Officials this week said they will begin issuing vehicle noise logs to those disturbed by the loud car stereos. Residents will note the date, time and location of the incident, as well as the make, model and tag number of the offending vehicle. They then will send these logs to the police department. Owners of the boom boxes on wheels will get a letter warning that they have violated the noise ordinance. Let's hope Recorder's Court judges make these fines stick.
Offensive noise is more than a legal issue.
Most people appreciate music while driving. But they prefer to listen to the music of their own choice at a reasonable level, not some raucous sound blasting from a nearby car drowning out everything else, including emergency vehicle sirens. The offense is a particular problem when the car is driving through a residential neighborhood at 4 a.m. The loud, booming, piercing, ear-splitting sound is more effective than an alarm clock. It's tantamount to using a smoke alarm for a wake-up call.