Port Jeff Village Testing New Noise Meter

Port Jefferson will field test its new noise meter in the coming weeks to set controls on the level of noise pollution in the village, according to trustee Larry LaPointe.

The meter, which the village purchased in 2011, will be tested in the downtown area near businesses that play music. Currently, village code specifies a maximum of 95 decibels but LaPointe says that many other communities have set decibel levels that are much lower.

“The purpose of the field test is to get some sense of how loud is too loud,” he said.

The village owns one meter. The price of the meter was not immediately available.

When a noise complaint comes in, a code officer will go to the source of the noise with the meter to take a reading. If it is in excess of the village code, the officer will speak to the offender to ask them to turn down the volume of noise until it is within acceptable levels. An officer will return later to take another reading. If the noise level exceeds the code again, an appearance ticket will be issued.

LaPointe said that the intent of the device is not to punish people “but to work cooperatively to ensure a more pleasant environment for both residents and visitors.”

Other villages have been tackling noise issues lately as well. In Patchogue, loud noise has been a . One community activist said that people can call Patchogue village code if noise is over 70 decibels.

Port Jefferson village hopes to lower existing code levels from the current 95 decibels to somewhere in the range of 65 decibels during the daytime and 55 decibels at night.

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