06-30-2010, 09:42 PM
More nonsense from our city council. I am sick and tired of loud music from cars. I call the police about twice a week-- they usually have more pressing matters to deal with. As I write this, another car with a loud muffler blasts down my street. This is an all day and night long occurence. If it isn't a booming stereo, it is a loud muffler. Did any of you read our distinguished finance committe chairman's wish list for next year's budget? He must live in a different country or planet than I do. The world economy is in retraction; what don't these people understand about that? Do any of you really believe it is wise to continue to borrow money( in the name of Waukegan taxpayers) to move railroad tracks and build nature trails on a lakefront that no one with any money is interested in, or ever was? Our streets our strewn with litter, loud cars with loud stereos are cruising our, once peaceful, neighborhoods, gangs are spreading graffiti and violence all over the place, and all they can come up with is: " Maybe the citizens could take down a license number and report them," which would require a court appearance. Who will provide the round-the-clock protection you would need to protect you and your family from gang retribution? I also want to remind you of believeinwaukegan's suggestion in an earlier topic, which was similar. I thought it to be very irresponsible, as I think he may know something about the law. Wake up Waukegan! This is no longer your grandparents Waukegan. Think about your personal protection, and get some qualified training. You're in a war zone. Don't be a ..... P.S. I filed a foia request for loud music in cars tickets for 2009. And of those, 11 were dismissed, 12 were written in July, and the highest fine was $75. and court costs. If I could figure out how to scan a sheet with my printer, I would post the results.
Waukegan eyes tougher noise law
Prosecutor cites lax enforcement
Comments
June 30, 2010
By DAN MORAN <!-- e --><a href="mailto:dmoran@stmedianetwork.com">dmoran@stmedianetwork.com</a><!-- e -->
With several aldermen passing along residents' complaints about noise emanating from summertime house parties and car stereos, the City Council's Judiciary Committee looked into the possibility Monday of adding more bite to existing noise ordinances.
But committee members were told by city prosecutor Ted Kuderko that "I think the ordinance is fine, (but) police are just not writing the tickets."
Crime, punishment
Waukegan's noise control ordinance prohibits any "radio, tape recorder, cassette player, compact disc player, mp3 player or other device for receiving broadcast sound or reproducing recorded sound" from being used in public or in a vehicle if the sound is "audible at a distance of 50 feet or more from the device."
The structure of fines calls for a $75 fine for offenses between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., $150 between 8 p.m. and midnight, and $300 between midnight and 6 a.m. Individuals incurring an additional offense are hit with an extra $100.
"I think we've got a real good ordinance. It doesn't have a high burden of proof, (and) the fines are built-in," Kuderko added. "But enforcement has been a problem ... We've got to get more tickets."
Asked by aldermen to respond, Police Chief Artis Yancey acknowledged that "over the last couple of years, there has been a slacking off" in the number of noise-violation tickets after 285 were issued in 2007.
The city's noise control ordinance includes language that prohibits any "radio, tape recorder, cassette player, compact disc player, mp3 player or other device for receiving broadcast sound or reproducing recorded sound" from being used in public or in a vehicle if the sound is "audible at a distance of 50 feet or more from the device."
Though the car-stereo end of the ordinance dates to the 1990s, complaints spike from time to time, and the latest round arrived at the June 21 council meeting.
"The seniors in this community need relief from these young people going booming, booming, booming," said 1st Ward Ald. Sam Cunningham. "(Residents) are frustrated, they're upset, they're looking at us to do something, and $50 (fines) ain't working."
While Cunningham focused on car stereos, 5th Ward Ald. Edith Newsome said the problem in her ward extends to parties where stereo speakers are placed outside or in open windows. Sixth Ward Ald. Larry TenPas said his ward has also witnessed a rash of loud music.
Borrowing a phrase from his wife, TenPas added that "the music is for your ears only, not your neighbors', and if you think of it that way, everything would be fine."
On Monday, the conversation eventually centered on having police refrain from issuing warnings. TenPas said officers should tell violators that "we have a new program in Waukegan -- it's called 'pay as you learn.'"
Aldermen also suggested that residents could write down the license numbers of violators and call police. But Kuderko pointed out that problems crop up with identifying the operator of a vehicle after the fact, because the ordinance is written for individuals, not for the vehicle involved.
Waukegan eyes tougher noise law
Prosecutor cites lax enforcement
Comments
June 30, 2010
By DAN MORAN <!-- e --><a href="mailto:dmoran@stmedianetwork.com">dmoran@stmedianetwork.com</a><!-- e -->
With several aldermen passing along residents' complaints about noise emanating from summertime house parties and car stereos, the City Council's Judiciary Committee looked into the possibility Monday of adding more bite to existing noise ordinances.
But committee members were told by city prosecutor Ted Kuderko that "I think the ordinance is fine, (but) police are just not writing the tickets."
Crime, punishment
Waukegan's noise control ordinance prohibits any "radio, tape recorder, cassette player, compact disc player, mp3 player or other device for receiving broadcast sound or reproducing recorded sound" from being used in public or in a vehicle if the sound is "audible at a distance of 50 feet or more from the device."
The structure of fines calls for a $75 fine for offenses between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., $150 between 8 p.m. and midnight, and $300 between midnight and 6 a.m. Individuals incurring an additional offense are hit with an extra $100.
"I think we've got a real good ordinance. It doesn't have a high burden of proof, (and) the fines are built-in," Kuderko added. "But enforcement has been a problem ... We've got to get more tickets."
Asked by aldermen to respond, Police Chief Artis Yancey acknowledged that "over the last couple of years, there has been a slacking off" in the number of noise-violation tickets after 285 were issued in 2007.
The city's noise control ordinance includes language that prohibits any "radio, tape recorder, cassette player, compact disc player, mp3 player or other device for receiving broadcast sound or reproducing recorded sound" from being used in public or in a vehicle if the sound is "audible at a distance of 50 feet or more from the device."
Though the car-stereo end of the ordinance dates to the 1990s, complaints spike from time to time, and the latest round arrived at the June 21 council meeting.
"The seniors in this community need relief from these young people going booming, booming, booming," said 1st Ward Ald. Sam Cunningham. "(Residents) are frustrated, they're upset, they're looking at us to do something, and $50 (fines) ain't working."
While Cunningham focused on car stereos, 5th Ward Ald. Edith Newsome said the problem in her ward extends to parties where stereo speakers are placed outside or in open windows. Sixth Ward Ald. Larry TenPas said his ward has also witnessed a rash of loud music.
Borrowing a phrase from his wife, TenPas added that "the music is for your ears only, not your neighbors', and if you think of it that way, everything would be fine."
On Monday, the conversation eventually centered on having police refrain from issuing warnings. TenPas said officers should tell violators that "we have a new program in Waukegan -- it's called 'pay as you learn.'"
Aldermen also suggested that residents could write down the license numbers of violators and call police. But Kuderko pointed out that problems crop up with identifying the operator of a vehicle after the fact, because the ordinance is written for individuals, not for the vehicle involved.