Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 18, 1993 TAG: 9302180482
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE LENGTH: Medium
TOWN MANDATES PEACE AND QUIET
The Town of New Castle now has four new laws designed to promote the peace and quiet of this small town in a rural county.The laws, all adopted by Town Council Monday, sets an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for minors, puts a muffler on excessive noise, prohibits loitering from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and bans bicycling and skateboard riding in the business district on Main Street.
The ordinances are effective immediately.
Only three spectators attended a hearing on the ordinances, and only one had questions.
That resident wanted to know if the anti-loitering law conflicted with the constitutional right of peaceful assembly.
No, said Town Attorney Bruce E. Mayer, citing a section of Code of Virginia that gives localities the right to adopt anti-loitering laws.
Mayor Thomas Zimmerman said comments made to him by other residents indicated overwhelming support for the restrictions.
The ban on bicycling and skateboarding applies only to the street and sidewalks of Main Street between Virginia 311 and Race Street. The other ordinances apply throughout the town.
Zimmerman said the ordinances came about because reckless bicycling and skateboarding endangered pedestrians and disrupted traffic. Also, he said, groups of noisy young people congregated in the downtown area late at night.
Many of New Castle's 200 residents live in the downtown area, and some of them less than a block off Main Street.
Zimmerman said many of these people, including himself, have been disturbed by early morning rowdiness. The problem has been present for some time, he said, but has been getting worse in recent months.
He said a certain amount of noise from Main Street is expected early in the evening, but by 11, young people should be home or at some supervised activity.