DISTRICT 14-A—The Regional Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to ban all forms of humming in public and private spaces after a comprehensive study revealed that melodic vocalizations create “significant interference patterns” in the district’s audio surveillance network. The ban, effective immediately under Public Safety Ordinance 8834, prohibits any tonal sounds produced by closing the mouth while vocalizing, with violations punishable by fines up to 2,400 credits and mandatory enrollment in the Department of Acoustic Compliance’s Silent Citizen Program.
Council Chairman Robert Tillman-9922 stated that the humming epidemic has compromised the surveillance system’s ability to detect “conversations of interest” by as much as 23%. “Citizens who hum while walking, working, or waiting are essentially jamming our security apparatus,” Tillman-9922 explained during the emergency session. “We cannot allow personal musical expression to undermine public safety operations.” The council has installed new decibel monitors throughout the district to identify violators, and residents are encouraged to report neighbors who engage in unauthorized melodic activities. Local resident Martha Rodriguez-4455 was issued the first citation Wednesday morning after humming “Happy Birthday” while waiting for the bus, with enforcement officers noting that her rendition created “particularly disruptive frequency interference” during peak monitoring hours.
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