Training as a critical component of successful noise enforcement programs

Abstract

The point of application of any noise enforcement program is the enforcement officer. The quality of their training is of paramount importance in determining their efficacy in resolving complaints in the field or, failing that, in court. Some of the critical components that must be addressed in a training program are the technology, techniques and strategies of legally valid sound level measurement; documentation of measurement parameters and results; calculation of corrected source sound levels; managing the expectations of complainants; negotiations with alleged violators; and compliance determination methods for nonmetered performance standards. A strong emphasis must be on practical field measurements. The training must assist the enforcement officer to become comfortable with the process, motivating the officer to embrace the new skill, rather than resenting a new task. It is important to take into account the background of the students, professionally, and as individuals, as well as the institutional culture of their agency. The better prepared an officer is to go to court, the less likely is that possibility. A well designed and executed program, represented by its field officers, provides significant deterrence. Thirteen years of training experience at the Rutgers Noise Technical Assistance Center is reviewed.