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HARRISBURG
Officials want city police, not state, to control noise
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
BY JOHN LUCIEW
Of The Patriot-News
Harrisburg doesn't want the music to die on bustling Restaurant Row along North Second Street.
For the third year in a row, city officials are asking to have Harrisburg Police, rather than the Liquor Control Enforcement arm of the state police, enforce noise standards for downtown bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Last night, City Council unanimously approved the city's third application, which now goes before the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
This time, Harrisburg is looking for open-ended approval from the state so city officials can stop applying year after year, said council President Richard House.
The state liquor agency will hold at least one hearing before deciding whether to extend Harrisburg's control over bar noise downtown.
Since the summer of 2003, owners of downtown Harrisburg bars and restaurants have plugged in outdoor speakers to provide what they say is ambience for al fresco dining.
But the enforcement provisions are set to expire on June 29 unless they are extended by the PLCB, which has 60 days to act.
Because of that timetable, there could be a lag time between the expiration of the current provisions and PLCB action on the new application. Harrisburg would have to revert to the stricter state rules, according to a spokeswoman for the liquor control agency.
The state has a stricter standard for amplified sound emanating from licensed establishments. The rule is that no music should be heard outside of an establishment.
That would mean an end to outdoor speakers and thumping music emanating from open doors and windows of bars and clubs until the new application is acted upon.
No one from the public addressed the issue at last night's council meeting. Opponents will have to wait for the PLCB public hearing.
The local noise enforcement applies only to Harrisburg's downtown, bounded by Front, Seventh and Forster streets and Harrisburg Hospital to the south. The state would still be responsible for seeing that all other liquor regulations are followed downtown.
JOHN LUCIEW: 255-8171 or
jluciew@patriot-news.com