The noise ordinance that Richmond City Council passed five months ago replaces criminal charges with significant fines for people who disturb their neighbors with loud parties and audible disruption. It may sound like good intentions, but the new rule is tone deaf on enforcement, according to Acting Police Chief Richard “Rick” Edwards.

Chief Edwards disclosed on Tuesday the lack of teeth in the legislation that the council passed last November with the support of Mayor Levar M. Stoney. The ordinance provides for fines of $100 for a first offense and up to $500 for a third offense, but did not include a realistic method for collection, he said.

“We want to hold people accountable,” he told council’s Public Safety Committee, noting that complaints about noise pour in from every section of the city. “We have noise meters that are calibrated and ready to go in each of the precincts.”

But, he added that officers have no meaningful tickets they can pass out and also have no means to track the number of offenses at an address. Enforceable fines would change behavior, he said. But right now, officers can only ask that noise be reduced but actually can do little if people ignore the request, he said.

That contrasts with parking and traffic tickets, Deputy City Attorney Gregory Lukanuski said, noting those that are unpaid wind up on the docket of the city’s General District Court, which can impose fines, track payments, note the number of tickets issued to an individual and handle collection.

Chief Edwards said that his office and other members of Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration are working out a solution. He said the effort involves the Department of Finance and other elements of the government. As soon as a method is worked out and approved by the council, enforcement could begin in earnest, he said.

Council Vice President Kristen Nye said the enforcement problem wasn’t mentioned when the new ordinance was considered by the Government Operations Committee she chaired last year.

“I was super excited” when the ordinance was presented to impose fines rather than seek potential jail time, said Ms. Nye. The shift was made because violation of the previous noise ordinance proved unenforceable, as well.

She said she is disappointed that there is still a question about enforcement, but reassured that the matter is being addressed.

Chief Edwards said one method would be to make a violation a Class 3 misdemeanor, which only provides for fines but allows the issue to be addressed by the court system. He also indicated the administration also is considering a civil enforcement method.