Florida's new loud music law goes into effect in July

[Rams]

Florida's new loud music law goes into effect in July

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/florida-s-new-loud-music-law-goes-into-effect-in-july/ar-AAYTAYL?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=3e3d5171f68e4998938e7205d47a85f2

BARTOW, Fla. (WFLA) – Loud music could soon land Florida drivers with a ticket and a $114 fine as a new loud noise statute goes into effect in July.

Some drivers aren’t happy about it.

“I don’t like that. That’s not cool at all. It’s like, you could be driving around having fun, playing the music loud with the windows down and could be fined for that. That’s not cool," said Jayden Yawn of Lakeland.

“You’re gonna fine me for having fun?" asked Jaiden Pumarejo, of Lakeland.

“To me, it looks like a money grab," said Jerome Douglas.

Rick Dubose sees it differently, though. He believes the law is "perfect."

“It can also distract from emergency equipment going by. You can’t hear the sirens because you’re having to listen to the ‘thump, thump’ or the high bass and everything," he said.

The "loud music" law goes into effect July 1. It prohibits sound produced by a radio, tape player, or other mechanical sound-making devices or instruments from within the motor vehicle that is "plainly audible" from at least 25 feet away.

The Bartow Police Department posted about the new law on Facebook, saying: “Here is your warning!" The department vows to strictly enforce the law.

“We would rather not write the citation. However, we do have the ability to write a non-moving violation in the state of Florida which is [a] $114 citation," said Bartow Police Capt. William Stevens.

Capt. Stevens says the focus will be on educating the public once the law goes into effect. It will give officers another avenue to initiate a traffic stop, which could lead to further examination of the driver, passengers and vehicle.

“Just like any other Florida state statute, it just gives another opportunity for an officer to attempt to or see if they can identify any other identifiers that would allow them to continue on with any criminal investigation," said Capt. Stevens.

Hmm, I know that I get irritated when someone pulls up next to me and my vehicle windows start to vibrate due to another's "music" being so loud but I wonder what the decibel limit is, is it just in the LEO's opinion or can I make a citizen's arrest and what proof do I need to lock these offenders up.  

I have had motorcyclist do the same thing, this could get interesting.  

Rams  

[Serk]

I wonder what the decibel limit is, is it just in the LEO's opinion

"It is unlawful for any person operating or occupying a motor vehicle on a street or highway to operate or amplify the sound produced by a radio, tape player, or other mechanical soundmaking device or instrument from within the motor vehicle so that the sound is:(a) Plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet or more from the motor vehicle; or(b) Louder than necessary for the convenient hearing by persons inside the vehicle in areas adjoining churches, schools, or hospitals.(2)"

[f6john]

Human nature always has to take things to the extreme and then the lawmakers step in and everybody has to deal with the outcome. I love the sound of a well tuned exhaust system but their are limits to what I’m willing to subject myself to on a daily basis. When you have audiophiles that have to have contests to see who has the wildest system you can be sure the imitators are going to try and match them and run around the neighborhood displaying their handiwork. We bring most of these nuisance laws on ourselves.

My Corvette has an aftermarket Corsa exhaust system that was on the car when I bought it. It is a performance enhancing system but was not designed to increase the sound to obnoxious levels as some are. However these types of laws could come to my doorstep one day which is troubling to think about but Kentucky has not been too aggressive in these types of laws.

[Rams]

I wonder what the decibel limit is, is it just in the LEO's opinion

"It is unlawful for any person operating or occupying a motor vehicle on a street or highway to operate or amplify the sound produced by a radio, tape player, or other mechanical soundmaking device or instrument from within the motor vehicle so that the sound is:(a) Plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet or more from the motor vehicle; or(b) Louder than necessary for the convenient hearing by persons inside the vehicle in areas adjoining churches, schools, or hospitals.(2)"

But Offiicer, I'm almost deaf from my loud exhaust.   I can't hear it if it isn't turned up to full volume nor can I feel it in the seat of my pants if the seat isn't vibrating.     Or, my friend, two cars back is listening to music.  

Rams

[Chrisj CMA]

Should only apply to RAP “music”. 

[Rams]

Should only apply to RAP “music”.  

While I'm not a fan of Rap, I couldn't care less what the "noise" is.   Just the other day while sitting in my diesel truck at a light, another car pulled up next to me using their vehicle's hands free sound system for a call.   I could plainly hear and understand the other end of the call and all the foul language being used.   Now, don't think I'm a prude when it comes to that kind of language but, I do have my limits.  I really didn't need to know some of the specifics of what these two intended to do to and with each other when they got together.

BTW, my windows were up, the truck was running and my AC was on full blast with my own radio on.

Rams

[0leman]

sounds like a good law.  I get a little bit irritated when I am sitting in my truck windows rolled up my radio on and a guy two cars up has his base on so loud you feel it vibrate you.  Thankfully don't drive that much nor there is not much traffic where I live.

We may have a generation of folks who can't hear by the time they get to 50.

[John Schmidt]

Actually there has been a law on the books for years that has been used at times to quiet down the blasters. It basically was an "excessive noise" law that was applied to vehicles, your neighbors parties, etc.. I saw it used a few times, one guy I happened to be following...cop got out and walked back to tell him to turn it down. He did, and two blocks later once away from the cop...guess what? Up came the volume.

