Lower Paxton to consider noise ordinance

Lower Paxton Township supervisors will conduct a public hearing for a proposed noise ordinance during their regular business meeting this Tuesday, April 5, 7:30 pm at the Municipal Center on Prince Street.

Community watchdog group SWAN lobbied for the legislation in response to neighborhood noise situations that police were unable to resolve.

The ordinance was modeled after one in use in neighboring Susquehanna Township, and SWAN members worked with Lower Paxton's public safety director to fine-tune its wording.

The Paxton Herald, a local tabloid newspaper, has strongly objected to the noise ordinance, claiming that police will conduct noise patrols with sound meters. The allegation is silly – citizens and local officials working on the law have not endorsed or even discussed establishing noise patrols.

If adopted, the law would enable police to charge citizens who recklessly cause nuisances with an offense that has a chance to hold up in court. In most cases, the law would only be used when citizens file complaints about neighborhood noise.

CLICK HERE to review the proposed noise ordinance.