READING, Pa. – Reading City Council said during its Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday night that it plans to review and strengthen the city’s current noise ordinance.

At last week’s regular meeting, several residents spoke during public comment about how loud music and parties are being disruptive to their quality of life, and that police have not responded to their concerns.

Councilmembers have also said that they have been receiving numerous complaints from residents of their districts regarding noise issues. Some members said they’ve received more than 30 complaints in just the last few days.

“Everybody wants to relax, enjoy music…but don’t assume your neighbor five blocks away wants to hear the same music you do,” said Council President Donna Reed.

Right now, Reading law prohibits any noise clearly audible from more than 50 feet away. 

However, councilmembers say that’s hard to enforce and not strong enough to deal with massive speaker setups stacked on cars or in public parks.

What’s being proposed?


 

While no vote has happened yet, council is discussing a potential ordinance that would:

Increase fines for repeat offenders.

Allow police to confiscate equipment, and in some cases, even vehicles.

Make it easier to enforce existing rules, especially in public spaces. 

“If somebody is playing loud music after hours, especially in parks…the seizure can be of the speakers…or in some cases, even the vehicle itself,” Reed said.

What’s being proposed?


 

Neighbors say they’re fed up, too.

 

At a separate public hearing last week, neighbors brought up noise complaints even though the meeting was about a proposed ice-skating rink.

 

“The loud noise on a Sunday…you can’t even hear your TV,” one person said. “It’s horrendous.”

 

“We don’t want them to feel that they have to leave a neighborhood because their kids can’t go to sleep at night because of the music blaring,” Reed said.

Reading Police Department Deputy Chief Luz Shade explained that often residents believe the police ignore their complaints and do nothing to address the issues.

“The way it works is we do prioritize our calls,” Shade said. “So, of course a shooting, a stabbing and aggravated assault is going to have precedence over a noise call.”

“We understand how the constituent is getting frustrated and saying that we’re not there, but we do show up,” Shade said. “It’s just sometimes the complaint is no longer there, or the complainant is no longer available.”

While residents are permitted to make a complaint anonymously, Shade said that for the police to issue a citation (outside of the police witnessing the noise issue in action), there must be two complainants who are willing to give their names.

Shade said the city’s ordinance could be beefed up, reducing the two identified complainants to one and increasing the citation fine, which is currently a minimum of $25 and a maximum of $1,000.

“For those who are breaking the ordinance, [raising the fine] would actually bring it to their attention and say that we’re serious about this,” Shade said. “Your break the ordinance, and you’re going to be cited, and it’s going to hurt your pocket, ultimately.”

Councilmember Rafael Nunez suggested that the minimum fine for a citation should be $500.

Reed said council will look at trying to strengthen the current ordinance with input from the police and the administration.

“The major part of this is an education outreach,” Reed said. “To me, that’s the whole thing; neighborhood by neighborhood. In those areas where there are strong neighborhoods to reach out, we have to have folks reach out to each other.”

What’s next?


 

The proposal is still in early discussion, but councilmembers say enforcement will be key especially if they move forward with any ordinance changes.

 

“I just don’t get it,” Reed said. “We all have our moments where we want to [celebrate]…but how hard is it to just be decent to each other?”