PENNSYLVANIA Rep's bill targets loud car music

He delayed introducing the bill as support continues to grow.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- Frank LaGrotta says he's had enough of the loud booming music that rattles computer screens and windows and drowns out television sets in his home and office.
The state lawmaker was expected to introduce legislation today that would make it illegal to turn up a car stereo system loud enough for a police officer to hear it from 50 feet away.
"This is something I get constant complaints about," LaGrotta said. "There is no reason for it. This isn't an emergency vehicle. They aren't making announcements. They're just kids riding around and showing off. I can't think of any other reason for doing it."
The Ellwood City Democrat had planned to introduce the legislation last week, but held off until today because of a groundswell of support from fellow lawmakers who want to co-sponsor the bill, he said.
"Every member of the House has said they get complaints about rude, thoughtless people who put speakers in their trunks and drive around playing music for everyone, including people in the cemetery, to hear," said LaGrotta, who represents the southern half of Lawrence County and portions of Beaver and Butler counties.
Failed attempt
Similar legislation introduced by LaGrotta last year failed to make it out of the judiciary committee, and there were numerous complaints from people who sell car audio systems, he said.
LaGrotta said he nearly dropped the issue, but a trip to a theater in Pittsburgh with his niece to see the musical "Funny Girl" changed his mind.
"When there was no music playing on stage and just dialogue, you could hear these boom boxes outside. Several people inside the theater complained about it. It's not right," LaGrotta said.
LaGrotta isn't alone in his quest for quiet.
Larry Sherfey of Hanover, Pa., was so pleased to hear about LaGrotta's proposed legislation that he's making a campaign contribution to the Lawrence County lawmaker. Hanover is in York County on the eastern end of Pennsylvania.
"I've actually been watching television in my house and had the sound drowned out because of the boom, boom, boom. You can hear the windows vibrate," he said.
Sherfey says he's gone to his town council for help, but there's little they can do.
Other efforts
Local ordinances involving the use of sound measuring decibel meters have not held up in court, LaGrotta said.
Instead, some police say they have been using disorderly conduct citations to try to curb loud music played by motorists.
The citations seem to be effective, but New Castle Police Chief John Kindel said he would welcome a law specifically aimed at loud music from cars.
"I think it would be a good tool. The problem is you don't want people to not to be able to listen to music, but I think it's unfair that people have to listen to music [from another car] so loud that it drowns out their own radio," he said.
Sharon City Council passed an ordinance almost identical to LaGrotta's proposed legislation, and police have been giving out citations since 1996. So far, no one has challenged it, officers say.
Opposition
John Ulan, whose family owns the Stereo Connection in Hermitage, Pa., said he's opposed to LaGrotta's legislation.
He does believe there should be some limits on car stereo sound, but a blanket law that permits citations from officers hearing music 50 feet away is too restrictive.
"You can hear a baby crying from 50 feet away," he said.
Ulan said other states have curfews and cruise zones where kids can play their music loud through a certain time in a mapped out area.
He said loud car stereo music is no different from noise emitted from Harley-Davidson motorcycles -- well known for loud muffler sounds. He believes anything louder should be against the law.
"I would have to say that 80 percent of the people who buy a woofer system enjoy the volume at the same volume you would get in a home theater system, which is not soft, but a little louder than being at the movies. It's not going to offend anybody if your windows are closed," he said.
LaGrotta, however, believes the booming sound, even from closed car windows, is a safety hazard.
"People miss lights. They pull out into traffic. Their concentration is totally distracted" when these booming cars pull up, he said.