Section 97B: Noise from Motor Vehicles and Portable Audio Devices

97B-1. No person shall play, use, operate or permit to be played, used or operated any radio, tape player, CD player, tape recorder, machine or other audio device that produces sound if it is located in or on any motor vehicle on a public street or highway, in a public space, in a public park or in a public vehicular area (parking lot); and at the same time the sound generated from said device is audible at a distance of thirty (30) feet or more from the motor vehcile in or on which the audio device is located.

97B-2. It shall be prima facie evidence that the person that owns a motor vehicle or the person that is operating a motor vehicle, from which sound is generated from an audio device and said sound is audible at a distance of thirty (30) feet or more, is the person playing, using, or operating the radio, tape player, CD player, tape recorder, machine or other audio device.

97B-3 Exceptions. 

Excepted from this ordinance are the following:

(a) All sounds that are generated from any municipal, county, state or federal governmental vehicle from audio devices in tended for two-way communication.

(b)All sounds generated from any sirens, horns, PA systems or other warning devices used by authorized municipal, county, state or federal police, fire or other emergency vehicles.

(c)All sounds that are generated from any authorized utility, service, repair or towing vehicle from audio devices intended for two-way communication when said vehicles are actively being used to perform a service or repair function.

(d)All sounds generated from any horns or beepers or other warning devices required by state or federal law to be on or part of any motor vehicle.

(e)All sounds generated by audio devices in or on vehicles that are taking part in an authorized parade permitted by the Town of Waynesville.

97B-4 Sanctions

(a) Any person violating this section shall be cited and may avoid further prosecution by paying the sum of twenty five ($25) dollars as a civil penalty within five business days after the issuance of the citation at the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Waynesville at Town Hall.

(b) Any person who has been issued a citation for a violation of section 97B and who has not paid the civil penalty within the five business days after teh issuance of the citation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable upon conviction by a fine not exceeding $250 or by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days.

Reporting Violations

   To report violations of the noise ordinance, you may call the Waynesville Police Department at (828)-456-5363 or submit an online complaint using our Citizen Complaint Form.