Magistrate affirms $500 fine for Dunes manager after plainly audible music complaint

Special Magistrate Lonnie Groot found that a noise ordinance violation occurred at the Dunes nightclub and affirmed a $500 fine against the manager, identified in the hearing as Micah Rose.

The finding followed testimony from Lieutenant William Stanley of the Cocoa Beach Police Department, who described arriving after a resident complaint and hearing live band music that was plainly audible from more than 200 feet away. "It was clear enough I could actually sing along," Lieutenant Stanley said, and he testified he used a lidar traffic laser to estimate the distance at roughly 200–215 feet.

Danielle Crawford of City Code Enforcement introduced the citation and said the violation was charged under Cocoa Beach code sections 13.5-3 and 13.5-20, which address excessive noise and the plainly audible standard. Lieutenant Stanley told the magistrate he contacted business management, identified the manager via Florida identification as Micah Rose, and that Rose accepted the citation and reduced the music after the warning.

Magistrate Groot said he would issue an order affirming the violation and the $500 penalty. The magistrate described the ordinance's effect as intended: the warning and citation process produced the desired reduction in noise, and the fine will be formalized in a written order.

The magistrate closed the matter and dismissed law enforcement's participation after the testimony was recorded. No appeal or further dates were announced on the record at the hearing.