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HomeMy WebLinkAboutG21-96 (2) Ordinance No. G21-96 OKI\ AN ORDINANCE �\/ AMENDING CHAPTER 11 .40 OF THE ELGIN MUNICIPAL CODE, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 11 .40 . 095 ENTITLED "SOUND AMPLIFICATION DEVICES" BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS: Section 1 . That Chapter 11 .40 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976 , as amended, entitled "Special Stops Required-- Miscellaneous Rules of the Road" be and is hereby further amended by adding Section 11 .40. 095 to read as follows : 11 . 40 . 095 Sound Amplification Devices . A. No driver of any motor vehicle within this city shall operate or permit operation of any sound amplification system which can be heard outside the vehicle from 75 or more feet when the vehicle is being operated upon a highway, unless such system is being operated to request assistance or warn of a hazardous situation. This section does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles or vehicles engaged in advertising. B. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be fined $150 . 00 . C. Any person convicted of a second offense under this section within any 12 month period shall be fined $250 . 00 . D. Any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense under this section within any 12 month period shall be fined $500 . 00 . Section 2 . That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be and are hereby repealed. Section 3 . That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect ten days after its passage and publication in the manner provided by law. s/ Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly, Mayor Presented: May 8, 1996 Passed: May 8, 1996 Vote: Yeas 7 Nays 0 Recorded: May 9, 1996 Published: May 9, 1996 Attest: s/ Dolonna Mecum Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk . � • °FE��, Agenda Item No . •:•+ ,dIH gro��e May 3, 1996 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Richard B. Helwig, City Manager SUBJECT: Ordinance Providing Enhanced Penalties for Violations of Noise Standards within Vehicles PURPOSE To provide information on a proposed ordinance imposing en- hanced fines for vehicles operating sound systems that can be heard from a distance of 75 feet or more from vehicles being operated on the highway. BACKGROUND The City Council sought information regarding an Aurora ordi- nance authorizing the seizure and impoundment of motor vehi- cles operating sound amplification systems that can be heard from 75 or more feet when the vehicle is being operated on the highway. The Aurora ordinance adopts the language of Section 12-611 of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code ( 625 ILCS 5/12-611) to create a local ordinance, rather than state violation, for the offense. By creating a local ordinance violation for the offense, Aurora is able to impose greater penalties--seizure and impoundment--than those provided by state law, which is a $50 fine. The attached ordinance similarly adopts the language of Sec- tion 12-611 of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code, enabling a police officer to cite a violator with a local ordinance violation for the offense. The ordinance' s penalty provi- sion, however, differs from both the Motor Vehicle Code ' s and Aurora ' s scheme. Under the proposed ordinance, the fine for a first-time offender is $150 . Any person convicted of a second offense within any 12-month period is fined $250 . A person convicted of a third or subsequent offense within any 12-month period faces $500 fines . When a police officer cites a driver for violating the ordi- nance, Supreme Court Rule 526 (a) permits the driver to post his or her driver' s license, a bond card, or $75 cash as bail. And as of 1 May 1996 , the Supreme Court is requiring Mayor and Members of the City Council Page -2- May 3, 1996 all local ordinance offenses mandating fines of $100 or more to be classified as a "MUST APPEAR" on the citation. Conse- quently, all drivers ticketed for violating the ordinance will be required to appear in court to pay their fines . This will enable the city prosecutor to review the driver's past history to determine whether he or she has been previously cited for violating the ordinance within any 12-month period. COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED None. FINANCIAL IMPACT None. LEGAL IMPACT None. ALTERNATIVES Continue citing violators under Section 12-611 of the Illi- nois Motor Vehicle Code which imposes a $50 fine for each violation. RECOMMENDATION Adopting the proposed ordinance and its enhanced fine sched- ule. Respectfully submi ted, Erwin W. Jentsch Corporate Counsel Richard B. Helwig City Manager EWJ/RGK/nr Attachment