ENROLLED ORIGINAL
A RESOLUTION
25-698
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
October 29, 2024
To declare an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Residential Tranquility Act of
2010 to prohibit persons targeting a residence for purposes of a demonstration from using
sound amplifying devices in a residential zone between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., and to
prohibit a person from launching or throwing a projectile onto the residential property of
another with the intent to cause fear, intimidate, or retaliate against any person living or
working at that residence; and to amend the National Capital Revitalization and Self-
Government Improvement Act of 1997 to provide that the term expiration date for a
Council appointment to the Corrections Information Council shall be December 7th of
the year in which the term expires.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Residential Tranquility Emergency Declaration Resolution of
2024”.
Sec. 2. (a) The District of Columbia has observed an alarming increase in targeted
demonstrations using sound amplifying devices, creating significant disruptions that extend far
beyond any single residence to impact entire communities. These demonstrations, particularly
when employing sound amplifying devices, fundamentally disturb the peace and tranquility that
residents should rightfully expect in their homes. As the Supreme Court emphasized in Carey v.
Brown, “The State's interest in protecting the well-being, tranquility, and privacy of the home is
certainly of the highest order in a free and civilized society.” Carey v. Brown, 447 U.S. 455, 471
(1980). The Court has consistently recognized the home as “the last citadel of the tired, the
weary, and the sick,” Gregory v. Chicago, 394 U.S. 111, 125 (1969) (Black, J., concurring) and
maintained that “preserving the sanctity of the home, the one retreat to which men and women
can repair to escape from the tribulations of their daily pursuits, is surely an important value.”
Carey at 471.
(b) The persistent use of sound amplifying devices in residential areas poses significant
health risks to residents. Medical research has established that consistent exposure to elevated
sound levels can trigger anxiety, elevated stress hormones, and adverse psychological effects.
These impacts are particularly severe for children, whose cognitive development can be impaired
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 ENROLLED ORIGINAL
by chronic excessive sound exposure, and for elderly residents or residents with disabilities who
may be more sensitive to auditory disruptions. Current regulations have proven inadequate in
addressing the unique harm caused by targeted amplified sound at residences, leaving
communities without sufficient protections.
(c) The District's current law, which restricts certain activities between 10:00 p.m. and
7:00 a.m., does not align with the realities of modern life and work patterns. Many District
residents, including early morning commuters and night shift workers, require rest during hours
outside this window. Furthermore, families with school-age children, who typically require
between 9 and 11 hours of sleep, often begin their bedtime routines well before 10:00 p.m.
Further, the morning hours between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. are particularly crucial for families
preparing for school and work, a time when quiet and focus are essential. Medical research has
shown that inadequate sleep resulting from noise disruption increases risks of cardiovascular
disease, compromises immune system function, and impairs cognitive performance.
Demonstrations targeted at a residence can cause these disruptions; the limitations imposed
through this emergency legislation will help address these unique harms.
(d) The District has also observed a disturbing trend of individuals throwing projectiles at
residential properties as a means of harassment and intimidation. This behavior not only poses
immediate safety risks and potential property damage but also creates significant psychological
distress for residents who feel targeted and unsafe in their homes. Particularly concerning are
incidents where projectiles are thrown with the intent to cause fear, intimidate, or retaliate
against residents. The current legal framework does not adequately address this specific form of
harassment, leaving a critical gap in protections for District residents facing such intimidation
tactics.
(e) Emergency legislation is necessary to provide protection for residential tranquility and
the safety of those who reside in the District. Current laws and enforcement mechanisms have
proven insufficient to address these forms of harassment, leaving residents vulnerable to
immediate and ongoing harm. These changes represent an urgent and necessary approach to
safeguarding the well-being of District residents and addressing challenges to residential peace
and security while respecting established legal principles. The emergency nature of this
legislation is justified by the immediate need to protect residents from escalating forms of
harassment and to ensure their fundamental right to peace and security in their homes.
(f) Emergency legislation is also needed to align the terms of the 2 Council appointments
to the Corrections Information Council.
Sec. 3. The Council determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute
emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Residential Tranquility Emergency
Amendment Act of 2024 be adopted after a single reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
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