When we ran an editorial in September about the change to Athens Police Department's noise policy, we expected an increase in citations. We didn't imagine the number would skyrocket 1,340 percent.
The new policy has been in place for more than a quarter, so presumably students have come to terms with the lower noise threshold. It is time for APD to re-examine noise. Has the policy served its purpose and reduced the volume in Athens? We don't hear a noticeable change.
Not only do we question the citation's ability to quiet Mill and Palmer streets this quarter, but we also question how effective this policy is long term. APD can't label homes as loud for more than an academic year - it isn't fair to punish new owners for previous tenants' volume. Students' shifting addresses make it hard to pin down repeat offenders. For that matter, residents can cycle which roommate gives his or her name to the police each time there is a knock at the door.
If violations are filed by student, it's difficult to monitor which homes are loud. If violations are filed by address, it's difficult to monitor which students are loud. And after two years, a new group of noise-makers has left Ohio University, making all previous records useless.
It is natural to assume the spike in citations followed a similar spike in complaints. But we can't confirm or deny that complaints resulted citations because APD didn't give Post reporters noise-complaint data. Besides, after 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, no complaint is necessary to cite a household.
If APD were issuing citations based on neighbors' grievances, there wouldn't be controversy. Too loud would be up to residents who are affected, not APD. If no one objects to noise, why are we trying to lower the volume? Because noise perception is subjective, a house could be several speakers quieter than their neighbors' the next night, yet receive a citation. One officer's too loud might be background noise for a different officer.
It is a waste of time for APD to try to turn down students' volume one house at a time. When there are bar fights Uptown and creeps in hoodies groping girls walking home, officers could be focusing their attention elsewhere.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post's executive editors.
4 Opinion
