PLCB Noise Gestapo back on the Rampage
PLCB Noise Gestapo back on the Rampage
I heard that the PLCB fined a bar in Johnstown Friday for noise. I do not know if they had a band, D.J., or whatever.
Also, a spoke to a couple guys who want to open a bar in the Johnstown area and applied for an entertainment license with their PLCB application. They were told that when they are approved, and if they have any entertainment such as a band, D.J., etc. the PLCB will show up unnanounced and check for noise violations and fine them if necessary. They have not even opened yet and they have no houses anywhere near the place. There are businesses on both sides and across the road that are closed by 5:00 to 8:00 and there is a river behind the building. So, they would have no complaints from neighbors. Now, they are being extremely skepitcal about having any entertainment at all for fear of getting fined.
Also, a spoke to a couple guys who want to open a bar in the Johnstown area and applied for an entertainment license with their PLCB application. They were told that when they are approved, and if they have any entertainment such as a band, D.J., etc. the PLCB will show up unnanounced and check for noise violations and fine them if necessary. They have not even opened yet and they have no houses anywhere near the place. There are businesses on both sides and across the road that are closed by 5:00 to 8:00 and there is a river behind the building. So, they would have no complaints from neighbors. Now, they are being extremely skepitcal about having any entertainment at all for fear of getting fined.
-
- Gold Member
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:43 pm
And yet another reason why live music is dying. People can go down the street in their cars and the bass vibrates you and the entire street, but yet....
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!
http://www.myspace.com/rfrockspa
http://www.myspace.com/rfrockspa
-
- Gold Member
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:43 pm
they can't do it in one spot for four hoursRFBuck wrote:And yet another reason why live music is dying. People can go down the street in their cars and the bass vibrates you and the entire street, but yet....

are you asking for a noise ordinance against cars now? altoona tried that, another law won't help anyone
- lonewolf
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 6249
- Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2003 7:58 pm
- Location: Anywhere, Earth
- Contact:
Actually, that's not the case--it is a PLCB rule. You are new here, so you weren't around for all the action we took to try to get the rule changed. Take a look at all the noise rule threads under "The Law"fullthrottle666 wrote:they don't make law they just enforce it
http://rockpage.net/phpbb2/viewforum.php?f=14
and especially this one:
http://rockpage.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3777
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...
- PanzerFaust
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 1547
- Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2002 7:03 am
- Location: Western Front
- Contact:
Do I smell sarcasm?fullthrottle666 wrote:they don't make law they just enforce it

I've worked for the state for years and there's plenty of "WiggleRoom" in the interpretation of those laws by individual districts....
Seems like the District Manager usually sets the tone for the enforcement of any laws...
And I'm not PLCB so please no flames...

- bassist4life2004
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 1050
- Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2004 7:17 am
- Location: Milroy, PA
- Contact:
- bassist_25
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6815
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2002 2:22 am
- Location: Indiana
Underground music could become even more underground. I love that idea. I'll give a donation to help start a subterranean venue! It could be called The Gold Mine!!!
I always dreamed about opening up a music store/live music venue in the old airport hanger at the industrial park in Tipton. The only thing nearby is New Pig, ORX, and a few smaller businesses- no residential. Somehow, I think the PLCB would still find violations with this idea!
I don't know why they come down so hard on the musicians and bar owners. And I don't get why they don't come down harder on those who get belligerently drunk and then drive home from the bars.
I always dreamed about opening up a music store/live music venue in the old airport hanger at the industrial park in Tipton. The only thing nearby is New Pig, ORX, and a few smaller businesses- no residential. Somehow, I think the PLCB would still find violations with this idea!
I don't know why they come down so hard on the musicians and bar owners. And I don't get why they don't come down harder on those who get belligerently drunk and then drive home from the bars.
.
All kinetic, no potential.
.
All kinetic, no potential.
.
-
- Gold Member
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:43 pm
no sarcasm at all i didn't know they had wiggle room. thought the law was clear only so many decibals allowed to escape the building measured with a soundmeter at specific distance? where is the wiggle?PanzerFaust wrote:Do I smell sarcasm?fullthrottle666 wrote:they don't make law they just enforce it![]()
I've worked for the state for years and there's plenty of "WiggleRoom" in the interpretation of those laws by individual districts....
Seems like the District Manager usually sets the tone for the enforcement of any laws...
And I'm not PLCB so please no flames...
underground
the only thing wrong about the underground bar is no fire escapes.
- lonewolf
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 6249
- Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2003 7:58 pm
- Location: Anywhere, Earth
- Contact:
That's not the rule, that's the proposal that I wrote to replace the rule. This is the rule as it stands now:fullthrottle666 wrote:no sarcasm at all i didn't know they had wiggle room. thought the law was clear only so many decibals allowed to escape the building measured with a soundmeter at specific distance? where is the wiggle?PanzerFaust wrote:Do I smell sarcasm?fullthrottle666 wrote:they don't make law they just enforce it![]()
I've worked for the state for years and there's plenty of "WiggleRoom" in the interpretation of those laws by individual districts....
Seems like the District Manager usually sets the tone for the enforcement of any laws...
And I'm not PLCB so please no flames...
"A licensee may not use or permit to be used inside or outside of the licensed premises a loudspeaker or similar device whereby the sound of music or other entertainment, or the advertisement thereof, can be heard on the outside of the licensed premises."
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...
-
- Gold Member
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:43 pm
wow that's pretty narrow and unreasonable. i didn't know it was that tightazzedlonewolf wrote:That's not the rule, that's the proposal that I wrote to replace the rule. This is the rule as it stands now:fullthrottle666 wrote:no sarcasm at all i didn't know they had wiggle room. thought the law was clear only so many decibals allowed to escape the building measured with a soundmeter at specific distance? where is the wiggle?PanzerFaust wrote: Do I smell sarcasm?![]()
I've worked for the state for years and there's plenty of "WiggleRoom" in the interpretation of those laws by individual districts....
Seems like the District Manager usually sets the tone for the enforcement of any laws...
And I'm not PLCB so please no flames...
"A licensee may not use or permit to be used inside or outside of the licensed premises a loudspeaker or similar device whereby the sound of music or other entertainment, or the advertisement thereof, can be heard on the outside of the licensed premises."

