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Church Sermons Exceed Noise Ordinance

bicycleman

bicycleman

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"Silent Night” has new meaning for a Louisiana church after they were issued criminal sanctions because their worship services exceeded 60 decibels – which is about the same noise level of a dishwasher. The executive pastor of Vintage Church was issued a criminal summons and the rest of the staff was threatened with “physical arrest” if they used any microphones or amplified sound in their worship services, according to a lawsuit filed by Liberty Institute.
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Church slapped with criminal summons over worship service 'noise' | Fox News

To measure 60 decibels, you need a special kind of equipment. I doubt the backwoods country sheriff has that kind of equipment nor the smarts to know how to use it. No, this is blatant harassment of a church and a violation of the First Amendment.

I suppose if this were a mosque, it would be alright for the morning prayer call to exceed 60 decibels, though.
 
the horror of moving your worship to 9 am. I suppose churches should be allowed to break any laws or municipal codes they like


:roll:
 
No it doesn't. In fact there's a phone app available for it. And if you can be heard outside the church walls you're too loud. Your right to swing your fist ends at the other fellow's nose, or in this case, ears.
 
It's a sign from God...

W1G0tdL.gif
 
bicycleman said:
Church slapped with criminal summons over worship service 'noise' | Fox News

To measure 60 decibels, you need a special kind of equipment. I doubt the backwoods country sheriff has that kind of equipment nor the smarts to know how to use it. No, this is blatant harassment of a church and a violation of the First Amendment.

I suppose if this were a mosque, it would be alright for the morning prayer call to exceed 60 decibels, though.
Click to expand...

You need an iphone app called Decibel.
 
Gaius46 said:
You need an iphone app called Decibel.
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Perhaps, since I don't have a smart phone, living in the sticks like I do, but I question whether this app could accurately measure the correct amount of decibels. However it is done, the church seems to be unfairly targeted.
 
clownboy said:
No it doesn't. In fact there's a phone app available for it. And if you can be heard outside the church walls you're too loud. Your right to swing your fist ends at the other fellow's nose, or in this case, ears.
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While I agree, the law seems overly restrictive. 60 decibels isn't much more noise than a house with everyone sleeping makes. I've measured the noise level in my home at 3am with everyone and all the pets asleep, no a/c, or anything else running, and came up 52-53 decibels.

(as for why I did that I get curious about stupid things.....)
 
if the sheriff didn't have any certified noise equipment then there is no way that he could say they were louder than 60 db.
also it seems that there are already laws that protect church services etc ...

sorry if their neighbor doesn't like hearing Jesus in the morning they are just out of luck.

the church is in the clear and can function as they are.
 
bicycleman said:
Church slapped with criminal summons over worship service 'noise' | Fox News

To measure 60 decibels, you need a special kind of equipment. I doubt the backwoods country sheriff has that kind of equipment nor the smarts to know how to use it. No, this is blatant harassment of a church and a violation of the First Amendment.

I suppose if this were a mosque, it would be alright for the morning prayer call to exceed 60 decibels, though.
Click to expand...

Not really. You can buy a sound meter for less than 50 bucks. You point it at the sound generator, press a button, you get a reading.
 
bicycleman said:
No, this is blatant harassment of a church and a violation of the First Amendment.
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That's ridiculous, if the church was being a nuisance eith their excessive noise, then why should their neighbors have t-

Gaius46 said:
I've measured the noise level in my home at 3am with everyone and all the pets asleep, no a/c, or anything else running, and came up 52-53 decibels.
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.........................................................................................
 
First they enforced noise ordinances against Christians... but I did not speak out -
Because I was not a Christian.

People looooooooooooooooooooooove to be victims.
 
bicycleman said:
Church slapped with criminal summons over worship service 'noise' | Fox News

To measure 60 decibels, you need a special kind of equipment. I doubt the backwoods country sheriff has that kind of equipment nor the smarts to know how to use it. No, this is blatant harassment of a church and a violation of the First Amendment.

I suppose if this were a mosque, it would be alright for the morning prayer call to exceed 60 decibels, though.
Click to expand...

Um, 60 decibels? I'm in a moderate noise restaurant right now and my smart phone's decibel reader is clocking the noise at 80dB. A noise ordnance for 60 dB seems pretty petty. This story doesn't sound kosher.
 
Cardinal said:
Um, 60 decibels? I'm in a moderate noise restaurant right now and my smart phone's decibel reader is clocking the noise at 80dB. A noise ordnance for 60 dB seems pretty petty. This story doesn't sound kosher.
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From what distance though? I live across the road from a church. If I could measure their sermons at 60db from my bedroom, I'd definitely be making a complaint. However:
However, that meant the church had to temporarily relocate its two Sunday morning worship services to an enclosed outdoor tent. The church applied for, and was granted a permit to erect the structure.
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If the sheriff was standing right outside the tent they were using and measuring the volume, then this isn't kosher.
 
spud_meister said:
From what distance though? I live across the road from a church. If I could measure their sermons at 60db from my bedroom, I'd definitely be making a complaint. However:


If the sheriff was standing right outside the tent they were using and measuring the volume, then this isn't kosher.
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Correct. I was assuming 60dB at the origin.
 
bicycleman said:
Church slapped with criminal summons over worship service 'noise' | Fox News

To measure 60 decibels, you need a special kind of equipment. I doubt the backwoods country sheriff has that kind of equipment nor the smarts to know how to use it. No, this is blatant harassment of a church and a violation of the First Amendment.

