he proposal states that individuals in residential areas who exceed noise levels stipulated in the city health code could be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to a year. Two confirmed noise violations at the same address in two years would allow the city to close the property for a year.
[...]
The policy would especially affect students living in fraternity houses or those who choose to host parties.
[...]
[Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke]acknowledged that the proposal could make it more difficult for students to find housing by making landlords reluctant to rent to them.
Nonetheless, she says that students should not oppose the proposal, since the majority of them are not a problem in the City's eyes.
"Most students live quiet, peaceful, normal lives. It's only a handful who cause problems. ... The vast majority of undergraduates are very busy trying to pass exams and graduate. They have normal parties like normal people," she said.
Sgt. Carrie Bennett, the student-community liaison officer, believes that the proposal, if enacted, would mostly target fraternities, especially those that own their own houses.
"Wouldn't that be the first place one might target?" she asked. "It wouldn't be difficult to catch them twice in two years.
[...]
Senior Aaron Landgraf, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, said that the proposed law would harm the fraternity's relations with the community. "Neighborhood relations are one of our top priorities," he said.
But, he noted, the law "would give them an excuse to call the cops on us," instead of discussing disagreements.
According to Landgraf, people who choose to live in neighborhoods near college campuses should expect some noise.
"We're a college community ... social life in a college community is different from a family-oriented community," he said.
Right - and "If you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear."
I suppose partiers will have to just puke quietly on the neighbor's rose bushes now.
The Johns Hopkins News-Letter - Noise law may force evictions
