Judge orders teen to remove sound system from truck

Queasy

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Aug 24, 2001
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ALEXANDRIA, La. - A judge has ordered a teenager who blasted his pickup truck stereo to remove all non-factory installed sound equipment for violating a noise ordinance.

Calvin Bennett Jr., 18, got the loud-music ticket in 2004 but missed his initial court appearance. Last Monday, he was arrested for contempt of court and spent the night in jail. He appeared Tuesday before district Judge Thomas Yeager on the loud-music citation.

The teen pleaded guilty, got a 90-day sentence suspended and was given probation. As a condition of probation, he had to turn in his drivers license for 30 days and remove his stereo equipment.

Yeager said he ordered the sentence to try to deter young adults from disturbing their communities with loud music. "It is a big problem but one that has a solution," he said.

The Pineville and Alexandria police departments stay busy fielding loud-music complaints. Both cities have ordinances addressing loud noise, including drivers playing their radios too loudly.

"The sentence isn't going to stop me playing music," Bennett said. "I love my music."

Dumbass. If he had showed up for court the first time he probably would have just gotten a small fine.
 

BobDaMenkey

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Jan 27, 2005
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Sucks hardcore for the idiot. "Oh I'll just not show up, what are they going to do about it?" Whatever they can, legally, and as sh*tty as what they are doing it is legal. Although it's pretty stupid to be going after loud music like that. Shouldn't they be out trying to solve some real crimes or catch speeders?
 

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
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While I agree, police should be trying to catch violent criminals more than noisemakers, I am somewhat pleased that they are cracking down on this stuff. I've never liked sitting next to a vehicle in traffic and being unable to hear passengers in my car speak to me. And when I'm trying to get my kids to sleep at night the last thing I need is for some dumbass to drive up and down my road pumping rap at ungodly decibels.
 

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey
Although it's pretty stupid to be going after loud music like that. Shouldn't they be out trying to solve some real crimes or catch speeders?
Don't know the details of when, where, or how loud his music was when he was originally fined but we've had idiots roll through our neighborhood at midnight with their music blasting and bass thumping so bad that we could feel it rattle our house. I've got no problem calling the cops on those morons.

 

I'm not sure what legal ground that court has to stand on by ordering him to remove everything but the factory stereo equipment. I would be willing to be a lawyer could have easily changed that outcome.
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
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Originally posted by: SampSon
I'm not sure what legal ground that court has to stand on by ordering him to remove everything but the factory stereo equipment. I would be willing to be a lawyer could have easily changed that outcome.

That could be done easily. He'd just take the 90 day sentance instead of the probation+remove stereo.
 

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Originally posted by: SampSon
I'm not sure what legal ground that court has to stand on by ordering him to remove everything but the factory stereo equipment. I would be willing to be a lawyer could have easily changed that outcome.

That could be done easily. He'd just take the 90 day sentance instead of the probation+remove stereo.
The question is how much jurisdiction the judge has over that persons personal property.
My feeling is that he has very little and this sentence is overstepping that power.
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
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Originally posted by: SampSon
The question is how much jurisdiction the judge has over that persons personal property.
My feeling is that he has very little and this sentence is overstepping that power.

The sentance given was an alternative option. The kid did NOT have to take the option. The law said that he got a 90 day jail sentance. The judge offered to suspend the jail time, in exchange the kid would remove the stereo, hand in his license for 30 days, and be on probation.

I would've taken the option any day.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
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i was sitting at a traffic light in my car the other day, all my windows rolled up when a moron pulls up beside me with his music blaring. it's SOOO LOUD that my ears hurt.

if it's that loud to me in the car next time him with all my doors and windows shut, than it's too loud. he has no business forcing me to listen to that cr@p.

 

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Originally posted by: SampSon
The question is how much jurisdiction the judge has over that persons personal property.
My feeling is that he has very little and this sentence is overstepping that power.

The sentance given was an alternative option. The kid did NOT have to take the option. The law said that he got a 90 day jail sentance. The judge offered to suspend the jail time, in exchange the kid would remove the stereo, hand in his license for 30 days, and be on probation.

I would've taken the option any day.
Right, but for how long does he have to remove the equipment? How much legal ground do they have to stand on if after 90 days he puts the equipment back in?
 

Patt

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
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Why is it that the people who blast music invariably have crappy taste in music?
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
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Originally posted by: SampSon
Right, but for how long does he have to remove the equipment? How much legal ground do they have to stand on if after 90 days he puts the equipment back in?

Depends on the terms and duration of the probation.
 

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
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You'd be surprised at the amount of leeway judges are given in handing out sentences.
 

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Originally posted by: SampSon
Right, but for how long does he have to remove the equipment? How much legal ground do they have to stand on if after 90 days he puts the equipment back in?

Depends on the terms and duration of the probation.
True, though think of all the other situations something like this could be applied to.

You'd be surprised at the amount of leeway judges are given in handing out sentences.
No I wouldn't. I've experienced it first hand.
 

Lord Zado

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Jan 21, 2005
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Never forget the time I was walking into a Target(super crowded parking lot) and some 65-75 year old man had Kid Rock "I wanna be a cowboy" blaring. Lots of people were staring and laughing to say the least.

Another time...the neighborhood "tough guy"(every neighborhood has one) came tearing down the street, over revving his engine, etc. Pulls up to the stop sign and I hear the Celine Dion song from Titanic song blaring out of the guy's car. Also...lots of people staring and laughing.
 

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: Lord Zado
Never forget the time I was walking into a Target(super crowded parking lot) and some 65-75 year old man had Kid Rock "I wanna be a cowboy" blaring. Lots of people were staring and laughing to say the least.
Almost as bad as the time I watched a beat-up rusted out Japanese hatchback pull into a Wal-Mart trying to pump out some gangsta rap. I couldn't hold in the laughter when a fat redneck wearing a wife-beater got out.