Many off-campus Ball State University students do not know they could be fined for not having a signed residence occupancy statement, or that local police can track and label their houses as "No Party Properties" if they are repeat noise ordinance offenders.
But these laws are foreign to many Ball State and Muncie police officers, too.
That's why the Muncie Campus Community Coalition is striving to improve awareness of the long-standing occupancy law and recently amended noise ordinance.
According to city law, both landlords and their tenants must sign and maintain a copy of a three-page affidavit of occupancy, which they must display on the property. If tenants cannot provide the affidavit for a police officer who visits the residence and requests to see it, they could receive a fine between $250 and $1,000, said Eldon Buck, who represents the University Area Landlord Association.
Mike Gallion, student member of the coalition and Student Government Association treasurer, said landlords should assume the responsibility of making sure their tenants are aware of the law.
"We just need to make sure that landlords, since it's their responsibility, are educated for this," he said. "That's where it starts."
Steve Watkins, Muncie Police Department officer and representative of the White River West Neighborhood, said finding time to address the affidavits will be challenging for patrol officers.
"Unfortunately, if we had a uniform officer respond to a call and we respond to a domestic, that's pretty far down the pecking order," Watkins said.
Randy Hyman, dean of students, however, said making enforcement of the affidavit law a part of the officer's routine is the best way to address the issue.
The law's enforcement is especially important as the city strives to enforce the amended noise ordinance under the Muncie Area Party Plan, Hyman said. Under the plan, a residence is deemed a "No Party Property" after two infractions have taken place within one year.
"The ordinance itself is only as effective as the enforcement," Sara Shade, attorney with Beasley & Gilkison in Muncie, said.
The Muncie Police Department is working to coordinate its computer system so that both city and University Police officers will have access to information to track repeat noise offenders. Officers will be trained on the law in January, but the ordinance is still in effect, Shade said.
The Campus Community Coalition is also working to increase the number of trash cans in off-campus neighborhoods beginning in January using funding from the city, Ball State and the University Area Landlord Association.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
