Contrary to mistaken indications from the city of Billings, the big hand of government is not poised to come down on backyard get-togethers.<\/p>\n
The confusion arose from a display ad the city placed on the Billings Gazette website. The ad copy read: \u201cNew noise and open container laws are now in effect in the City limits.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you clicked on the ad for more information, it took you to a page<\/a> of the Billings Police Department\u2019s policy manual. The salient portion of that manual said: \u201cAn open container permit will be completed by individuals who will be hosting private parties i.e. wedding receptions\/family reunions, etc where music and alcohol will be served in their backyards. There will be a $20 fee per date.\u201d<\/p>\n Police Chief Rich St. John said he didn\u2019t know where that \u201cvery poorly worded\u201d clause came from.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have no intention whatsoever to drop the black helicopter big government on your backyard barbecue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n City Administrator Tina Volek said the ad was placed in the Gazette after the City Council passed a revised noise ordinance<\/a>\u00a0last summer.<\/p>\n The revisions were drawn up mainly in response to complaints about loud construction projects in residential areas. Because of the very hot weather early last summer, construction crews were regularly starting work well before dawn, and at least one roofing crew was working well past dusk, she said.<\/p>\n