Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record

[proudNMAmember]

A member of the Florida House of Representatives wants to make driving with a loud stereo a crime on the same level as driving with an open container of alcohol. State Representative D. Alan Hays (R-Umatilla) last month introduced House Bill 137 which modifies an existing loud stereo statute to double the cost of fines and make the offense a moving violation.
Current Florida law makes it unlawful to drive with a stereo "plainly audible" from twenty-five feet away or that is "louder than necessary for the convenient hearing by persons inside the vehicle" when driving past a church, school or hospital. Law enforcement officers are exempt as are politicians who use loud soundmaking devices for "political purposes." The typical fine is $78 with no points.
HB 137 would impose three license points and boost the fine to $180 for a third offense. The addition of points will serve as a boon to insurance companies which will collect significantly higher premiums from ticket recipients. The industry has already rewarded Hays $16,650 in political contributions since his election in 2004, including support for his run for the state Senate in 2010.
Although state law already imposes a specific fine for loud stereos, several municipalities have written their own civil ordinances in order to impose harsher punishments including sixty days in jail, a $500 fine and the potential for thousands in impound fees. Passage of the Hays bill would allow these cities to add license points to the list.
View a copy of HB 137 in a 75k PDF file at the source link below.
Source: House Bill 137 (Florida Legislature, 9/22/2009)

[rocky2]

You can tell they have a bunch of old people in their state. It's going to be costly if you wake Papa up with your loud stereo in FL soon.

[kpatz]

Moving violations should be limited to those things that endanger other motorists/pedestrians on the road. Loud stereos don't do this. Annoy, yes. Endanger, no.

Besides, you can blast the stereo while parked. Should that be a moving violation??

[Roadghost]

Man, that's just silly.

[proudNMAmember]

Watch it kpatz as some local municipalities hand out tickets for loud stereos even while parked. I have seen personally more of the local municipalities enforce this as compared to the county LEOS or state/Hwy patrol LEOS.

[kpatz]

Watch it kpatz as some local municipalities hand out tickets for loud stereos even while parked. I have seen personally more of the local municipalities enforce this as compared to the county LEOS or state/Hwy patrol LEOS.

As they very well should, but a loud stereo should not be considered a moving violation. You shouldn't be subjected to possible loss of license and insurance surcharges because you had your stereo too loud and got a ticket. Equipment violation, disturbing the peace sort of violation, something more like a parking ticket than a speeding ticket... but not a MOVING violation.

[proudNMAmember]

I agree w/ you but most forms of the govt want any revenue they can get their hands on. Greedy IMHO.

[9500ier]

Hmm... now I am wondering if open container tickets for passengers stay on your permanent driving record. That would not be cool...

[swarga]

Moving violations should be limited to those things that endanger other motorists/pedestrians on the road. Loud stereos don't do this. Annoy, yes. Endanger, no.

Besides, you can blast the stereo while parked. Should that be a moving violation??

A violation does not have to be "moving" in order for you to earn violation points. For example, you can get a DUI and points on your driving record even if you are sitting in a parked car. what this guy is FL is trying to do is to give some sharper "teeth" to the existing laws against the obnoxious noises that certain assholes subject us to. Maybe if these punks knew they could lose their licenses they'd keep their stereos turned down and put their mufflers back on and stop annoying everyone else with their noise pollution.

[milkman]

Moving violations should be limited to those things that endanger other motorists/pedestrians on the road. Loud stereos don't do this. Annoy, yes. Endanger, no.

Besides, you can blast the stereo while parked. Should that be a moving violation??

Everything you said, I have got to agree with because this is not a moving violation. It might annoy somebody but not endanger them.