Police continue crackdown on loud music

DANVILLE — The city’s ordinance regulating excessively loud stereos has been in effect for more than a year. But Hope Bryant is concerned that a lot of people still don’t know about it and don’t know how severe the fine is for a first offense and that the police can impound a vehicle after a second offense. Bryant said her 17-year-old son recently received a $250 ticket, which she estimates will cost about $350 with court costs, for playing his car stereo too loud at 9:20 p.m. near businesses on North Vermilion Street.

“A lot of the public does not know about this,” she said, adding that teen-agers also likely don’t have the money to pay for the ticket. “I think they need to let the public know.”

Bryant thinks there should be a first warning. “The reason why we are increasing our enforcement in this area is as a direct result of the ward meetings,” said Deputy Director of Police Bob Richard. “It seems that this has been a consistent concern among all the wards — of loud music,” he said. “So the council and the mayor wanted us to concentrate on this violation in an effort to curb it.”

Since May 1, the police department has issued 46 noise ordinance violations. Most were on second and third shifts, Richard said. He said the majority were for loud car stereos. Some were for loud music from a residence. “I don’t believe we’ve towed any cars yet,” he said. But the police department is prepared to do it, he added. A person is in violation of the ordinance if an officer can hear the music from a distance in excess of 50 feet.

“Normally the officer on patrol can hear (the loud music from) vehicles coming down the street way in advance of seeing them,” Richard said. He said the targeted enforcement is similar to the police department responding to concerns about speeding on Vermilion Street. “We want to continue this as long as it’s a concern to the citizens,” Richard said about noise ordinance violation citations. He said the public likely will wonder if the police department doesn’t have better things to do.

“We’re very busy and we’re not neglecting anything else to enforce this ordinance,” Richard said. “We want to be attuned to the concerns of the community.” Under the noise ordinance, for the first offense of a loud vehicle stereo, the person driving the vehicle will receive a $250 citation.

The city also will send a letter to the registered owner about possible future penalties if a violation occurs again. Upon a second violation, the driver will be fined $500 or $250 if another driver who is a first-time offender is involved. The registered vehicle owner also would be fined $300 and the city will impound the vehicle. The vehicle owner can bond out the vehicle anytime. Upon subsequent violations, the fine will double. Also under the ordinance, a vehicle owner can appeal the impoundment by requesting a hearing within 24 hours of the incident.

The offense of having a suspended or revoked driver’s license also can result in the city impounding a vehicle.