Being too loud, that is.

The Lakeland Police Department has received more than 800 noise complaints just this year, but only one resulted in an arrest.

Roadside preacher Anthony Lowery was arrested May 4 after police said he refused to lower the volume on his sound system after being asked by an officer.

Five other people have been charged in Lakeland with the same misdemeanor this year, although they were given notices to appear and were not arrested.

In 2009, more than 2,300 complaints resulted in eight notices to appear and no arrests. In 2007 and 2008, LPD received more than 5,000 noise complaints but made no physical arrests and issued only 29 notices to appear.

Noise violation cases usually result in fines and court costs of up to $500 but not jail time, said Chip Thullbery, spokesman with the State Attorney's Office.

LPD Sgt. Gary Gross said Lowery's refusal to comply with officers' requests to quiet down left them no option but to arrest him.

"In his case, it would've been fruitless to give him a notice to appear because he would have continued to make noise. It was like he made the choice himself," Gross said.

According to city ordinance, noise disturbances include amplifying a voice in a manner or to a volume that annoys someone in a residence or business. The use of radios, televisions and other equipment in an annoying manner or volume are also considered disturbances by city ordinance, although exemptions may apply.