Kissimmee residents are bringing the noise, and it is time to turn it down according to some local residents and downtown business owners.
The City of Kissimmee and Kissimmee Police Department banded together and held a Noise Ordinance Public Workshop last week to address concerns.
The city has noticed an increase in noise complaints in recent years, and a large volume of repeat complaints. To address the increasing issue, the City is revising its noise ordinance and its internal processes to regulate noise disturbances more effectively.
Officials say that in the downtown area, vehicle exhausts and stereos are the main culprit. In the residential areas, Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell says it's parties.
Currently, if a car’s stereo or muffler can be heard by a Kissimmee police officer from more than 25 feet away, a $116 citation can be issued.
When responding to a noise complaint at a house party, though, officers first are required to ask for the resident to turn it down. If they have to come back later, it could lead to an arrest. However, O’Dell doesn’t believe in cluttering the jail cells with noise violators.
“Right now, we give a warning at a residence, or ultimately take them to jail," said Chief O’Dell. "I prefer not to take people to jail. My hope is that we can rewrite the ordinance that gives law enforcement the ability to issue a citation.”
According to the Kissimmee Police Department, officers have responded to more than 1,100 noise complaints so far this year.
City officials say they hope the ordinance can be changed to allow officers to issue citations at loud house parties by the end of this year, or beginning of next year.
An online survey for additional input is set to be available through the end of July, city officials say.
