The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-18
Anti-RadiO Battle on Far Flung Lines
Neighbors Complain at
 Midnight Blah

A radio enthusiast may be con sidered a law-abiding citizen up to midnight, but after 12 o'clock, pro- viding his Hove" for music, prize fights, concert and slumber num- bers annoys his neighbor, he be- comes a nuisance and is liable to arrest.
 The anti-radio battle in Water bury is being contested at present on far-hung lines. Superintendent of Police Joseph H. Mclean and pr Edward J. Godfrey, health of- ficer, have been pestered with complaints about So-and-Sos loud speaker being a nuisance. So many complaints have been filed and so many pleas for help have been re- ceived that after going into hud- dle Superintendnet Mclean and Health Officer Godfrey have de- cided that 12 o'clock, midnight, is a reasonable time for persons to either stop their radios or tone them down so that the entire neighborhood will not be disturbed After midnight the authorities claim & noisy radio becomes a nuisance and it's owner Is liable to arrest on the charge of disturbing the peace.
 In event of sickness in a family or where death is expected the police have the authority under health regulations to compel the discontinuance of radios and other unnecessary mediums of annoy ance If complaints are properly filed. Such drastic action, how ever, will not be undertaken until it has been definitely decided that the persons responsible were posi- lively unreasonable and without a heart.
 Complaints are expected during the summer months. Some persons find 1t convenient to start their radios going with full steam ahead and then Toll about a front porch or in a hammock. With windows and doors open they ind no trouble in hearing their faVorite crooner. lecturer or tooth paste duo. As for the family unstairs, next door or across the street, why worry, this Is a free country!
 Under the power invested In them by existing laws the police have stopped a number of local stores from time to time in staging
  poses, In one or two business dis tricts battles of music have been fought by competing frms-with the principal casualties being num- bered among nearby residents.
 Neither Superintendent Mclean or Health Officer Godfrey want to appear as "wct blankets" in the enforcement of any law. They like radio entertainment as much as anyone and enjoy various pro grams broadcast by the different companies. They are also of the opinion that persons should e%cr- else little reason in promoting "neighborhood concerts after midnight. If they have occasion to remain up for a certain broad cast they are expected to put q "soft pedar on their radios and confine the concert, hght or what ever the attraction Is to their own homes and let their neighbors sleep and live in peace.
 The authorities are also aware of the fact that it is easy to Of fend some people at any hour of the night and that some register a protest without justification.
 The police while receiving the calls and Investigating them are not inaugurating any special drive on noisy radios. They have appeal ed to all owners to be considerate and reasonable. In cases where there is any fragrant disregard of neighbors' feelings action will be taken. It fig more than likely that some of the neighborhood battles of music will continue, but az grieved residents can at least find some degree of satisfaction In Knowing that there is a law to pro- tect them against "too much suffer ing from faucous radios and hard of-hearing owners.