PENDER COUNTY,NC (WECT)- It's not a case of nosy neighbors but rather noisy neighbors. Some commissioners in Pender County have said they are getting a lot of noise complaints from the eastern part of the county and they might be making some changes.
However, some residents we spoke with today think a tougher policy would do more harm than good.
The ordinance originally said "no unreasonably loud or disturbing noise after 11 p.m., and a half hour before sunrise."
However, in 2006, an amendment was made to say " no amplified music, be it from a home or car after 11 p.m. as well.
Some residents have said they're worried another change to the rule would start impacting business.
Commissioners David Williams and Jimmy Tate said the phone call noise complaints are adding up.
"We try to get out there as quickly as you can but you have some limited resources," said Williams.
He added that the Sheriff's Office will usually respond but often have a lot to deal with.
"If you've got a call for a wreck and a call for a noise complaint, the noise complaint is going to have to come after that," said Williams.
Williams also mentioned that authorities can't finger the guilty every time, either.
"It's a he said she said type thing, and what constitutes a nuisance to others is very subjective," explained Williams.
This is why some commissioners plan to discuss a new policy. One mentioned to me that the 11 p.m. loud noise cut off should start earlier-- at 9. However, Hampstead resident Mike Tifft said things could be much worse and that a stricter countywide noise ordinance would do more harm than good-- for the wallet and the local economy.
"You make ordinances to what? Get a little extra money? Because to me that's what it's for-- to get an extra ticket or two out there," said Tifft.
He went on to mention that festivals and music shows that come to the area are a necessity for eastern Pender.
"20,000 people come into this little town--it's three times our population so it's good economic growth," Tifft said.
The current ordinance doesn't apply to these events, but Tifft says commissioners should tread lightly with this subject. He adds that the Hampstead community's retail industry is on the rise which should also go into consideration at the commissioners' meeting.
'More rules means less people coming in to do anything," said Tifft.
Commissioners said they don't plan to make any final changes to the noise ordinance Tuesday night but they will begin throwing around ideas that could ease the problem for some of the residents who have been calling.
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