Loud noise ordinance approved by Salinas City Council

UPDATED 6/18/2019 10:43 p.m.: The Salinas City Council voted unanimously to pass the ordinance at Tuesday’s city council meeting. The ordinance will be enforceable in 30 days.

PREVIOUS STORY: City council members in Salinas will have another chance to decide the fate of a noise ordinance. That ordinance is scheduled for a final vote.

The city says the ordinance targets those hosting parties that are too loud as well as the landlords of a property that is being rented out.

“Your landlord would get a letter, then after a second response out the landlord would be fined in accordance with our ordinance up to $1,000,” says Salinas Councilman, Scott Davis.”

All of this in an effort to reduce the amount of calls to homes hosting loud parties by fining those who are in violation of the ordinance.

Fines for renters or hosts range from $250 to $1,000, however if Police are called out multiple times, you’ll see an additional $500 or so added to you fine.

However, the final vote for this ordinance means if it doesn’t pass Tuesday night, it won’t be up for discussion for quite some time.

“We have to weigh someone’s ability to have a party or a good time at their home,” says Davis. “We’re also weighing the potential consequences or type of disruption that occurs with neighbors. Also, the freedoms and rights you have as a neighbor to sleep and have a peaceful house.”

Tonight’s council meeting will be held at Salinas City Hall at 200 Lincoln Avenue at 4 p.m.