Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
http://www.radardetector.net/rlc/pix/ahays.jpgA 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: http://www.radardetector.net/rlc/pix/pdf-mini.gif House Bill 137 (Florida Legislature, 9/22/2009)
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
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. :D
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
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??
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
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.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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.
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. :rolleyes: Equipment violation, disturbing the peace sort of violation, something more like a parking ticket than a speeding ticket... but not a MOVING violation.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
I agree w/ you but most forms of the govt want any revenue they can get their hands on. Greedy IMHO.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Hmm... now I am wondering if open container tickets for passengers stay on your permanent driving record. That would not be cool...
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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??
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.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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??
Everything you said, I have got to agree with because this is not a moving violation. It might annoy somebody but not endanger them.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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. :D
LOL.
What has happened to common sense?
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Obsidian
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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. :D
LOL.
What has happened to common sense?
I don't know about where you are from but most old people here (at least 50% of the pop.) cannot hear that well at all, so that's probably not an issue.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Obsidian
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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. :D
LOL.
What has happened to common sense?
Common sense has went right out the door.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Obsidian
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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. :D
LOL.
What has happened to common sense?
If common sense was common, we wouldn't have the Jerry Springer Show.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
They need to make it a jail felony if you're blasting Spanish music.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stealth Stalker
They need to make it a jail felony if you're blasting Spanish music.
So does that mean if you're blasting rap crap (F-bomb every other word garbage) it should be subject to a death penalty? :D
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kpatz
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stealth Stalker
They need to make it a jail felony if you're blasting Spanish music.
So does that mean if you're blasting rap crap (F-bomb every other word garbage) it should be subject to a death penalty? :D
Fine by me. :D
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
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.
this explains it all and is the main motivation for the bill.
Quote:
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.
Jail time? are you kidding me?
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Sounds reasonable to me. This isn't like speeding or coasting through a red light, where you just sometimes get distracted and do it without realising it. This is intentionally calculated anti-social behaviour for the sole purpose of disturbing the public peace. Disturbing the peace is a jail crime.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
9500ier
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Obsidian
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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. :D
LOL.
What has happened to common sense?
I don't know about where you are from but most old people here (at least 50% of the pop.) cannot hear that well at all, so that's probably not an issue.
It's not the audible sound that's the issue. The bass loosens their bowels.
Re: Florida May Put Loud Stereo Tickets on Driving Record
Quote:
Originally Posted by
supercowpowers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
9500ier
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Obsidian
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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. :D
LOL.
What has happened to common sense?
I don't know about where you are from but most old people here (at least 50% of the pop.) cannot hear that well at all, so that's probably not an issue.
It's not the audible sound that's the issue. The bass loosens their bowels.
Ahh, The natural way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stealth Stalker
Sounds reasonable to me. This isn't like speeding or coasting through a red light, where you just sometimes get distracted and do it without realising it. This is intentionally calculated anti-social behaviour for the sole purpose of disturbing the public peace. Disturbing the peace is a jail crime.
I disagree for the punishment. Take the violator's system and make them hook it to some high voltage power lines. It should solve the problem.
