Driving in a car with music at full volume can be punished in Florida (USA) with fines of more than one hundred dollars as of July 1 due to a new law that insists on an issue on which the Supreme Court of the state ruled ten years ago in favor of the “noisy.”
The new legal text establishes fines up to $114 for when music coming from a vehicle can be heard well at a distance of at least 25 feet (7.6 meters).
The amount of fines will be higher if the music-emitting car passes places near churches, schools and hospitals.
One of the points of the legal text authorizes law enforcement officers to immobilize noisy vehicles for up to three days in certain circumstances, such as impromptu parties in which a large number of cars emit music in unison.
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The television channel NBC 6 collected opinions for and against this law that empowers police officers to fine those who exceed decibels.
One of his detractors, Christopher Dodge, considered that this law is “a new device to fill the coffers of state agencies” and wondered if the agents are going to carry devices to measure the decibels emitted by a vehicle or will their word simply suffice to accuse someone.
Supporters say it will be a positive change, especially in neighborhoods where many people are used to carrying the song at full volume and with the car windows rolled down. police lieutenant Mike Crabb told NBC 6 that it’s not about stopping drivers from enjoying music, but about putting limits on noise pollution on the streets.
In 2012, the Florida Supreme Court He agreed with a lawyer, Richard Catalano, who filed a lawsuit against a similar law on the grounds that it violated the First Amendment of the Constitution, which enshrines the right to freedom of expression.
The new text amends that ley invalidated ten years ago.