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.

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.

"It's almost idiotic for us to take somebody's car for something like that," Alderman Stephen Conway said.

Schmid said he wanted to send a "strong message" to drivers who cruise through residential areas, jarring neighbors and rattling windows.

"I analogize it to auditory graffiti," Schmid said.

Other aldermen said loud music coming from cars is among their top complaints from constituents. The music gets so loud, said Alderman Dionne Flowers, that when "you're in bed, you fall out."

The bill would prohibit operating car that creates "louder volume than is necessary for convenient, normal hearing," which is the same language as the city's current anti-noise ordinance.

But the new measure would outlaw possessing or installing any car stereo with a speaker over a foot in diameter; having more than one speaker 10 inches in diameter; more than 10 speakers overall; more than two amplifiers; and any amplifier over 300 watts.

In addition to impounding the car, possible penalties include a minimum of $250 fine on the first offense and $500 on subsequent offenses within a year.

The city's push to quiet loud music is not new - the Board of Aldermen passed a bill targeting cars with loud music 10 years ago.

On Friday, some aldermen complained that the measure is heavy-handed. Stephen Gregali, who represents the 14th Ward, questioned whether police would get rulers to measure the length of speakers.

"It's like killing an ant with a howitzer," Alderman Charles Q. Troupe said of the measure.

Bob Pfeiffer, who has been installing custom car stereos for 23 years in St. Louis, said the ordinance could destroy his business.

"I might as well lock my doors now," said Pfeiffer, who operates Automotion Alarm and Car Stereo on North Broadway.

Not all "tricked out" stereos are used for cruising and thumping music, said Pfeiffer, whose his clients include jazz musicians.

"What a crock," Pfeiffer said. "It's really a bogus bill."


http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/new...F?OpenDocument

 

Thats is so stupid. It really doesn't bother people that bad does it?

 

Not really I dont think, what it really hurts are the true audio enthusiest that dont go blasting crap all the time.

 

Thats such a stupid bill. The city should make a lot of money with all the fines they'll be handing out.

 

haha.

 

I think there are a couple cars that don't pass that bill stock. I'm pretty sure some of the more higher end cars have more than 10 spekers. But it is total BS, you really gotta feel sorry for the guys that work in the audio buisness who will have to go out of buisness because it is now illegal to sell most of the stuff that they sell.

 

get enough citizens to fight it in court and they can overturn it. USA is
FREEDOM TOWN

 

On Friday, some aldermen complained that the measure is heavy-handed. Stephen Gregali, who represents the 14th Ward, questioned whether police would get rulers to measure the length of speakers.

HAHA

 

If you're a dumbass about it, yes. There's one tool here with an excursion full of subs that just loooooves to do everything he can to wake up everysingle person around here at the most ungodly hours.

Also, at home I live in a VERY quite neighborhood, lots of elderly people and new families, and I know for a fact it bothers people even in the day time.

I never even use my sub to 1/10th of it's potential. It's just there to enhance the music at low and medium levels(only when the situation permits.) The only time I ever turn the system up is on the highway and who cars about that?

 

Your going to need a lot of citizens and even more money. Litigation is not cheap and if you plan on suing a city, its gonna take a while. Lawyers charge by the hour.