Mohave Today

Much like the standards for giving out speeding violations, Arizona state lawmakers want police officers who issue noise complaints to use a calibrated meter.

The proposal was recently approved in a 5-1 vote by the House Committee on Regulatory Affairs. This particular discussion was ignited by complaints from Mehmood Mohiuddin, the owner of Hitching Post restaurant in Apache Junction, who said he has been a target of several citations for excessive noise.

Mohiuddin told lawmakers that the citations were chiefly based on complaints from videos taken by neighbors. The restaurant regularly hosts bull-riding events several nights a week.

Rep. Kelly Townsend (R-Mesa) said there needs to be more tangible proof it these violations are being committed.

“So that’s up to interpretation by whomever is reading this,” said Townsend, referring to the current law. “And it’s quite vague.”

Current state law makes it a public nuisance to interfere “with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by an entire community or neighborhood or by a considerable number of persons” in a way that is “offensive to the senses or an obstruction to the free use of property.”