Big stereo could cost you your car

STL Today ^ | 01/27/2006 | Jake Wagman

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

City police would be able to seize cars blasting loud music under an ordinance passed Friday by the Board of Aldermen.

The ordinance, which would take effect once signed by Mayor Francis Slay, prohibits the use and even installation of some enhanced speakers.

Slay was out of town and unavailable for comment.

Alderman Craig Schmid's proposal easily had enough votes to pass, but only after aldermen turned up the volume on their own concerns. Impounding a car for playing loud music is too severe, opponents said, and ripe for abuse.

[oldenuff2no]

I do all I can to stay away from loud noises. I have impaired hearing and I do not want what hearing I have left to be further damaged. I know how I lost my hearing, so I also no what to stay away from.
People who bring their loud systems around me are doing harm not only to themselves but to those around them as well.
I am all for holding them responsible for their noise pollution and having the laws on the books to stop them from damaging the hearing of others.

[operation clinton cleanup]

When the stereo or rims are worth more than the blue book value of the car, I get concerned!

[GOPJ]

What about a ticket and a fine?

50% of last years gross would work for me...

[Pure Country]

I've often fantasized about pulling up next to one of these inconsiderate jerks with one of these earthquake sound systems in the trunk of my car pounding out Hank Williams, Sr.'s Your Cheating Heart.

My daughter simply rolls her window down and turns up the loudest Bagpipe CD she has and lets it rip! Believe it or not, they can hear it over their "music". She gets some pretty weird looks.

[R. Scott]

No, and I doubt it ever did.

[EGPWS]

I have never understood how a vibrating trunk lid is considered music.

LoL!

Which is the lesser of two evils, the vibrating trunk or the music creating it?

[mysterio]

Amazing. Government confiscation of automobiles due to loud music. And the first few responses on the thread are not even up in arms about it. We really need to rethink where this country is going.

[sweetliberty]

"I have never understood how a vibrating trunk lid is considered music."

Oh, it's not the trunk lid. It is the vibration of the leaves on the trees and the rattle of the neighborhood windows, creating a unique percussion effect that makes it music. < /sarcasm >

[mysterio]

Additionally, Harley Davidson motorcycles are quite loud and wake me up often. These should be seized as well, without recompense. Agreed?

[ChildOfThe60s]

I agree with you 100% regarding seizing property. This whole discussion has two issues. Pretty much all instances of property seizure nowadays are, IMO, unconstitutional. They are another example of government seeing a potential cash cow.

Regarding the noise, I consider myself libertarian on this issue. Just don't go around bothering other people indiscriminately (and deliberately).

[benjaminjjones]

When I lived in Virginia back about 12 years ago

It's nap time for me right now, so I don't feel like getting out of bed to look it up exact dates, but I left Northern VA (Vienna) and worked in D.C. something around 16 years ago. I had lived there somewhere around 8 years.

I almost wish I had stayed, as my job took from there to Filthydephia, then the fiance (ex) took me to Boston.

Trust me, it only gets worse the further North you go.

[Muleteam1]

The twin fiddles sound of Bob Wills set my feet to moving but Scottish violins really tug at my heartstrings.

Muleteam1

[RHINO369]

I'm pretty sure by the time I die, I'm 20 now, Americans will have almost no freedoms left. Both the left and the right in this country care about getting what they want on any particular issue, regardless of freedom. People should have the freedom to property, unless of course they have a pot plant that can't harm ANYONE. The right (and I shouldn't even call them that because they aren't anymore) just creates excuses why this time its ok to circumvent our freedoms. When you cheer on the criminalization of behaviors that are annoying, or self destructive, who do you think is going to give a **** when you get busted for something as equally pointless. The difference between Fascism and Communism is just a rich middle class, one that still lives in fear from an oppressive government.

BTW who do you think you are, that you are so important that you shouldn't be bothered, and if you are he who did it should be punished extremely.

How about a sensible law, like if your music can be heard 50 yards away, everyone who can hear the music gets 10 bucks from the offender.

[CDHart]

Is this as in "St. Louis?"

Carolyn

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Yep.

[CDHart]

Wonderful. We are in central Missouri and would like to send St. Louis to Illinois and Kansas City to Kansas. Sounds like a good solution to me.

Carolyn

[Thinkin' Gal]

If I'm blasting my house stereo, I get hit with a misdemeanor ticket and fine. If I do it in my car, I lose the car? Doesn't seem consistent to me.

You have a point. So... how long before they'll seize an offending house?

[flying Elvis]

A high wattage linear amplifier will blow their fuses if they are close enough to you. You should see the worried looks on their faces when the noise abruptly stops.

[knews_hound]

Heck I do that with my motor.

Cheers,

knewshound

[Maury]

I couldn't disagree more. I am driving a 2006 Corvette that I've put a very nice aftermarket car stereo in, as I love my music, and love to hear and FEEL the bass in it. It’s well over 500W.

Of course, when I get to a stoplight or turn in the neighborhood, I turn it DOWN. It's about being courteous, and following the local noise ordinances, not restricting what I can own. This is the same logic the gun control folks use.

I'm also a 37 year old married fart, so I'm not out at 3 am to wake anyone up. ;)

And for those that don’t understand the whole car audio thing, take a ride in my car and let’s play some tunes. You’ll see how nice it sounds in the car.

Of course, you won’t hear much rap in my ride. ;)