Noise disturbances - all you need to know and what to do
There’s a reason that quiet is so often paired with peace.
The soft, uninhibited, peaceful lull of a nice quiet day can do wonders for your psyche, allow you to concentrate better, and let you get the rest you need to recharge fully. There’s truly nothing quite like some peace and quiet…
BANG! BUZZZZZ! WOOF! BEEP! TOOT!
The piercing sound of the outside world can come crashing down on your ears like the water from Niagra Falls crashes down on the rocks below. Your mood, your concentration, your rest – all ruined.
Noise disturbances during the day or night can be a blight on your day-to-day life – whether they’re coming from your neighbors or roadworks. So if your peace is being disturbed, what should you do?
Read on as we take you through all that you need to know about noise disturbances, and give you some tips on what actions you can take.
What is the law on noise disturbance?
When it comes to the letter of the law, a noise disturbance is defined as “any noise, sound or signal which unreasonably disturbs the comfort, peace, or repose of another person or persons.”
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Noise Control Act of 1972. This act states that inadequately controlled noise presents a danger to the welfare and health of the nation. It mainly deals with public noise disturbance, putting the leading sources of noise as:
* Transportation vehicles and equipment
* Machinery
* Appliances
* Other products in commerce
While there is a blanket definition of a noise disturbance, each state’s specific laws and regulations on noise differ. So the EPA is in control of coordinating the programs of all of the federal, state, and local agencies that deal with noise complaints.
Due to these state differences, to find out the noise ordinances for your town, make sure to check your local government’s website.
What should you do if you hear noise disturbances?
Consistent noise disturbances can wreak havoc on your mental and physical state. Especially if the raucous noise is keeping you awake at night, which can lead to sleep deprivation and agitation.
If you’re suffering from a noise disturbance, it’s only fair that you’ll want to take action. So let’s take a look at what you can do to counteract both community noise and public noise.
Community noise
In most urban areas and communities, there will be ordinances that prohibit any excessive and unreasonable levels of noise. If somebody is consistently exceeding these ordinances, chances are that you will want to do something about it. But if your neighbor is the guilty party, it may not be the best idea to go straight to the nuclear option of filing a lawsuit.
Here are some steps you can take to try and tackle the situation:
Talk to them
Sometimes the best option is the easiest option. Rather than going straight to aggression, try and calmly approach your neighbor and inform them of the issue. There is a chance that they are unaware of the problem and can quickly remedy the situation.
Send a warning
If talking to the guilty party didn’t lead anywhere, then you can send a written warning. This should include the noise laws and a statement of intent on how you plan to approach the situation if the noise doesn’t stop.
Get the police involved
If nothing up to this point has worked, then you can call the police to file a complaint. You can let the police know that you have taken steps to solve the situation but haven’t been successful. They can then investigate and take action if they see fit.
File a lawsuit
If the police fail to make a difference, the final step would be to file a lawsuit in a small claims court. You will need to provide evidence of the noise, the steps you previously took, and a testimony. If successful, a court order will be imposed on your neighbors, forcing them to cease the excessive noise.
Public noise
If the noise disturbance is coming from public sources such as loud construction work, then the best route to take is to file a complaint with your local government or the police.
How do I report a noise disturbance?
If you’re concerned about the disruptive levels of noise in your community, then you can lodge a noise complaint with the police.
The police will most likely give the guilty party a verbal warning. If the noise continues then you can make a second complaint and further action could be taken.
If you’re worried about any potential repercussions of reporting a disturbance, you can file your complaint anonymously. The police will not require you to leave any personal details, meaning you can take action while leaving your name out of it.
Excessive noise is no joke
Not only can noise disturbances increase your stress, anxiety, and agitation levels, but they can also hurt your ears. And while it’s important that you take action to counter these disturbances, realistically it may take some time.
In the meantime, it’s important to protect your ears. Our Experience, Quiet, and Experience-Pro earplugs are designed to not only protect your hearing but also help to reduce noise by up to 27 dB.
Don’t let noise be a disturbance. Take action. Protect your hearing.
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