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Magistrate upholds $75 citation for repeated car‑alarm disturbances, warns of $500 daily fines for repeats
Summary
The magistrate found that repeated horn and alarm disturbances at 3120 Silver Palm Drive violated the city’s noise rules and upheld a $75 citation; the respondent contested the evidence and asked for more time to secure witnesses, but the magistrate declined to continue the case.
A City of Edgewater magistrate upheld a $75 code-enforcement citation Dec. 11 after neighbors presented video and voluntary statements alleging repeated car alarms and horn honking at 3120 Silver Palm Drive.
Jacob McLaughlin, the code enforcement officer who presented the case, said staff had monitored the disturbance since September and received multiple recordings from a neighbor. McLaughlin recounted an incident on Nov. 5 in which a neighbor’s video allegedly captured more than 20 consecutive honks and multiple overnight alarm activations; staff offered witness statements and video evidence to the magistrate.
Cheryl Morris joined the hearing via Teams and confirmed she provided video evidence and voluntary statements documenting the noise. The respondent (identified in the files as the property owner Betty Mae Walls) spoke at length, denied intentional wrongdoing, and said any alarm incidents were accidental; she described personal hardships and requested additional time to secure witnesses and audio‑bearing videos. The respondent also said she had obtained a replacement key fob and had not experienced repeated alarms prior to the events in question.
The city noted a notice of violation was issued Oct. 17 and a citation issued Nov. 5. Magistrate Ryan Knight refused further continuance, saying the respondent had reasonable prior notice to secure witnesses, and found the respondent in violation. Knight upheld the $75 citation and warned that future violations could result in immediate $500 daily fines or liens as a repeat offender under city code.
The magistrate advised the respondent of her 30‑day right to appeal the decision to the circuit court and of the office procedure to request copies of submitted evidence.
