Village to hold hearing on noise ordinance and ATV law

Warwick-The Village of Warwick is proposing a new law regulating All Terrain Vehicles within the village limits, as well as adding a chapter to the code limiting noise in public. The noise ordinance would prohibit "unreasonable, unnecessary, disturbing, excessive, or offensive noises" within the village. Acts considered prohibited include: any unnecessary noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., dogs barking for more than 15 minutes, alarm system noise longer than 15 minutes, noise from a stereo that is heard more than 60 feet from its source, construction noise and the operation of power equipment between certain hours, automobile horns, and shouting on public streets in order to sell merchandise. Anyone violating this law could be fined $350 for each violation or spend 15 days in jail, or both. The fines increase if a person repeats the offense in less than six months. In part due to the increased use of all terrain vehicles in the village and in part due to complaints from residents in the Pond Hill area of the village, an ATV law is being considered as well. The new law would prohibit ATVs in any residential one zone of the village, on public or private property without consent of the village or the property owner, Last month, residents in the Pond Hill area came to the board complaining that one homeowner in their area was using his yard and adjacent property as an ATV track. The residents said they can no longer use their yards anymore because of the noise and the safety issues. Some have small children. The area is littered with debris as well, they said. Mayor Michael Newhard said it sounded as if this has escalated to harassment and promised the attorney would look into what could be done. These ordinances are, in part, a result of that.