I know of a bar in Wilmore that got a $300 noise violation fine because they officers stated on the fine that they stood on the front porch of the bar near the window and could hear the television. The bar had a neighbor who just wanted to keep harrassing the the owner. How asinine is that fine for his TV?lonewolf wrote:That's not the rule, that's the proposal that I wrote to replace the rule. This is the rule as it stands now:
"A licensee may not use or permit to be used inside or outside of the licensed premises a loudspeaker or similar device whereby the sound of music or other entertainment, or the advertisement thereof, can be heard on the outside of the licensed premises."
PLCB...
It's called, "If you beat a dog long enough, it will submit and comply!"
Plain and simple. That's why the "laws" are so vague. So know one knows what they are. The PLCB can just make shit up on the fly. If you're not someone cuz or something.
Plain and simple. That's why the "laws" are so vague. So know one knows what they are. The PLCB can just make shit up on the fly. If you're not someone cuz or something.
Kickin' like a one legged chicken....
- DirtySanchez
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 4186
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:42 pm
- Location: On teh internetz
- Contact:
One of the first things we're gonna do with Major Miner Recordsis a documentary about local music, and I want to interview the PLCB about this very topic. Jeff I would love to have you be a part of that. you know, I'd interview you, to get the musicians perspective, then interview the lcb with some questions we all come up with.
"You are now either a clueless inbred brownshirt Teabagger, or a babykilling hippie Marxist on welfare."-Songsmith
-
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 1322
- Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 2:01 pm
- Location: Workin' in a Soylent factory, Waitin' for the Malthusian catastrophe.
DirtySanchez wrote:One of the first things we're gonna do with Major Miner Recordsis a documentary about local music, and I want to interview the PLCB about this very topic. Jeff I would love to have you be a part of that. you know, I'd interview you, to get the musicians perspective, then interview the lcb with some questions we all come up with.
Seriously, good luck! I can't wait to hear what they have to say about why they do it. This is the stuff youtube was built for

- KyleMayket
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 563
- Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:27 pm
- Location: Johnstown,PA
Re: underground
Multiple elevators, and maybe 2 staircases...alfred wrote:the only thing wrong about the underground bar is no fire escapes.
If I ever see an amputee getting hanged... I'm just gonna start yelling out letters...
I know a guy whose goal is to go to school to become a PLCB officer. Why? Because it is basically a "do what you want... you have a gun and a badge" type of job.
For example... they can send a bearded underage kid into a bar to buy a six pack during the middle of the day, bust them if they bite, and not get the charge thrown out for entrapment. That is the definition of the word "entrapment".
They get away with it because the PLCB has it's own court system, the judges are appointed, not elected, and in general "alcohol is bad".
For example... they can send a bearded underage kid into a bar to buy a six pack during the middle of the day, bust them if they bite, and not get the charge thrown out for entrapment. That is the definition of the word "entrapment".
They get away with it because the PLCB has it's own court system, the judges are appointed, not elected, and in general "alcohol is bad".
... and then the wheel fell off.
- KyleMayket
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 563
- Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:27 pm
- Location: Johnstown,PA
yeah, poor Lou, he's such a nice guy, and his drink prices are dirt frickin' cheap, I went to high school with him and he's losing money on that place big time...moxham123 wrote:I know of a bar in Wilmore that got a $300 noise violation fine because they officers stated on the fine that they stood on the front porch of the bar near the window and could hear the television. The bar had a neighbor who just wanted to keep harrassing the the owner. How asinine is that fine for his TV?lonewolf wrote:That's not the rule, that's the proposal that I wrote to replace the rule. This is the rule as it stands now:
"A licensee may not use or permit to be used inside or outside of the licensed premises a loudspeaker or similar device whereby the sound of music or other entertainment, or the advertisement thereof, can be heard on the outside of the licensed premises."
If I ever see an amputee getting hanged... I'm just gonna start yelling out letters...
Re: PLCB...
Word, they never have to cite a specific decibel level that was exceeded by the bar. They have a gold mine there, they have a law that does not tell you what decibel you have to limit the noise to. A law impossible to comply with.Rich wrote:It's called, "If you beat a dog long enough, it will submit and comply!"
Plain and simple. That's why the "laws" are so vague. So know one knows what they are. The PLCB can just make shit up on the fly. If you're not someone cuz or something.
moxham123 wrote:I know of a bar in Wilmore that got a $300 noise violation fine because they officers stated on the fine that they stood on the front porch of the bar near the window and could hear the television. The bar had a neighbor who just wanted to keep harrassing the the owner. How asinine is that fine for his TV?lonewolf wrote:That's not the rule, that's the proposal that I wrote to replace the rule. This is the rule as it stands now:
"A licensee may not use or permit to be used inside or outside of the licensed premises a loudspeaker or similar device whereby the sound of music or other entertainment, or the advertisement thereof, can be heard on the outside of the licensed premises."
That's basically what happened to Memories in Huntingdon. He got 2 fines in a short stretch and said, "Fuck it, who needs the hassle." This not only cost him some cash, but he had to let go of 3 or 4 bartenders/waitresses too. They even had the manager running around with a Decibel meter, inside and out and STILL got the fines.
You don't shoot a man in the dick!
-
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 834
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:41 pm
- Location: Central PA
- Contact: