SCHERERVILLE | A new ordinance in Schererville is designed to muffle thumping bass sounds most commonly associated with night clubs and cars.

The town already had a noise ordinance, but a newly adopted one focuses on vibrations from bass.

"The other one was just decibel readings," Town Manager Bob Volkmann said.

The ordinance, 18 months in the making, is a lot more technical and comprehensive, covering frequency, deep bass and sound pressures, he said.

Although the nuisance is most often associated with night clubs and cars, the ordinance applies to any loud sound, like a lawn mower, Volkmann said.

Previously, enforcement was tough because of the subjective nature of the nuisance. But the new ordinance creates a standard that was recommended by a sound consultant, Volkmann said.

"We needed to develop a technical basis that could be defensible under a challenge in court," Councilman Hal Slager said.

A good indicator of whether a motorist is violating the ordinance is if the car is vibrating because the bass is so loud, Volkmann said.

Slager, a proponent of the ordinance, said bass becomes a problem for residents who live near night clubs.

"You can make all the noise you want, as long as it stays within your property line," he said.

Bass doesn't always do that, especially when water is nearby to carry the sound.

"Our ordinance is based on frequency, so that the lower tones which may not be as loud, but are as obnoxious, can be detected," Slager said.

The town will need new equipment that can measure levels of bass. Police and the code enforcement officer will have to be trained to use that equipment, Volkmann said.