Saw this on Autoblog this evening. I really can't believe this passed muster with the city's legal department. Basically, if you have your car stereo and somebody says that they heard it from 75 feet away, kiss your car and cash good-bye.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/19/1955.asp

If you're ever in Rockford, IL you might as well turn your radio off!

 

nice! they now need to make one for bad (and loud) singing too.

 

I believe the City of Chicago has had a similar ordinance on the books for nearly 10 years now. I don't know anyone who has been pinched by it. I remember all of the news coverage surrounding this and how this will effect the business of aftermarket stereo installers in the area. As far as I know, it's really not enforced. Maybe noise pollution by car stereos in Rockford has become a real problem??

 

I wish they'd pass one for the damn Harley riders who think it's somehow cool to remove the mufflers.

 

Where we live (Olathe, KS) it is already illegal to operate a motorcycle without it's muffler.

http://www.olatheks.org/Egov/Documen...de/code_06.pdf

At least in this situation, the ordinance and penalities are clear and concise and legally sound.

It appears that Rockford's ordinance is ambiguous and it's penalaties overreaching. Since it goes to a municipal court, I'm sure it would be upheld. Were it to be appealled though, it would most certainly be thrown out. With the fines being so hefty, I doubt anybody would go that far.

However, it could turn out to be one of those laws that is rarely enforced. Just made to made to make the citizenry believe they have good government

I wonder though if the car stereo issue is a red herring. I think they really want to go after the guys in the ice cream trucks!

 

i think that a good thing... i get annoyed from those people with loud music and open windows!! no one want to listen to your music!!!

 

OMG +1

I'm all for them seeking a thrill ride, but do I need to hear you 2 miles away at 2:00AM when I'm trying to sleep?

 

Got a co-worker who thinks his old Harley is the coolest thing ever. Until he has to put in his ear plugs for the ride home.................

 

 

Well given that it's Rockford, it makes total sense now... They have to do something to attract attention.

It's along the same lines when Aurora IL. passed an ordinance banning honking and flag waving from vehicles to celebrate.

Just find more ways to justify "safety" in the search for revenue.

 

I agree with both of you.

 

if you do a google search... there are ordinances out there already aimed at motorcycles emitting high decibels. In some cases, LEOs are carrying a decibel counter to guage decibel levels.

I understand why some motorcycle riders want a loud exhaust. I've heard stories of cycles being run off the road by drivers in autos who don't "see" them (sound familiar?). I'm not advocating one way or the other, but I can see their reasons for doing so.

regarding loud stereos... it's bad when you can feel them coming (ulta loud sub) before you even hear the music. Then when I hear the music, I'm not impressed

 

Wish to hell they'd do that here. The laws exist, but the lazy cops don't enforce them.

 

It's all poo. Bikes as loud as they often are, and omni directional with their racket, and until they're next to you, you can't tell right off where they are. That being the case, people on the freeways are completely desensitived to them, and don't care, even if they do hear it.

 

It's not music coming out of those car windows, it's BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!
I'm sorry, thats not music, it's noise!! The Harley riders just want you to notice them, in there funny clothes and big Mama's on the back. On Mon. morning they have to go back being Mr. Milktoast in the accounting Dept. where no one knows their there.

 

people don't care when they're driving.. that's my point, thanks . Some cyclists do that to be seen/heard especially on highways. It's not like you would be able to hear their horn if they honked at you when you change lanes into them...

sometimes, I'm not sure which is worse:

• loud stereos (autos/trucks and even bikes)
• bikes with loud exhauts
• trucks/SUVs with loud exhausts

it's all noise to me.. especially if I have the top down...

 

Answer D: All of the above.

Lately, I'm hearing very loud stereos on bikes! It's not bass thumping either, just L O U D music so they can hear it over their L O U D exhaust.

 

well, at least it's not trumpets.

 

You could live in a concrete bunker with three foot thick walls, and a bass thump with go right through it.

 

this type law is never enforceable. it's made by old people in legislatures who ought to worry about other things.

 

Yeah, like getting a good night's sleep when disrespectful punks are out blasting music no one else wants to hear, setting off car alarms, waking babies, and stirring up dogs. I'd love to fry cars like that.

 

Heard of it being enforced in a few instances more so from the ignore the warning of the officer and one block later cranking it back up, fine you can go pick up your car at the impound. Seriously close up the windows set the volume a a comfortable level get out of the car (with spare key, no complaints if you lock them in the cars) and see just how quickly the sound fades away 75ft is a very loud stereo.
1)How is it NEVER enforceable?
2) Political discussions are not something I will engage in on NAM

 

I mean, the law won't stand. You all are entitled to your opinion but there's a long line of localities that have tried this and haven't succeeded

 

Which is why the pre-existing dB limit was a great idea, this new law is simply unconstitutional. Using hearsay to impound a car? And most factory stereos at reasonable volumes can be heard from 75feet away, a conversation between two people can be heard 75 feet away if there's no background noise.

 

And oddly enough bikes with aftermarket exhausts are involved in more accidents than those that are stock, so the "to be heard for safety" line doesn't hold up to the facts. I'll have to do a google search to find the data set I'd read, it's been a while but the statistic stuck in my head.