Bloomington City Council votes to increase fines for noise violation offenders, IU students may be affected

As IU students move back to Bloomington this month and reunite with friends, they might realize they shouldn’t “socialize” as loudly as they did this past spring.\nThe Bloomington City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Wednesday evening creating an escalating scale for noise violations. \nThe usual fine of $50 now applies only to the first offense. The next offense will cost $100 and any further violations after that will cost $500 – 10 times the amount students saw in the spring semester. The ordinance will apply to the Bloomington community and not violations that occur on campus, Kevin Robling, corporate council for the City of Bloomington, said.\nViolations can include using lawn equipment late at night, driving a “boom car” that can be heard more than 30 feet away or hosting a loud party, said Margie Rice, assistant city attorney.\n“This is clearly a boiling point issue for all of the citizens,” Councilwoman Susan Sandberg said. \nRobling said an educational campaign is in the works to get literature to students about the revisions when they return to campus. However, Councilman Chris Sturbaum said the deadline for getting literature in student welcome-back packets is Aug. 15, and the information has not been filed. \nThe most vocal council member on this issue was Stephen Volan, representative for District 6, which includes the IU campus. He believes it is important for the students to be educated properly about these changes as they return to campus.\n“I think that the word will spread pretty quickly that the third offense is $500,” Volan said. “It’s a shame that it has taken this long.” \nDuring council comments, Volan quoted former IU President Herman B Wells and his efforts to keep socially inclined students zoned together away from residential neighborhoods, including the Jordan Avenue extension.\n“Dr. Wells even said that students will inevitably party,” Volan said.\nBloomington resident Phil Worthington, an outspoken advocate for the increase in fines, spoke during public comments.\n“This has been going on for (way) too long,” Wurthington said.