Hanover Park lowers boom on 'boom cars'

So-called "boom cars" beware.

Hanover Park officials recently made blasting music from a vehicle at night a finable offense.

The new ordinance targets any sound generated by an audio system from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. that can be heard at a distance of 75 feet.

Violators face a $100 penalty.

Chicago has had an environmental noise ordinance on its books for several years. There, fines start at $300 for a first offense.

The scope of Hanover Park's new law extends beyond obnoxious car noise. Also targeted are loudspeakers and amplifiers used for advertising, construction and landscaping equipment, and even "yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing" in residential and public places.

The restrictions are limited to nighttime hours.

There are, of course, exceptions such as emergencies and village-sponsored events.

Enforcement isn't a priority for police, Chief Ron Moser said. And tickets won't be issued for noise falling in a gray area; it must be unreasonably "loud and raucous." To ensure that definition is met, the ordinance established eight standards including volume, intensity, proximity to sleeping residents and whether the sound is intermittent or constant.

In Elgin, drivers can be issued $250 tickets for more than just playing loud music. Exhaust systems may not be modified to produce noise louder than the vehicle's original muffler. It's even illegal to screech or squeal tires by rapid acceleration or by taking corners at an excessive speed.

Elgin police are apparently less tolerant than Hanover Park authorities intend to be, issuing about 400 tickets last year. In one tactic used by the department, an officer will stake out a spot 75 feet from a stop sign in a neighborhood known for gang activity. Offenders are then pulled over by another squad car.