RICHMOND, Va. — The VCU Police Department hopes its new party van helps keep neighborhoods surrounding the downtown Richmond campus quiet. Police said they planned to park the new “noise suppression unit” outside homes to deter “noisy parties.”
Equipment in the van measures decibel levels and records video that could be used in court against those who violate Richmond’s noise ordinance and VCU’s Code of Conduct.
VCU Police noise suppression vehicle (PHOTO: VCU Police)
“A primary focus for VCU is the quality of life for those living nearby,” VCU Police Chief John Venuti said in a statement.”This vehicle allows the university to be even more responsive and proactive about handling and suppressing excessive noise in surrounding neighborhoods.”
Last school year VCU Police responded to 186 homes for loud party complaints. VCU Police said they would use the van to target those who ignore noise warnings.
“We use a scaled approach to address noise issues; the van will be used in what we consider to be the most extreme cases of noise violations,” Venuti said in a statement. “When we have ongoing reports of problems at specific houses or apartments, students and neighbors can expect to see the vehicle deployed nearby.”