I suppose if this were a mosque, it would be alright for the morning prayer call to exceed 60 decibels, though.
Click to expand...

60db as a legal noise limit seems extremely low.

Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Signs | Healthy Schools | CDC

The officer taking the noise complaint is very likely to exceed it. According to the CDC one can endure 71db for an unlimited time without any risk of hearing damage.
 
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Un biased said:
the horror of moving your worship to 9 am. I suppose churches should be allowed to break any laws or municipal codes they like


:roll:
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My church used to have services at 7:30 AM on a Sunday morning. I liked that in the summer because I could get done with church and then head for the beach. Of course, we were in a church building, and the sound didn't carry outside. If it would have spread the Gospel any better, I'm sure my pastor would have piped it out to the surrounding neighborhood if he thought it would help, but he was like me, he didn't believe in shoving it down people's throats if they didn't want to listen. Man was given free will to accept the Gospel or not.
 
bicycleman said:
Church slapped with criminal summons over worship service 'noise' | Fox News

To measure 60 decibels, you need a special kind of equipment. I doubt the backwoods country sheriff has that kind of equipment nor the smarts to know how to use it. No, this is blatant harassment of a church and a violation of the First Amendment.

I suppose if this were a mosque, it would be alright for the morning prayer call to exceed 60 decibels, though.
Click to expand...

if it weer a mosque i wonder if you would be cheering
 
if every one else in the neighborhood has to keep it below 60 then no big deal if its just the church being targeted then ya thats discrimination and is wrong
 
bicycleman said:
Church slapped with criminal summons over worship service 'noise' | Fox News

To measure 60 decibels, you need a special kind of equipment. I doubt the backwoods country sheriff has that kind of equipment nor the smarts to know how to use it. No, this is blatant harassment of a church and a violation of the First Amendment.

I suppose if this were a mosque, it would be alright for the morning prayer call to exceed 60 decibels, though.
Click to expand...

No special equipment required - free apps are available from Apple store.
 
bicycleman said:
To measure 60 decibels, you need a special kind of equipment. I doubt the backwoods country sheriff has that kind of equipment nor the smarts to know how to use it. No, this is blatant harassment of a church and a violation of the First Amendment.
Click to expand...

You don't need special equipment. You don't really need any equipment. 60 dB is the same volume as a normal conversation. A church service is going to be louder than that because the pastor is projecting to speak to a crowd.

I have no issue with the church being issued a summons for the noise violation. They broke the law.

However, a 60 dB noise ordinance is extremely restrictive. That I have an issue with.
 
molten_dragon said:
You don't need special equipment. You don't really need any equipment. 60 dB is the same volume as a normal conversation. A church service is going to be louder than that because the pastor is projecting to speak to a crowd.

I have no issue with the church being issued a summons for the noise violation. They broke the law.

However, a 60 dB noise ordinance is extremely restrictive. That I have an issue with.
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Ayup.

decibel.jpg
 
bicycleman said:
Church slapped with criminal summons over worship service 'noise' | Fox News

To measure 60 decibels, you need a special kind of equipment. I doubt the backwoods country sheriff has that kind of equipment nor the smarts to know how to use it. No, this is blatant harassment of a church and a violation of the First Amendment.

I suppose if this were a mosque, it would be alright for the morning prayer call to exceed 60 decibels, though.
Click to expand...

I'll bet every officer in La has one. If your bike had a motor, you'd understand.
 
I looked at sample noise ordinances around my area and 60db falls right in there.

It is unlawful for any person to produce, or permit to be produced, sounds which:

A. When measured at the boundary of or within a property on which a noise sensitive unit, not the source of the sound, is located, exceeds:
1. Forty dB at any time between nine p.m. and seven a.m. the following day; or
2. Fifty dB at any time between seven a.m. and nine p.m. the same day; or
B. Is plainly audible at any time between nine p.m. and seven a.m. the following day within a noise-sensitive unit which is not the source of sound; or
C. Is unnecessarily loud within a noise-sensitive unit which is not the source of the sound.
D. When measured at or within the boundary of or within a property on which no noise-sensitive unit is located, and the noise originates from outside the property, if the noise level exceeds:
1. Sixty dB at any time between nine p.m. and seven a.m. of the following day; or
2. Seventy-five dB at any other time.
E. If within a park, street or other public place, is unnecessarily loud at a distance of 100 feet. (Repealed and replaced by Ord. 01-13A, Ord. 90-03 §1(part), 1990).
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Tigard, OR Noise Ordinance

And remember, these asshats were holding ceremonies in a tent.
 
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