The city's stiffened policy on disruptive parties has provoked a dramatic decline in the number of noise complaints lodged by angered residents, East Lansing police statistics show.

During the first month of the city's policy on party noise, police say there was a 27-percent decline in noise complaints and a 22-percent drop in citations, compared with the same period a year ago.

East Lansing police Capt. Juli Liebler said noise complaints have plummeted since Sept. 5, when officers began enforcing the policy that calls for jail time or steep fines for the most severe offenders.

"Prior to the noise ordinance, the statistics were almost identical in terms of the number of calls we received," Liebler said. "After the ordinance, you see a huge drop in the number of calls."

East Lansing police statistics show that between Sept. 5 and Oct. 3 - the month after police began enforcing the policy - police fielded 237 noise complaints, a decrease of 86 from that period a year ago.

At the same time, police issued 87 citations, a decrease of 34 from the previous year.

The numbers show a departure from the two weeks leading up to the ordinance when residents registered 222 noise complaints, an increase of 10 from those weeks the previous year.

During that period, police issued 20 more noise citations than a year earlier.

The downturn isn't surprising to campus leaders opposed to the policy, who maintain they need to be heard in policy making.

"If people are afraid of it and they feel it represents an attack on students, then it will have a numerical effect," said Kevin Glandon, vice-chairperson for external affairs for ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government. "But at what cost?"

Student leaders have protested the ordinance and are petitioning officials for a citywide vote on the policy. The Lansing branch of the American Civil Liberties Union has said there are constitutional questions with the policy.

"From the student point of view, we recognize that if you scare students, you may see students who have less interest in making noise," Glandon said.

While factors such as weather, the football team's success and home games influence the party volume of East Lansing, officials are gaining confidence that the noise policy is serving as a deterrent.

Councilmember Beverly Baten said she's "upbeat about what is happening" in the city.

"I hope the kids aren't just thinking they can't have a good time," Baten said. "Again, it is just the nuisance parties that are targeted."

East Lansing City Council adopted the policy after years of complaints from student and permanent residents about disruptive party noise.

"We see the statistics are tapering off," said Baten, noting that emergency medical calls are still high. "We've lightened up the work for the police department."

Of the 177 noise violations issued this fall between Aug. 22 and Oct. 3, police have ticketed 11 party hosts under the new policy.

Those found guilty under the city's new party-noise statute can face a minimum of three days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine. Most of the citations, however, fall under the old category, punishable by fines ranging from $250 to $500.

Steve Eder can be reached at ederstev@msu.edu.