Once I was in my car behind a couple HD riders and a kid pulls up next to them at a light, windows rattling from the volume. One rider leaned over and asked him if he could turn it down at least while sitting at the light but the kid made the mistake of flipping him off. Guy got off his bike, walked over and grabbed the keys from the ignition and they took off with the light. I have no idea where those keys ended up but I'm certain the punk learned a good lesson on social amenities.

[Jess from VA]

Should only apply to RAP “music”.  

      (rap is not music)

For years I had some nutjob in my neighborhood that went to work in the middle of the night, and if awake in bed, I could hear the thumping from the street, through my closed double pane windows and walls laying in bed.

I'm sure he enjoyed doing it.  Dufus!

Also, there seems to be a large correlation between exceedingly loud stereo, and those 4-cylinder fart can exhaust cars.  (the stereo and fart can being worth more than the rest of the car)

[Patrick]

I too think there is a limit, whether music or exhaust.

[old2soon]

      Youngest Daughter 2nd marriage-27 now-was an infant in Colorado and this young guy across the street had a high end stereo in his beat up Nissan. 1 Saturday boom boom and other screeches and howls were heard over my TV and swamp cooler. Walked over and asked him politely to turn it down and should he continue I'd bring over the 12 gauge volume control. Went over his head. Barely got back in the house and boom boom and other noises and I loaded the 12 gauge pump. Walked back acroos the street and slid it past him aimed at the radio. THIS is a 12 gauge volume control sez I. YES SIR SORRY SIR. No more boom boom and other noises at obnoxious levels. And they NEVER called the LEOs either. Course these days I'd be hauled away in cuffs and my weapon confiscated and never returned. RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

      Youngest Daughter 2nd marriage-27 now-was an infant in Colorado and this young guy across the street had a high end stereo in his beat up Nissan. 1 Saturday boom boom and other screeches and howls were heard over my TV and swamp cooler. Walked over and asked him politely to turn it down and should he continue I'd bring over the 12 gauge volume control. Went over his head. Barely got back in the house and boom boom and other noises and I loaded the 12 gauge pump. Walked back acroos the street and slid it past him aimed at the radio. THIS is a 12 gauge volume control sez I. YES SIR SORRY SIR. No more boom boom and other noises at obnoxious levels. And they NEVER called the LEOs either. Course these days I'd be hauled away in cuffs and my weapon confiscated and never returned. RIDE SAFE.

that is a good one bringing over a 12 gauge.  doubt can be done nowadays though without being serious in trouble.

My HD neighbor,  when still working not retired, let idle for 20 minutes at 5 a.m. his LOUD HD outside my bedroom window.  It was fuel injected so why let idle that long before taking off for work?  Ticked me off happened weekly waking me up. 

I play my 80's music fairly loud but not horrible enough to tick off cars beside me.   Once had in ghetto town near Chicago a rapper dude beside me and was rattling my rearview mirror and hurt my ears a ton listening to that rap crap.  I just smiled over at him and bounced my head up and down like he was doing thinking I enjoyed such horrible noise.  My wife (with younger kids in rear seats) told me NOT insult/encourage him or we will get shot, could happen nowadays. 

[Serk]

We're drifting, but making interesting conversation.....

I'm told a story that when yours truly was a newborn infant there was a teenager that liked to ride a very loud dirt bike right behind our on base housing.

Problem is the father of said teenager was the head muckity muck of the base, so my measely Captain father didn't dare do anything, but everytime my mom got me to sleep this guy would come ripping by and wake me up again.

Evidently a few hand fulls of roofing nails were accidentally dropped into the dirt area he liked to go.

.....and he found other places to ride after that.

(And yes I'm not necessarily condoning such behaviour, I know especially with a street bike that could be extremely dangerous to the rider.)

[Pappy!]

The law cannot happen fast enough!!

[GWS]

The old saying is "Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

Seems fair that there should be a law regarding ears too.

[..]

Some with loud speakers on bikes are just as bad.

[valkmc]

I will be interested to see how much DPD enforces it during Biketoberfest in October. I once saw a officer pull over a really loud chopper and he put a meter behind it and had the guy rev it up on Main Street. He showed it to the owner and they both laughed. He walked away, no ticket. I'll bet there will be little enforcement unless you are loud as crap in a residential area. Main Street and A1A will be as loud as ever!!

[old2soon]

I will be interested to see how much DPD enforces it during Biketoberfest in October. I once saw a officer pull over a really loud chopper and he put a meter behind it and had the guy rev it up on Main Street. He showed it to the owner and they both laughed. He walked away, no ticket. I'll bet there will be little enforcement unless you are loud as crap in a residential area. Main Street and A1A will be as loud as ever!!

           Roll call. Officers we got noise laws BUT do NOT eff with tourist bucks. RIDE SAFE.

[_Sheffjs_]

Can we please add the stupid neighbors garage system in our subdivision? Messes with my Sunday afternoon nap.  

[old2soon]

      There is a traffic light where my S I Ls law office is and that light is on a BUSY Il. highway. This time of year a Lot of M/Cs turn there to head to a decent bar and resturant on the river. Big parking lot there and they do have M/C and Car Shows there. Some of the sound systems on these scoots acyually are louder then their pipes when reved. Have like zero idea if that good or bad! RIDE SAFE.