316.3045 Operation of radios or other mechanical soundmaking devices or instruments
 

316.3045 Operation of radios or other mechanical soundmaking devices or instruments in vehicles; exemptions.--

(1) It is unlawful for any person operating or occupying a motor vehicle on a street or highway to operate or amplify the sound produced by a radio, tape player, or other mechanical soundmaking device or instrument from within the motor vehicle so that the sound is:

(a) Plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet or more from the motor vehicle; or

(b) Louder than necessary for the convenient hearing by persons inside the vehicle in areas adjoining churches, schools, or hospitals.

(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any law enforcement motor vehicle equipped with any communication device necessary in the performance of law enforcement duties or to any emergency vehicle equipped with any communication device necessary in the performance of any emergency procedures.

(3) The provisions of this section do not apply to motor vehicles used for business or political purposes, which in the normal course of conducting such business use soundmaking devices. The provisions of this subsection shall not be deemed to prevent local authorities, with respect to streets and highways under their jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of the police power, from regulating the time and manner in which such business may be operated.

(4) The provisions of this section do not apply to the noise made by a horn or other warning device required or permitted by s. 316.271. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall promulgate rules defining "plainly audible" and establish standards regarding how sound should be measured by law enforcement personnel who enforce the provisions of this section.

(5) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.--s. 1, ch. 90-256; s. 220, ch. 99-248; s. 9, ch. 2005-164.

This is similiar to the modified exhaust statute. Only the most obnoxious violations get my attention. If it's the thump thump bass boom that shakes cars around them I write the cite. There is no breaks in that regard. I get so tired of hearing it in my home that if I catch one while I'm on duty they get the $73.50 cite to remember not to do it again.

(As a matter of fact I just heard one go by my house while I was typing this...... :ahh: )

I have of late heard first then seen two different 4X4 trucks with what appeared to have external speakers in the front grill.

Music was blasted.

Obnoxious was an understatement:mad:

HP, Tallahassee NEEDs you up here. I've been next to cars that made me feel that MY car was going to get shaken to pieces from their subwoofer. It's enough to give you heart palpitations.

How in the world someone can be INSIDE one of those cars with the windows up and not have their ears bleed is beyond me.

And I REALLY love an old beater that you can hear all the sheet metal buzzing with certain notes. I would pay DEARLY for a device that would inject my own audio signal into that audio system......... :reddevil:

I used to know someone that had one of the most powerful stereos for competition. Hit something like 150db's in a Toyota Corolla!!! :eek: He would actually sit in the damn thing with it that loud. Haven't seen him in a few years...he's probably deaf now. :bash:

Yeah, you know it. I played in a band when I was younger and generally had the speakers to my keyboards right behind my head. Tinitis is with me always. I just don't think about it, but it is there, nonetheless. A constant whine that never stops. Plus there were times that I shot high powered rifles and handguns without ear protection. Yeah, my mom DID tell me I would ruin my hearing, but did I listen? Nah...... I was one of those dumb kids who thought older people just didn't know what the heck they are talking about. And that's not the only advice I got back then that I wished I had REALLY paid attention to.

Well it only requires that we can clearly hear it from 25 ft away. It's a little more than a car length away. Most cars are around 18ft or so,,, In the case of the external speakers I would definetly cite them if they were blasting it where I could hear it.

:thumbsup: Yep:)

Drives me nutz!

Mee too, It's my absolute favorite citation to write. I write several a week. No breaks on this one.

The way I see it, I feel it's impeding on other peoples space, and right to enjoy peace and quiet. My favorite ciatations to write behind the stereo all involve infringing on other peoples space (and respecting others). Another biggie for me is violation of right of way. I hate when people pull out in front of you or make a u-turn in front of you and you have to brake to avoid them. It usually occurrs when there's nobody behind you and if they waited a few more seconds they would be perfectly safe.

Amen:thumbsup: