Civil Liberties

Brickbat: I Can't Hear You

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Soitiki Flickr

Sixty-two decibels. A normal conversation is about that loud. A piano being played without any sort of amplification is just a little bit louder. But code enforcement officials in Huntsville, Alabama, have begun fining bands that exceed 62 decibels when performing on outside decks and patios in the downtown entertainment district. A new apartment building recently opened up amidst all the bars and nightclubs, and the new residents have been complaining about the noise.