Blaring your car stereo could now prove costly

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

MELTON

Booming audio systems may soon be more costly to their owners as the city has announced plans to crack down on motorists who disturb the peace with their blaring stereos.

“We aren’t wanting to infringe on anyone’s right to enjoy themselves. We just simply want to preserve the comfort that law-abiding citizens are entitled to,” said McMinnville Police Chief Joe Melton in announcing the department’s intentions. “Over the past several years, complaints dealing with annoying, disruptive and unnecessary noise have risen dramatically and with warm weather here, and with windows down, this will likely become even more of a problem.”

While most of the complaints deal with loud car stereos, Melton said the crack down will also include loud televisions, loudspeakers, and amplifiers in homes and businesses.

“In attempt to deal with the growing problem, we will strictly enforce the noise ordinances to make sure the peace is not disturbed,” Melton said. “This includes any device that is louder than is necessary for the convenient hearing of the persons who are operating them.”

Along with disturbing the peace during the day, the ordinance states audio devices should not be audible from 50 feet of a vehicle, residence or business between the hours of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists who are caught violating the noise ordinance may be stopped by police.

Violators of the ordinance could be cited into court for violation of city ordinance 11-302. The ordinance carries a fine and court costs of $103.