By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, February 3 at 7:26 AM
Sources tell PUB DEF that Ald. Craig Schmid (20th Ward) will be making some changes to his controversial bill that would have made it illegal to own loud car speakers. The bill would have allowed police to seize a citizen's car (before being found guilty) for simply having more than 10 speakers or for having a single speaker larger than 12 inches in diameter.
UPDATE: The following language is to be added to the bill:
"No person shall be punished by fine, community service, or seizure and impoundment of the vehicle for possessiono of a sound system or device unless there is also evidence that the person played, used, operated or permitted to be played, used or operated any radio, tape recorder, loud speaker, sound amplifier, cassette or compact disc player, or other sound system or device for producing or reproducing sound with louder volume than is necessary for convenient, normal hearing of the person or persons who are in the motor vehicle in which the machine or device is being used or operated and who are voluntary listeners."
UPDATE 2:
Ald. Stephen Gregali (14th Ward) introduced a motion to send the bill back to the Public Safety Committee. Ald. Freeman Bosley (3rd Ward) called this a "killer motion". Bosley again expressed his disdain for modern music. "The stuff that they're playing, I don't want to hear," he said.
In a spirited debate with the 3rd Ward alderman, Ald. Charles Q. Troupe (1st Ward) questioned whether the Board should give the police such broad discretion to seize people's property.
Ald. Lyda Krewson (28th Ward) questioned Schmid about "selective enforcement" of this law. "We don't live in a police state and we shouldn't impound somebody's car because they play their music too loud." she said.
Ald. Greg Carter (27th Ward) asked Schmid to send the bill back to committee.
UPDATE 3: BILL SENT BACK TO COMMITTEE
St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green made a special appearance at today's meeting. She addressed the effects of the bill on some local businesses. She said, "If we would allow this bill to go back (to committee) to address the concerns... I am sure we would be doing the right thing" to address the real concerns of noise.
Schmid agreed to allow the bill to be returned to the Public Safety Committee. Ald. Terry Kennedy, the committee's chairman, said that the committee will look at the bill next week. The public is encouraged to attend. Stay tuned for times.
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