10/01/2003 -- Davenport Gets New Noise Ordinance

Davenport Gets New Noise Ordinance

October 1, 2003 -- Davenport, Iowa - The Davenport City Council has approved a new ordinance that could force car owners to remove overly- loud car sound systems from their vehicles. Under the new law, which was approved on September 17, 2003 and goes into effect within the next few weeks, citizens will be allowed to phone in complaints about sound systems that can be heard from at least 50 feet away to the city's legal department.
Complainants must include the make and color of the vehicle, the approximate time and place of the offense and the license plate number. That initial complaint within a one-year period will trigger the mailing of a form letter to the owner of the vehicle informing them that he complaint was made. It also will include a reminder about the city noise law.

The second and third violations will have to be noted by police officers.

The second violation within a year will result in a $75 fine and the third can result in a fine of up to $500 and an order from a district court magistrate to remove the sound system from a vehicle for up to one year. The new ordinance was changed from the original proposal to prevent it from being used as a weapon in personal feuds. Under the original proposal, the second and third complaints could have come from private citizens.

-AP