§ 164-12. Definitions., Chapter 164. Noise, Part II. General Legislation, Code of Ordinances, Melrose

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them:

AMBIENT NOISE

The all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being either a composite of sounds transmitted by any means from many sources near and far or a single, predominant source.

AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE

Any of the following vehicles when equipped and identified according to law:

A.

A vehicle of a Fire Department.

B.

A publicly owned police vehicle or a privately owned vehicle used by a police officer for police work under agreement, express or implied, with the authority to which he/she is responsible.

C.

An ambulance, whether publicly or privately owned.

D.

An emergency vehicle of a City department or a public service corporation.

DECIBEL, db or db(A)

The weighted sound level measured by the use of metering characteristics and the prescribed A-weighting frequency response specified in American National Standards SL. 4. 1971 as established by the American National Standards Institute, Inc.

DWELLING

Any building or structure, or portion thereof, except temporary housing or one wherein a watchman's quarters are the only sleeping accommodations, which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupation.

EMERGENCY SITUATION

A situation wherein immediate work is necessary to restore property to a safe condition following a public calamity or immediate work is required to protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger.

MOTORCYCLE

Any motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.

MOTOR VEHICLE

Any vehicle, motorcycle, machine, tractor, trailer, semitrailer or combination thereof propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used for the transportation of passengers or property or any combination thereof, but does not include a vehicle, locomotive or car operated exclusively on a rail or rails.

NOISE

One or a group of loud, harsh, nonharmonious sounds or vibrations that are unpleasant and irritating to the ear.

OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE

Any traffic light, stop or yield sign, official or police officer.

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

Any district except a commercial, industrial or manufacturing district as defined in Chapter 235, Zoning.

SOUND

For the purposes of the "Duration of Sound" column in the table in § 164-7, "sound" includes continuous, continual and intermittent sounds transmitted by any means, the interval of silence between which does not exceed 10 seconds.