Clifton, NJ Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Test
- detectable by unaided hearing
- Bass example named in code
- rhythmic bass component of vehicle music
- Night limit
- not audible at residential line, 10pm-8am
- Day limit
- not audible at 50 ft from vehicle, 8am-10pm
- Officer need not prove
- song title or artist
- Penalty
- up to $2,000 civil fine per offense
Summary
Clifton's noise code lets officers cite thumping car-stereo bass without identifying the song: detecting the rhythmic bass component alone proves "plainly audible" sound. Vehicle music can't be plainly audible at a residential property line from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., or within 50 feet of the vehicle from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
PLAINLY AUDIBLE Any sound that can be detected by a person using his or her unaided hearing faculties. As an example, if the sound source under investigation is a portable or personal vehicular sound amplification or reproduction device, the detection of the rhythmic bass component of the music is sufficient to verify plainly audible sound. The noise control officer need not determine the title, specific words or the artist performing the song... Personal or commercial vehicular music amplification or reproduction equipment shall not be operated in such a manner that it is plainly audible at a residential property line between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4963532; v64 updated 2026-07-21; through 07-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 327-1 of the Clifton Code defines "plainly audible" as any sound a person can detect with unaided hearing, and gives a specific example built around bass: "if the sound source under investigation is a portable or personal vehicular sound amplification or reproduction device, the detection of the rhythmic bass component of the music is sufficient to verify plainly audible sound. " That standard feeds directly into § 327-6B's vehicular sound rules, which apply "notwithstanding" the decibel tables. m. m. A portable, hand-held speaker used on a public space or right-of-way falls under subsection (8): plainly audible at 50 feet is the daytime limit, and overnight it must not be plainly audible to anyone but the operator. Enforcement runs through a certified noise control officer under § 327-4, whose findings can be contested at a Municipal Court hearing under § 327-7A.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the plainly-audible vehicular sound rules in § 327-6B carries a civil penalty under § 327-7B of up to $2,000 per offense, with each day a violation continues treated as a separate, additional offense; the recipient of an enforcement document is entitled to a hearing in Municipal Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Clifton police cite loud bass without proving what song was playing?
What are the hours for car stereo bass limits in Clifton?
What's the penalty for a plainly-audible bass violation in Clifton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clifton
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Low-Frequency Bass Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Passaic County handle low-frequency bass limits.