Elgin cops hope drivers getting message on loud music

Elgin police have been handing out fewer tickets to motorists for violating the city's sound amplification ordinance, considered one of the harshest in the suburbs.

As of Thursday, police had handed out 73 ticket to motorists for violating the ordinance, which targets drivers whose music can clearly be heard from 75 feet away.

The citation carries a $500 fine and a tow and impound of the violator's vehicle.

Although summer is not officially over yet, its is unlikely the tally will hit the 326 tickets issued in 2007 or 210 doled out in 2008.

They could conceivably hit the 103 from 2009, but police say maybe motorists are getting the message.

"Seeing the continual drop, it really fits right in with what the officers are telling us, that it's a lot harder to find (loud car stereos)," said Elgin Police Lt. Glenn Theriault. "They're just not out there as much as they used to be."

There certainly is a financial incentive for the city to write more tickets, which has laid off workers, cut costs to balance its budget and doesn't have red-light cameras to feed the coffers.

If music from a car stereo can be heard from 75 feet away, the vehicle will be towed, leaving its owner to pay a $500 bond, plus a towing fee, to get it back.

The bond figure was selected to make it easier for the city to collect the fine, which was doubled in 2009, if the driver is found guilty.

Police Chief Jeffrey Swoboda said he personally has heard fewer loud car stereos, but stressed that officers are still vigilant. Word is spreading to other communities about harsh penalties in Elgin, he added.

"We know we haven't solved this problem by any means. I think we've made an impact. Disturbing neighborhoods as you drive down the street is unacceptable," Swoboda said. "When they get their car towed and they pay a $500 fine, it gets their attention. It's still on our radar screen as being a high priority."