This ordinance will regulate unreasonably intrusive levels of sound emanating from tour service vehicles so as to minimize sound nuisances and disturbances experienced by persons not otherwise patronizing tour vehicle services.

The ordinance will amend Division II, Part 6, Licensing and Regulation, Chapter 1, Business and Occupations, Article R, Tour Services for Hire, Division 2, Tour Service Vehicles, Section 6-1514, to Require Sound Control Devices, and Section 6-1517, to Prohibit Emanation of Exessive Noise from Tour Service Vehicles; to Provide for Effective Dates; to Repeal All Ordinances in Conflict Herewith; and for Other Purposes as follows:

SECTION 1: That Section 6-1514, currently reserved for future use, of Division 2, Tour Service Vehicles, of Article R, Tour Services for Hire, of Chapter 1, Business and Occupations, of Part 6, Licensing and Regulation, of Division II of the Code of the City of Savannah be amended as follows:

Sec. 6-1514. Sound control devices.

(a) Purpose.  This section is intended to regulate unreasonably intrusive levels of sound emanating from tour service vehicles so as to minimize sound nuisances and disturbances experienced by persons not otherwise patronizing tour vehicle services.

(b) Sound control devices required.  All tour service vehicles shall be equipped with sound control devices, such as directional speakers or in-ear technology.  Such devices shall ensure that no sound emanates from the vehicle that is plainly audible at a distance of fifteen feet or greater, in any direction, from the body of the vehicle.

(c) Enforcement.  Enforcement officers shall be authorized to inspect tour service vehicles for compliance with this section.

SECTION 2: That Section 6-1517, currently reserved for future use, of Division 2, Tour Service Vehicles, of Article R, Tour Services for Hire, of Chapter 1, Business and Occupations, of Part 6, Licensing and Regulation, of Division II of the Code of the City of Savannah be amended as follows:           

Sec. 6-1517. Excessive noise.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any tour service vehicle owner or operator to cause or allow amplified sound, produced by, but not limited to, radios, tape players, or other mechanical sound-producing devices or instruments, to emanate from within the tour service vehicle if such sound is plainly audible at a distance of fifteen feet or greater, in any direction, from the body of the tour service vehicle.

(b) The sounding of any horn or similar warning signaling device by tour service vehicle owners or operators while on the public right-of-way shall be prohibited; provided, however, that tour service vehicle operators may lawfully deploy a horn or other similar signaling device as provided by O.C.G.A. § 40-8-70.

SECTION 3: That subsection (b) of Section 6-1532, Loudspeakers, of Division 2, Tour Service Vehicles, of Article R, Tour Services for Hire, of Chapter 1, Business and Occupations, of Part 6, Licensing and Regulation, of Division II of the Code of the City of Savannah shall be repealed in its entirety.        

SECTION 4: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

Approval