Monday public hearing on new Cape Coral noise ordinance

Cape Coral leaders are working to make sure your neighborhood stays quiet. But some neighbors worry about the proposed changes to the city’s noise ordinance will make it too easy for police to give you a ticket.

Under the proposed amendment, sound levels on your property or in your car must be kept to a minimum at certain times of the day. Cape Coral’s noise ordinance would create new guidelines for police issuing citations for anyone making noise. It will apply if officers do not hear the sound themselves.

An officer would need proof of the violation. Evidence can include video from witnesses, factoring the time of the complaint and whether or not there have been previous calls regarding the noise. Neighbors WINK News spoke with had mixed reviews about the change.

“As long as the witness seems credible or there are more witnesses,” said Pat Powers, who lives in Cape Coral, “I would be in favor of that.”

“They’d have to have more than one complaint or be there physically to really know what’s going on,” said Lynne-Marie Maylott, a Cape Coral resident.

A person has a short time frame to lower the noise. Officers would give the person a five-minute warning to turn down the volume before issuing a citation. Otherwise, first-time offenders would be given a $150 fine. Repeat offenders can see a hefty fine up to $500. The city will have a public hearing on the ordinance at the council meeting on Monday.

The ordinance is all part of Cape Coral’s mission to promote the health, safety and welfare of neighbors by keeping excessive noise to a minimum. We spoke with many Cape Coral neighbors who told us they hope the new noise ordinance would help resolve some of the noise issues.

“You can’t even hear the music,” Bill Nadelle said. “All you hear is just vibrations.”

“Some of these cars are getting pretty loud,” Mike McCartney said.