City approves noise law changes
Changes to Hagerstown's noise ordinance that Police Chief Arthur Smith has said will make it easier to enforce were unanimously approved by the City Council earlier this week.
The changes lower the maximum fine for a noise ordinance violation from $1,000 to $500. The possibility of a jail sentence for noise ordinance violators was removed.
Smith has said the changes make violating the ordinance an offense for which police can issue citations instead of having to make an arrest, which he said is too time consuming.
Smith said that in most cases an arrest isn't necessary to deter the offense. He said an officer would still have the option of arresting an offender.
