Are your neighbours driving you nuts with their noise?
Here is a handy guide for how this could be dealt with and what information you need to give JMPD if you do decide to report them.
Everything it seems is governed by one law or another in the city – and sound is not left out.
Noise can become a disturbance of the peace if it is music that is played late at night or at levels that may be called unacceptable for the average person.
Read more: Red Star Festival of racing all about noise, action and winning
By-laws are there to guide residents on what and when they are permitted to play music or to generate sound.
Generally, by-laws prohibit unreasonable noise between 22:00 and 06:00 during the week and 23:00 and 07:00 on weekends.
While JMPD is responsible for by-law enforcement in the city, which includes public nuisance, public drinking, noise, and reckless driving, it is always best to try to engage whoever is making the noise first. If that fails, perhaps see if a neighbour or other community member may be able to assist before calling the authorities.
Also read: Protect your child from noise-induced hearing loss
It might also be an idea to contact a local private security company to see if this is something they might deal with or not in terms of requesting the noise to be lowered or stopped altogether depending on the offence.
If you feel your peace is being disturbed, here is what you can do:
- Report the offending party to JMPD by calling 011 375 5911 and make sure that they provide you with a reference number and write down the name of the officer you spoke to on the phone.
- Be sure to provide the address where the disturbance is coming from and contact details if possible.
- There is no timeline given for a response which is usually on a best-effort basis depending on what else may be happening in that region of the city at the same time.
- If unsatisfied, call JMPD back after some time to enquire if they will be sending an officer to investigate.
- If found to have been breaching the peace, a fine or prosecution may follow.
Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.
Related article: Imagine a world with deadly quiet, noiseless, driverless vehicles
