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Car tunes booming, thumping in 'burbs

"Boom cars," long the bane of peace-loving residents, have become an "ongoing dilemma" in neighborhoods.

By JON WILSON
Published January 1, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - "Boom cars," the noise-dealing vehicles carrying bass-thumping sound systems, are seen less frequently these days on major thoroughfares, says one antinoise activist.

"However, they seem to have been driven into the neighborhoods," said Judy Ellis, a Lakewood Estates resident who is the St. Petersburg contact for Noise Free America.

Danielle Richards, a Central Oak Park resident, would agree with the ongoing neighborhood problem. She said she daily hears as many as 10 thundering vehicles near her house, sometimes as early as 6:30 a.m.

"It's an ongoing dilemma," she said.

She said she has received no response after complaining to City Hall.

Noise Free America fights what it sees as over-the-top sound from boom cars, leaf blowers, car alarms and motorcycles, according to its Web site.

In St. Petersburg, a few residents have joined the cause, trying to combat what they think is a serious nuisance that can also affect a person's health. Headaches, high blood pressure, sleep deprivation and hearing loss are problems frequently cited.

Ellis has been in the forefront of the antinoise campaign. She has lobbied City Hall and lawmakers for tougher rules to regulate sound. She has worked with police and spoken to youth groups in an effort to quiet life down.

Last year she sued an 18-year-old because she thought his sound system disturbed the peace. The youth apologized and dismantled his system.

This year has seen a continuation of the battle, and the Legislature provided some help. It cut the distance necessary to ticket a driver with a loud sound system from 100 feet to 25 feet.

"It's easier to figure out what car is making the noise," Ellis said.

The law also forbids excessive sound in areas next to churches, schools and hospitals.

St. Petersburg police have continued to conduct their Tone Down operation, in which motorists with overly loud sound systems can be ticketed or warned, said crime prevention Officer Johnny Harris.

Nearly 2,000 have been issued in the past two years, said George Kajtsa, police spokesman. In 2004, police issued 681 citations; through Dec. 20, 2005, they had ticketed 1,097.

A ticket can result in a $70.50 fine.

Ellis doesn't think that's enough. The antinoise activists are pushing lawmakers to increase the fine to $350 and add two driver's license points.

[Last modified January 1, 2006, 00:28:15]