Opinion ID: 77679
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Is the Ordinance Narrowly Tailored to Achieve the Government Interest?

Text: 51 Once we have satisfied ourselves that the ordinance reflects a significant government interest, we must ask whether the government narrowly tailored the ordinance to achieve that interest. The Supreme Court has emphasized that the government does not need to show the regulation utilizes the least restrictive means of achieving the government interest. A speech-restrictive regulation will satisfy this requirement so long as it promotes a substantial government interest that would be achieved less effectively absent the regulation. Ward, 491 U.S. at 798-99, 109 S.Ct. 2746 (footnote omitted) (quoting United States v. Albertini, 472 U.S. 675, 689, 105 S.Ct. 2897, 86 L.Ed.2d 536 (1985)). 52 Section 21-28 of the County Code addresses excessive noise in a comprehensive fashion. It regulates noises from such disparate sources as the horns and signaling devices that generate traffic noise to power tools and landscaping equipment used for residential maintenance, and from the noises emitted by caged animals to raucous shouting on residential streets. The subsection that regulates noise from devices that reproduce sounds such as televisions, radios, phonographs and musical instruments contains a standard that is specifically tailored to that particular category of sound. Thus, it proscribes unreasonably loud noise in terms that address the needs and welfare of both involuntary and voluntary listeners, making it unlawful to use sound reproduction devices: 53 in such a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring inhabitants, or at any time louder that is necessary for convenient hearing for the person or persons who are in the room, vehicle or chamber in which such machine or device is operated and who are voluntary listeners thereto. 54 Id. at § 21-28(b). It also sets forth a rebuttable presumption to aid compliance officers in enforcing the standard: 55 The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph, machine or device between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of one hundred (100) feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. 56 Id. Accordingly, we find that the ordinance is narrowly tailored.