Quiet in NYC: New quiet rules effective today

For the first time in 30 years the noise code in New York City has been changed. Effective today July, 1 2007 there are new rules regarding noise in the city.

According to an interactive survey on The Call Live Wire:http://ny1.com/ the other night, the three top noises that annoy city residents are:

1. Traffic
2. Dogs Barking
3. Mr. Softee (Ice Cream Truck)

For some time now the city has had a special phone number 311 set up for all kinds of complaints and consumer/public non emergency service. By calling this number to complain about noises the offenders can be fined $175.

Mayor Bloomberg has been a great manager for the city with many creative ideas. I wonder how these new rules can be enforced and where do you draw the line? Can someone be fined because their baby is crying?

Having lived in the city for many years you get used to certain city noises. Sometimes when I go to the country or the beach I have to adjust to the quiet. The first night the crickets usually keep me up all night.

Under the new rule. If a dog is barking for 10 minutes straight or 5 minutes at night you can call 311 and report the dog owner/your neighbor. Some other noises mentioned as most annoying are: Car alarms, construction, loud cell phone conversations even crying babies.

I'm lucky my apartment is very quiet. I look out at a church steeple. To me it was a selling point, I think it is a beautiful view and I enjoy hearing the Church bells. Working with buyers, however, I know that some people would find church bells annoying just as some people find the sound of air conditioners annoying.

Several years ago I had a neighbor with a barking dog. The problem was she was being cruel to the dog by leaving it alone for long periods of time and I was able to see it tied up in the window. There was little that could be done. Finally I confronted her and told her I was calling the ASPCA because she was being cruel. I asked her why she left it tied up in the window. She explained she thought that was how to train it. I told her I never heard of that method and it was total cruelty. Shortly after she approached me and told me she left the dog with her mother.

It is 4th of July weekend maybe I'm just a Softee- but fining Mr. Softee and Good Humor for ringing bells and playing music on their ice-cream trucks seems un-American to me.