Lafourche cracks down on noise

Lafourche Parish residents can sell their earplugs. At least temporarily.

The Lafourche Parish Council, in a regularly scheduled meeting last week, decreased its allowable noise threshold to 50 decibels, less loud than the typical conversation and equal to the sound most refrigerators emanate.

Councilman Daniel Lorraine proposed the ordinance, which passed 8 to 0. Lindel Toups was absent to spend time with his wife, who had surgery that day.

“I’ve been getting some complaints from my area about noise, and I decided to give it a try, lower the decibels and see if it would be a little better for the public,” Lorraine said.

The council amended Ordinance 3598, which previously set the tolerable noise levels coming from sound amplifiers at 85 decibels from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and 90 decibels from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Lorraine said he had about seven or eight complaints from his district and a few from “up the bayou.”

“The ones that have talked to me have called the offices and felt that they couldn’t do nothing because of the way it was written,” he said. “Now I’m going to give them something they can go by.”

With the previous levels, a 15-decibel buffer zone meant amplifiers could reach up to 100 decibels at night, the equivalent of a chain saw.

The amendment also decreased allowable noise levels as it pertains to specific land use. Residential, commercial and industrial areas all must adhere to the 50-decibel threshold at all times. Apartment complexes are also limited to 50 decibels, except for at night, when it is 45 decibels.

The ordinance has exemptions, including noises made by domestic power and lawn tools between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.

Also exempted are noises made by people who obtain a permit, church bells, emergency vehicles and aircraft operations.

Violators are subject to a $100 fine for a first offense, a $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for a second offense and a $500 fine and between 30 and 90 days in jail for a third and any subsequent offense.

Lorraine said he hasn’t had any pushback on lowering the level but added that he would revisit the issue if he does.

“Fifty [decibels] came to mind, and I want to try that,” Lorraine said. “Like I said, if we get more complaints, we’ll have to revisit it. I decided to try it and see what happens.”