground. They are itching for someone to cause a confrontation (ie, touch or try to remove their sirens) so they can get publicity etc.

If you don't like sirens, you support genocide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People "protesting" left sirens plugged in and aren't even there "protesting"?

I am shocked the neighbors haven't repeatedly tossed stuff in the nearest dumpster. Or broken it "accidentally". Wow. I would have been out there there first day.

There's usually like one or two protestors standing/sitting around, multiple bullhorn type sirens wailing on the ground. They are itching for someone to cause a confrontation (ie, touch or try to remove their sirens) so they can get publicity etc.

If you don't like sirens, you support genocide.

These sirens definitely trivialize a serious conversation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People "protesting" left sirens plugged in and aren't even there "protesting"?

I am shocked the neighbors haven't repeatedly tossed stuff in the nearest dumpster. Or broken it "accidentally". Wow. I would have been out there there first day.

There's usually like one or two protestors standing/sitting around, multiple bullhorn type sirens wailing on the ground. They are itching for someone to cause a confrontation (ie, touch or try to remove their sirens) so they can get publicity etc.

If you don't like sirens, you support genocide.

Someone should start a fund to buy bullets for Israeli settlers for every day the sirens stay on that way you can actually support genocide in response to the sirens

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People "protesting" left sirens plugged in and aren't even there "protesting"?

I am shocked the neighbors haven't repeatedly tossed stuff in the nearest dumpster. Or broken it "accidentally". Wow. I would have been out there there first day.

There's usually like one or two protestors standing/sitting around, multiple bullhorn type sirens wailing on the ground. They are itching for someone to cause a confrontation (ie, touch or try to remove their sirens) so they can get publicity etc.

If you don't like sirens, you support genocide.

Someone should start a fund to buy bullets for Israeli settlers for every day the sirens stay on that way you can actually support genocide in response to the sirens

Fortunately, some of these settlers are about to be the subject of U.S. economic sanctions, which would make this fund potentially illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People "protesting" left sirens plugged in and aren't even there "protesting"?

I am shocked the neighbors haven't repeatedly tossed stuff in the nearest dumpster. Or broken it "accidentally". Wow. I would have been out there there first day.

There's usually like one or two protestors standing/sitting around, multiple bullhorn type sirens wailing on the ground. They are itching for someone to cause a confrontation (ie, touch or try to remove their sirens) so they can get publicity etc.

If you don't like sirens, you support genocide.

Someone should start a fund to buy bullets for Israeli settlers for every day the sirens stay on that way you can actually support genocide in response to the sirens

Fortunately, some of these settlers are about to be the subject of U.S. economic sanctions, which would make this fund potentially illegal.

Some being the key word

[Anonymous]

I just came across this posting. I've been asking questions of MPD for several weeks. My advice is not to waste your time with the Second District Commander Tatjana Savoy <[e-mail]> She will just tell you that all First Amendment issues are handled by the Commander of Special Operations Jason Bagshaw <[e-mail]> Write to him. I'd suggest copying Assistant Chief of Police Darnel Robinson <[e-mail]> as well as Councilmember Matt Frumin <[e-mail]> Maybe ask Frumin to hold a town hall with Commander Bagshaw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just came across this posting. I've been asking questions of MPD for several weeks. My advice is not to waste your time with the Second District Commander Tatjana Savoy <[e-mail]> She will just tell you that all First Amendment issues are handled by the Commander of Special Operations Jason Bagshaw <[e-mail]> Write to him. I'd suggest copying Assistant Chief of Police Darnel Robinson <[e-mail]> as well as Councilmember Matt Frumin <[e-mail]> Maybe ask Frumin to hold a town hall with Commander Bagshaw.

Thank you for the confirmation that MPD will do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People "protesting" left sirens plugged in and aren't even there "protesting"?

I am shocked the neighbors haven't repeatedly tossed stuff in the nearest dumpster. Or broken it "accidentally". Wow. I would have been out there there first day.

There's usually like one or two protestors standing/sitting around, multiple bullhorn type sirens wailing on the ground. They are itching for someone to cause a confrontation (ie, touch or try to remove their sirens) so they can get publicity etc.

If you don't like sirens, you support genocide.

Someone should start a fund to buy bullets for Israeli settlers for every day the sirens stay on that way you can actually support genocide in response to the sirens

Somewhere in there you have the beginnings of a good idea. No one should be giving bullets to the settlers (which I say as a Jewish-American and a Zionist), but the fund could contribute to, say, rape crisis counseling for the released hostages or the families of the not-released hostages. Or just to organizations that support American Jewish college students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People "protesting" left sirens plugged in and aren't even there "protesting"?

I am shocked the neighbors haven't repeatedly tossed stuff in the nearest dumpster. Or broken it "accidentally". Wow. I would have been out there there first day.

There's usually like one or two protestors standing/sitting around, multiple bullhorn type sirens wailing on the ground. They are itching for someone to cause a confrontation (ie, touch or try to remove their sirens) so they can get publicity etc.

If you don't like sirens, you support genocide.

Someone should start a fund to buy bullets for Israeli settlers for every day the sirens stay on that way you can actually support genocide in response to the sirens

Somewhere in there you have the beginnings of a good idea. No one should be giving bullets to the settlers (which I say as a Jewish-American and a Zionist), but the fund could contribute to, say, rape crisis counseling for the released hostages or the families of the not-released hostages. Or just to organizations that support American Jewish college students.[b]

This. But the fund should be the tuition they pay their universities to protect their rights to study safely.