No Wailing After 2: Arlington Bans Late Night Noise

• May 12, 2014
• 1 Comment

by Lark Turner

Market Commons in Clarendon

Arlington County’s noise ordinance got an update on Saturday that could leave late-night revelers howling in protest.

The new ordinance, which goes into effect July 1, bans “yelling, wailing, shouting or screaming” between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the city’s mixed-use neighborhoods, many of which are filled with popular nightlife spots. In those neighborhoods, it also puts any group of four or more people making noise between midnight and 9 a.m. in violation of the law if neighbors at least 100 feet away can hear it.

A review of the ordinance was prompted after the state Supreme Court said a Virginia Beach ordinance that relied on what a “reasonable person” would find too loud was unconstitutional.

The cost of the fines for violating the ordinance are going up, too. The Washington Post reported that criminal fines will now start at $100, up from $25, and max out at $2,500. First-time civil fines were raised to $250.

The rules vary based on where Arlington County residents live, and you can find out how your neighborhood is affected by reading the ordinance. Some neighbors said the language didn’t go far enough, ARLNow reported. “Arlington is a suburb, not a city,” wrote one resident in a letter of protest to the board.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/arlington_county_bans_wailing_after_2_a.m._loud_parties_after_midnight/8475

1 Comment

1. James said at 11:45 am on Tuesday May 13, 2014:
   On the positive, this properly and correctly reinforces that one's right to free speech does not extend to behaving like an idiot and disturbing people's sleep. On the negative, this will not be enforced, not at all. This is tantamount to the no eating law on the metro system, a meaningless gesture.