Stop Low Decibel Noise, Boom Cars, San Antonio

This petition is to urge San Antonio city officials, including the mayor and city council to pass tougher laws regarding the sale, distribution, and use of high decibel amplifiers, linears, speakers, et al. The issue of boomcars and decibel drag racing should be a growing concern in San Antonio as they are becoming ever more commonplace. The study by the U.S. Department of Justice that helps deal with the problem of noise pollution indicates very clearly with the emphasis upon loud car stereos that "not only do these violators annoy some people, but that they inhibit drivers ability to hear emergency signals on the road. In addition, in some jurisdictions drug dealers advertise by cruising neighborhoods with the car stereo turned up loud. The problem of loud car stereos, especially boomcars is more wide-spread than a simple tally of complaints would reveal. Perhaps only 5\%-10\% of people bothered by any type of noise will file an official complaint. Many citizens are not aware of their legal right to quiet. The vibrations can often be felt in addition to being heard. They cause glass and ceramics to rattle, compounding the annoyance. Playing car stereos loudly can be an act of social defiance by some or merely inconsiderate behavior by others. Noise from a variety of sources, including loud car stereos, can cause hearing loss, disturb sleep, increase stress, make people irritable, and make naturally aggressive people more aggressive". Source (U.S. D.O.J. Office Of Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS Problem Oriented Guide For Police Series No.7 Loud Car Stereos. Scott S. Michael)
http://www.usdoj.gov/cops/pdf/...

While in some respects there is a level of organization, such as DB drag racing in other situations there are not. The constant thmmm thmmm thmmm is no longer something to be tolerated. We the people of this country that prides itself on individual rights choose to exercise our right to peace and quiet and not the constant nerve rattling terror that these machines are creating. Therefore we, the undersigned, call upon San Antonio elected officials to pass measures that will ban the sale and distribution of earth rattling decibel audio equipment, including all speakers, amplifiers and linears that are used strictly in defiance of local noise ordinances. Additionally, law enforcement has to be willing to do their jobs and enforce the law, including the already existing noise ordinance which prohibits the decibel levels these devices produce.

The growing epidemic of these boomcars is of grave concern to community members and both local and state authorities and should be as well to Federal authorities. San Antonio is experiencing an upsurge in audio harassment by a small minority who feel that it's their right to inflict their noise on others, disturbing community peace and quiet. We all have a right to quiet in our own homes and the audio equipment mentioned above produces noise comparable to a jet plane taking off at a distance of 25 feet.

The impoundment confiscation and mandatory stiff fines, as well as arrest in some jurisdictions is sending a strong message to these audio thugs. However, this issue must be dealt with two-fold; (1) manufacturing and distribution, despite the genie being out of the bottle already and (2) a Federal Mandate for all states to pass legislation, making such equipment illegal to distribute or own and stiff penalties for violators found in possession of such equipment.

However, laws regarding these nuisance noise producers are useless if they are not enforced. We demand enforcement of noise laws that keep San Antonio livable, as stiffer laws regarding the sale and use of these noise producers.