HOBOKEN – After the spotlight of the regional media shined on Hoboken on Wednesday due to a meeting about noise issues, Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced that she will put forth legislation to the City Council to set high fines for violators who are “disturbing the peace.”
The city held a community meeting on Wednesday in which many disgruntled residents spoke about loud noise stemming from bar areas, primarily on First Street.
Zimmer’s administration will propose legislation to set fines for disturbing the peace at $500, $1,000, and $2,000 for the first, second, and third offenses, respectively, according to a release. Community service will also be required.
The city is also in the process of implementing a central phone number for residents to call in case there is a noise concern in Hoboken. The city has been training employees, including at the Parking Utility, to handle noise complaints.
Zimmer said her administration would work with county and local police officials to try to increase patrols during “peak activity periods,” usually on the weekends, when many visitors come visit the city’s bars.
“Hoboken is a great community with more than 130 outdoor cafés, diverse retail shopping, unique cultural opportunities, and a vibrant nightlife, and we welcome everyone who wants to come here and enjoy themselves,” Zimmer said in a release. “All we ask is that residents, visitors, and business owners be courteous and respectful of their neighbors. My administration is working on integrated measures to ensure the quality of life of all of our community.”
For more on this issue, make sure to pick up a copy of The Hoboken Reporter this weekend.- Ray Smith