Anti-Noise Activist Brings Legal Suit Against "Boom Car" Driver
A dedicated anti-noise activist has started legal action against an obnoxious "Boom Car" driver in a bid to quiet his music and get monetary damages.
St. Petersburg, FL (PRWEB) November 22, 2004 -- Judy Ellis has joined
anti-noise activists across the country in trying to restore peace and quiet to
their neighborhoods. The St. Petersburg Times Neighborhood Times article http://sptimes.com/2004/11/21/news_pf/Neighborhoodtimes/Up_to_her_woofers_wit.shtml
describes Judy's attempts to dissuade 18-year-old Ryan Jennings from being a
nuisance and her frustration in trying to remedy the problem. By taking legal
action against individuals who persist in denying the rights of their neighbors
to peace and quiet in their own homes, Judy hopes to set a precedent and give
hope to everyone suffering from this abuse (Case # 04-8116-CI-19).
Loud
"Boom Car" stereos are disturbing millions of people every day and the
disrespectful drivers are getting away with it because of public apathy and
police who do not enforce local noise ordinances. A typical boom car has
multiple subwoofers and amplifiers which produce powerful bass that can be heard
and felt heard blocks away. Many of these “boom car” enthusiasts say that they
like to “feel the music”. Some spend several thousand dollars on their stereo
systems. (Many of the cars are probably worth less the stereo equipment they
carry). This thumping bass rattles windows and peoples nerves.
Unfortunately, the true motive for many (if not most) of these obnoxious
people is to intentionally annoy other people and draw attention to themselves.
It is their way of saying “In your face – rules don’t apply to me. It is my
right to be as loud as I want, and your rights do not matter”. They believe that
it is their right to be as loud as they want because "they live in a free
country". They do not really understand what it means to live in a free country.
It does NOT mean each individual is free to do as he pleases, regardless of how
it affects others.
“No man has a natural right to commit aggression on
the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to
restrain him.” - Thomas Jefferson
Most people experience this boom car
nuisance only occasionally – perhaps while driving or stuck at a stop light with
one of these morons next them. However for a large number of citizens, depending
on where they happen to live, this problem has become a major disturbance which
makes it impossible to sleep, enjoy a meal, sit outdoors, read a book, watch
television or enjoy your own music! Many unfortunate citizens are assaulted by
this racket in their homes at all hours of the day and night.
The Money
Trail
(from www.NoiseOff.com)
The largest manufacturers of boom car
equipment include Sony, Pioneer and JBL. Sony uses the brand name X-Plod with
the slogan "Disturb the peace". Pioneer Electronics slogan is "Disturb, Defy,
Disrupt, Ignite". JBL uses the line, "either we love bass, or hate your
neighbors." One of the largest retailers of car audio equipment is Crutchfield.
These companies are well aware of the negative environmental impact their
products have, but they consider it their right to continue making and selling
it.
Manufacturers and installers of car audio equipment target young
males through viral marketing campaigns. Because their marketing falls under the
radar of mainstream culture, they have been able to avoid public scrutiny. Their
marketing is anti-social and sexist. They explicitly promote the use of its
equipment as a means to disturb people and ruin neighborhoods.
Boom cars
have given rise to an urban subculture. The car audio industry regularly holds
sound pressure level competitions (SPL) to encourage boomers into buying even
louder equipment. Professional competitors are sponsored by the manufacturers
and recieve thousands of dollars in free audio equipment as means of promoting
the brand. Non-professional competitors spend upwards of $100,000 on audio
equipment for their vehicles. The expensive speakers frequently blow out in
competition and need to be replaced, which happens to be very profitable to the
manufacturers.
These companies are members of the Consumer Electronics
Association (CEA) www.ce.org and the Specialty Equipment Market Association
(SEMA) www.sema.org.
Along with the Mobile Enhancement Retailers Association (MERA) www.merausa.org representing
dealers and installers, they have lobbied against proposed noise-pollution
ordinances in communities all over America. SEMA created the 'Congressional
Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus' enlisting members of congress to
support their agenda. They also enlist car and motorcycle enthusiast clubs to
lobby on their behalf on political issues.
Lawsuit information:
Case
# 04-8116-CI-19
Pinellas County Circuit Court (6th Judicial Circuit,
FLA).
Judith S. Ellis v. Ryan Jennings
Filed 11/16
related Web
Sites:
www.NoBoomers.com
www.NoiseOff.com
www.LowerTheBoom.org
http://members.aol.com/mpwright9/boomcar.html
http://lhh.org/noise
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb181196.htm