Last fall, Athens police were busy handing out more than 70 noise citations to Ohio University students and residents alike.
But so far this year, they’ve dished out less than a third of that number.
In 2010, Athens police issued 72 noise citations between Sept. 1 and Oct. 16, the first six weeks of OU’s Fall Quarter.
Thus far, the number of citations issued has come at a considerably lower pace, with only 22 issued since Aug. 4.
Only 34 noise citations were issued in all of 2009, with six occurring between Sept. 1 and Oct. 12.
During the summer, Athens City Council amended the city’s noise ordinance, classifying first and second offenses as “administrative offenses” rather than fourth-degree misdemeanors as they were in 2010, according to a previous Post article.
Because of the reduced punishment that comes with an administrative offense, Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle said officers have been getting a positive response from first-time offenders receiving simple warnings.
Pyle added that the less severe but more persistent enforcement of the ordinance in itself has received a better reaction from the public than the passing of the law change itself.
Since Aug. 4, there have been no misdemeanor charges filed for noise violations, according to the Athens County Municipal Court documents.
One of the main catalysts that led to the noise ordinance’s revision during the summer was the fact that fourth-degree misdemeanors show up on background checks and were hurting people’s chances for employment, said Chris Wimsatt, communications director of the “Know Noise” Task Force.
City Councilman Elahu Gosney, D-at large, has said he would rather see the first offense be a written warning, but said the change is a step in the right direction.
“To keep (the first offense) from having someone go to jail or get a record … I think that’s definitely an improvement,” Gosney said in a July interview.
Although fewer students are feeling the negative effects of the once-brutal consequences, students have mixed feelings about the ordinance change.
“I don’t like the noise after 11 o’clock,” said Mohamed Al-Issa, president of the International Student Union, adding that he finds excessive nighttime noise to be annoying. “Being a party school … (it’s) not good.”
For senior Thomas Busch, though, the change still hasn’t done enough to protect the students.
“I think it’s very unfair to the students,” Busch said. “Especially if there is no complaint to begin with.”
ld311710@ohiou.edu
