San Luis Obispo City Council passes new noise ordinance

The San Luis Obispo City Council has made the Voluntary Party Registration Program permanent.

This new ordinance means anyone having a party, gathering, or even a wedding can register with the police department and receive a noise complaint warning before facing a fine.

Participation is voluntary and police require the event be registered at least one week in advance. A photo id is required and hosts must be at least 18 years old.

How it works is if a neighbor files a noise complaint the police dispatch will call the registered party host letting them know the complaint was made. They then have 20 minutes to stop the noise and if not and a second complaint is made police will come out and issue citations upon verification of the noise.

This is a good way for party throwers to avoid those costly fines.

“Fines are really expensive they start at $350, and go all the way up to $1,000. So if we can give folks a tool to be able to socialize in a manner that is the way they want to but also avoid really large fines its a win, win,” said Neighborhood Outreach Manager Christine Wallace.

Some residents find the ordinance as a good thing while others do not.

” I believe it’s a waste of taxpayer money and time in general because it’s very tedious, it kind of like we are micromanaging citizens,” said SLO resident Alexander Kasey.

“I think its a very good improvement over the past problems we have had when the police just show up and give tickets,” said Cambria Grammar School teacher Michael Lant.

The SLO Neighborhood Watch had a total of 99 people register and of that, eight warning calls were issued and only one citation.

The good turn out of the community response helped get the program passed by the city council.