Louisville bar owners asking for clarity after fines for noise ordinance violations

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The city of Louisville started an ordinance last year to keep bars under control, but some business owners are now worried the noise ordinance is flawed.

Last year, Louisville Metro Government's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) announced a zero tolerance policy for bars and restaurants playing loud music. Violators are fined $2,500 for their first offense.

Some local business owners said they have already paid the price.

"What we're asking from the Louisville Metro Council is to quantify the noise ordinance and have specific numbers that will justify giving someone a violation," said Cres Bride who owns Joe's Older than Dirt and Our Place Pub.

Bride is also the president of Louisville Hospitality Association.

Since the new noise ordinance was created a year ago, several establishments have been cited with $2,500 fines, with no warnings, including Flanagan's Ale House on Baxter Avenue and Taj in NuLu.

The fines started last September by the city of Louisville and Alcoholic Beverage Control as a way to curb violence that was happening throughout the city.

"There is no correlation between a noise violation and direct violence, we want to make that clear," said Sean Vandevander, Louisville Hospitality Association spokesperson. "It is two different things. It needed to be addressed."

A separate proposal to close bars at 2 a.m. has also been considered.

Vandevander said there is no definition on what is too loud, the hours and distance from a venue. He wants clarification and transparency.

"Is somebody going to call a noise violation like they did in the past they need to provide a name, an address, a phone umber to make sure there is a real person, not a disgruntled employee or a competing business," Vandevander said.

Louisville Metro Council member Ben Reno-Weber, D-8, has met with residents in his district to learn their concerns.

"What they are looking for is pretty reasonable, same thing with the restaurant association, pretty reasonable," Reno-Weber said. "The question is how do we come together around doing this the right way and crafting an ordinance that is clear."

Reno-Weber said more meetings will be held to make sure everyone is on the same page and a specific ordinance can be laid out.

"What we do want is to be sure that everyone has clarity on what is allowed and not allowed so that the neighbors can enjoy their neighborhood and we have that vibrant entertainment district going," Reno-Weber said.

On Tuesday the owner of Taj scheduled a hearing with ABC to dispute the $2,500 fine. Another hearing is set for October. Flanagan's Ale house agreed to a plea deal of $500.

"If a bar doesn't know whether or not it can justify the expense of a musician without facing a mandatory $2,500 fine then it is not worth our time," Vandevander said.

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