Noise arrest in Ybor
Hi Neighbors,
Those of you who have been in Ybor a while might want to know about this….
Tampa makes 1st noise arrest
By MICHAEL A. MOHAMMED
Published September 23, 2006
YBOR CITY - Tampa police made their first arrest Friday morning under the city noise ordinance passed in February, which instituted harsher penalties for bar and nightclub managers who violate volume restrictions.
Stewart Skipper, 25, manager of the dance club Amphitheater, was arrested at 12:15 a.m. Friday and charged with a second-degree misdemeanor. He was given a notice to appear in court. If convicted, Skipper faces a $500 fine or up to 60 days in jail.
Owner John Santoro said he would “vigorously defend” against the charge, but, on his lawyer’s advice, declined to comment further. According to Santoro, the club was operating Thursday night the same way and at the same volume that it has for 13 years.
Under the previous noise ordinance, violators would receive a warning, and would receive a citation only if they broke the rules again within 72 hours. Under the new rules, however, violators can be arrested if they break the rule within a year of being warned, and repeat offenders can face jail time or risk having their wet zoning suspended or permanently revoked.
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