I have had some experience in using a "decibel measuring device" to determine if noise is exceeding the allowable level.
Here's the issue. Where do you position the device to take the measurement? (absolute versus relative) Do you stand at the origin of the noise? Do you walk a block away? Do you go to the home of the complainant and get into bed with them?
A 120 decibel reading at the bandstand is much less a block away.
Noise ordinance enforcement is a new phenomenon. If 8 p.m. music shutdowns are made to stick, then it is also a violation for you to ride your Harley Davidson after 8 p.m. Laughter can exceed 100 decibels too. So, if you think something is funny after 8 p.m., stifle the laugh until the next morning. Remember too that normal conversation is 70 to 80 decibels and shouting is 90 decibels.
But consider this, a train whistle exceeds 120 decibels at the horn but is 90 decibels at 500'. Music on a bandstand is 120-150 decibels, so, it too, is about 90 decibels at 500'. Anything over 80 decibels is considered hazardous.
If a tree falls in a forest and the noise exceeds 80 decibels and it's after 8 p.m. but there is nobody there to hear it, is it a violation of the noise ordinance.
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