SLT Board mulls rules for boat music volumes

Tue, May 13, 2008

SPRING LAKE TOWNSHIP — Boaters in Spring Lake Township waters may have to pay more attention to their musical volume levels and dial down in the near future.

Although the issue came up only as a discussion item near the end of the Township Board's meeting Monday night, the board unofficially authorized township attorney Ron Bultje to investigate appropriate ordinance language to limit obtrusive noise stemming from boats.

Current Spring Lake Township sound ordinance language pertains only to land issues, according to Bultje.

Boat exhaust decibel noise is currently regulated by state law and enforced by county sheriff departments.

The proposed new Spring Lake Township ordinance language would take a step beyond the state laws and enforce noise from boats that would include musical instruments, radios, boom boxes and other electronically amplified noise that could be heard beyond 50 feet of the sound-producing vessel.

"We're not talking about exhaust noise here," Bultje said. "We're talking about people who are amplifying their music."

Township Trustee Larry Mierle suggested the 50-foot sound proposal is too prohibitive.

"That's not fair at all," he said

Mierle said that if he had his car radio playing in the Township Hall parking lot, it would probably be heard by board members seated at the meeting.

Bultje said the 50-foot idea will be explored before he drafts ordinance language. He said he'll convene with a judge for advice on final ordinance language and enforceability.

Trustee Norma Cook pushed for the potential future ordinance to include voice volume.

"When people start jumping in the water and screaming, they can get loud," she said. "They start hooting and hollering."

Bultje cautioned against voice volume infractions, which he said could infringe on constitutional rights.

Township Supervisor John Nash said Spring Lake's landscape, with its long and narrow waterways and dunes on many sides, makes the area a natural sound amplifier.

"I can hear fishermen talking when they're out on the water," he said. "It's a natural amphitheater."

Bultje said he would research the issue and have a preliminary ordinance prepared in time for the next Township Board meeting on May 26.

"We could adopt this in short order," Bultje said.