Boost loud music fine

Monday, September 19, 2005

I am glad that Peoria police are ticketing people for loud music.

Part of stopping crime is enforcing basic decency, before people think they have the right to do whatever they want. Peoria has a noise ordinance to protect all of us from the physical assault of loud music.

I can't count how many times my house shakes at all hours from the boom of some inconsiderate person's loud music. If these people were taught about respect, they wouldn't buy huge subwoofers that serve no other purpose than to shake the neighborhood.

I say raise the fine to $1,000. Maybe if this happens, a message will be sent that no crime will be tolerated, no matter how small. Any action that violates a law is real crime. Keep up the good work, Peoria Police Department.

Andy McEnroe

Peoria

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http://www.pjstar.com/stories/091205/FOR_B7G380SD.059.shtml

Teach responsibility to our kids, don't blame law

Monday, September 12, 2005

I read with great sadness Betty Gibson's Forum letter of Sept. 3, in which she complained about her son's ticket for playing his car music too loud. Although $225 is a bit steep, I think he will remember it the next time he jumps into his vehicle.

I cannot think of a time that I said to myself, "Gee, I have nothing in my car that I want to listen to. Maybe some teenager with loud music will pull up next to me so I can enjoy his." Nor do I think there was a time when I was enjoying my own music and I said to myself, "His music is much better than mine. I think I'll will turn mine off and listen to his." Keep your music to yourself.

I agree with Ms. Gibson that motorcycles are too loud, but motorcyclists will claim their loud pipes are needed for safety. These are the same people who refuse to wear helmets, costing Illinois taxpayers much-needed federal funding. But that's another issue.

The final thing that made me sad about the letter was her comment criticizing the seat belt law. Unfortunately, all Ms. Gibson had to do was turn to Section B of the same paper to read about a Peoria man who died in a single-car accident. "He had not been wearing his seat belt," the article stated.

Ms. Gibson should teach responsibility and citizenship to her son instead of making excuses and blaming the laws.

Tim Black

Galva