10/23/2003 -- Mera Helps In Albuquerque Noise Ordi

MERA Helps in Albuquerque Noise Ordinance Battle

October 23, 2003 -- Indianapolis, Ind. -- The Mobile Enhancement Retailers Association (MERA) recently helped organize local retailers to fight a proposed noise ordinance that would ban the sale of aftermarket car audio equipment in Albuquerque, N.M.
In August, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) notified MERA of a proposed ordinance that would threaten the livelihood of all car audio retailers in Albuquerque, N.M. MERA worked with CEA to develop language in a letter to city council members that would inform them that what they were about to do was unconstitutional and violated antitrust laws. Variations of these letters were sent to the mayor and to each city council member by MERA, CEA and the Independent Professional Representative Association (IPRO).

Forwarded along with the initial letter, MERA proposed noise ordinance language that would make the noise ordinance more applicable for the city of Albuquerque. It established noise free zones for churches, schools and hospitals, and also established nighttime hours for residential areas.

MERA mobilized the Albuquerque retailers so that they would be informed of industry efforts to stop this potentially damaging ordinance. The retailers involved with these meetings and discussions were Audio Express, Baillios, Drivers Den, Hudson's, Mesa Radio and Paradise Village. It was decided that the retailers stood a much better chance to change the proposed ordinance if they worked together with a common message to the city council.

Audio Express stepped forward and arranged to have a local attorney represent them in this fight. Through the efforts of Jeff Albright, most of the language proposed by MERA was included in the revised version of the proposed amendment. On Monday October 20, 2003, the Albuquerque city council voted eight to one in favor of the revised amendment. This was a major victory for the retailers of Albuquerque, the industry and MERA.

MERA would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts and to especially thank Ed Santacruz, president of Audio Express for his willingness to arrange for a local attorney to represent his stores. Jeff Albright was extremely helpful in meeting with Greg Payne, vice president of the city council, to draft the revised wording to the original amendment and for his efforts in representing the interests of the independent specialists.

For more information, contact MERA at (800) WHY-MERA (949-6372) or visit the Website at www.merausa.org.