http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/253abn3.htm

Keep the noise down, or else

Thursday, May 25, 2006

By Jonathan Lipman

Staff writer

Noise ordinances in Chicago got tougher Wednesday - and easier to enforce.

Northwest Side Ald. Ray Suarez (31st) pushed through the city council an

ordinance that allows police officers to write tickets for up to $1,000 for

repeat offenses against anyone playing loud music between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Police can ticket for any sound "louder than a conversational level" that's

audible 100 feet from the property line or more. Previously, police needed

to get decibel readings from special equipment to write a ticket that would

hold up in court.