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Code of the Township of Abington                                    [ Back to Table of Contents ]

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PART II GENERAL LEGISLATION: Chapter 140, SOUND EQUIPMENT

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Abington 4-12-1956 as Ord. No. 814. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Noise -- See Ch. 106.

Nuisances -- See Ch. 108.

Streets and sidewalks -- See Ch. 143.

140-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

SOUND-AMPLIFYING EQUIPMENT -- Any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music or any other sound. "Sound-amplifying equipment," as used herein, shall not be construed as including standard automobile radios when used and heard only by occupants of the vehicle in which installed, nor warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles nor horns or other warning devices on other vehicles and only for traffic safety purposes.

SOUND TRUCK -- Any motor vehicle or horse-drawn vehicle having mounted thereon or attached thereto any sound-amplifying equipment.

140-2. Commercial use of sound trucks prohibited.

No person shall operate or cause to be operated any sound truck for any commercial purpose in the Township of Abington with sound-amplifying equipment in operation.

140-3. Noncommercial use of sound trucks,

No person shall use or cause to be used any sound truck with its sound-amplifying equipment in operation for any noncommercial purpose in the Township of Abington until such person shall have filed with the Township Manager, in duplicate, a statement containing the following information,

A. Name and residence of the person making the statement.

B. Address of place of business of the person making the statement.

C. License number and motor number of the sound truck to be used by the person making the statement.

D. Name and address of the person owning the sound truck.

E. Name and address of the person having direct charge of the sound truck.

F. Name and address of every person who is to use such sound truck within the township.

G. The purpose for which such sound truck is to be used.

H. A general statement as to the sections of the township in which such sound truck is proposed to be used.

I. The proposed hours of operation of such sound truck.

J. The days upon which such sound truck is proposed to be operated within the township.

K. A general description of the sound-amplifying equipment to be used.

L. The maximum sound-producing power of the sound-amplifying equipment to be used in or on such sound truck, including the wattage to be used and the approximate maximum distance for which sound will be thrown from such sound truck.

140-4. Amendment of statement.

Every person using or causing to be used any sound truck for any noncommercial purposes shall amend the statement required by 140-3 within 48 hours after any change in the information therein furnished.

140-5. Display of authorization. [Amended 3-11-1976 by Ord. No. 1420]

The Township Manager shall return to the person making the statement required under 140-3 one copy of such statement with the Manager's permission for the requested operation endorsed thereon, and the copy shall be duly certified by the Township Manager as a correct copy thereof. Such certified copy of such statement shall be in the possession of any person operating the sound truck at all times while the sound-amplifying equipment of such truck is in operation within the township, and such copy shall be promptly displayed to any police officer of the township upon request.

140-6. Regulations for sound trucks.

Noncommercial use of sound trucks in the Township of Abington with sound-amplifying equipment in operation shall be strictly in accordance with the following regulations:

A. The only sounds to be permitted shall be music and human speech.

B. Operation shall be prohibited on Sunday and upon any other day of the week except between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

C. Sound-amplifying equipment shall not be operated unless the sound truck upon which such equipment is mounted is operated at a speed of at least 10 miles per hour, except that when said truck is stopped by traffic, the said sound-amplifying equipment shall not be operated for longer than one minute at such stop.

D. Sound-amplifying equipment shall not be operated within 300 feet of any hospital or school.

E. The human speech and the music amplified through such sound-amplifying device shall not be profane, lewd or indecent.

F. The volume of sound shall be controlled so that it will not be audible for a distance in excess of 100 yards from the sound truck and so that the said volume is not unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing or a nuisance to persons within the area of audibility.

G. No sound-amplifying equipment shall be operated with an excess of 15 watts of power in the last stage of amplification.

140-7. Violations and penalties.

Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, for each and every violation, be sentenced to pay a fine not in excess of $100 and costs of prosecution, and in default of payment of any such fine and costs, to imprisonment for not more than ten days, provided that each day's violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.