Turn it down or face the consequences

People who know me best understand that, for the most part, I’m a fairly easy going individual. With a few exceptions, it takes quite a bit for something to get under my skin, so to speak.

Over the past few months, however, I’ve just about had it with some people in this town who think the law applies to everyone but themselves. Part of the problem involves music.

Let me explain.

When the weather allows, I tend to enjoy my fair share of gardening. Although I struggle to kill the weeds and allow the grass and flowers to blossom, it gives me a break from the stress of work and the myriad of issues affecting my family.

However, there’s just one thing that keeps me from enjoying that endeavor -- the volume that people seem to think they need to play their music as they roll past my house.

But it’s not their choice of music that annoys me. The problem is there are too many people out there with the music blaring so loud I honestly think it could drown out an F-15 Strike Eagle on full afterburner.

And it’s not one person just once a day. It’s this continuous barrage of vehicle radios blasting what I’m assuming is music.

This audio assault on my ears isn’t limited to the times I’m outside. Even when I’m in my house trying to relax after a busy day at work, there are those out there that seem to think I still want to listen to their tunes instead.

It gets worse when people have their speakers set up with that extra loud bass that heralds the vehicle’s arrival several blocks away. That constant “boom, boom, boom” gets so bad that I’ve had instances where the windows in my laundry room started to rattle -- on the opposite side of my house.

The idea of leaving my bedroom window open during the summer for some fresh air while I sleep is completely out of the question since people seem to think I need to listen to their tunes instead. It’s even worse for my one daughter, who suffers from tinnitus, because the excessive volume only makes her condition worse.

Listen, buddy. If I wanted to hear your choice in music, I’d go out and buy the album.

Granted, I have a very eclectic taste in music with a particular fondness for music from the 1950s to the late 1980s. My collection includes everything from Jimi Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced” to Weird Al’s “Straight Outta Lynwood.”

I’ve also been known to listen to Little Richard one minute and swap it out for Van Halen the next. It all depends on my mood and if I need something to wake me up or help me mellow out after a tough day at work.

But I don’t want to have the equivalent of a Black Sabbath concert constantly rolling past my house. I think I’ve earned a respite from the last vestiges of my youth, especially after I sat front row center as the heavy metal band Quiet Riot rocked the stage back in 2006.

Yes, you have a Constitutional right to freely express yourself within reasonable limits. At the same time, I’d contend people in this town have an equally protected right to not hear your music if they don’t want to.

If I had my way, those who blatantly violate city and state law would get yanked out of their vehicle and placed facedown on the sidewalk. With their nose smashed against the concrete, they’d get asked, “what is this!?” I’d bet good money they’d simply say, “it’s a sidewalk.”

“Wrong! This is where your rights end, and the rights of myself and everyone else in this town begin!” Of course, they’d hear this from someone whose voice gets loud enough that he could’ve served as a military drill sergeant, which would definitely get the point across.

After all, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t appreciate it if I drove by your house at all hours blaring the “Best of Barry Manilow.” If I really wanted, I could be really evil by driving the homes of the law breakers by playing endless renditions of Debbie Boone’s “You Light Up Me Life.” I’d almost guarantee these young adults would scream through their house with blood pouring out of their ears having to listen to this “offensive” music.

And don’t get me started on the folks out there that think that it was a “good idea” to install those extra loud exhaust systems on their cars and trucks. I don’t understand why someone would willingly attach what sounds like a $5 “bargain basement exhaust” on a $35,000 vehicle.

I’d hate to think there are people in this town saying to one another, “Hey, I have a great idea. Let’s honk off everyone in this town by being a bunch of inconsiderate jerks and drive down the street making as much noise as possible.”

But from my perspective, that’s exactly what’s happening. A few people out there seem to think they have the right to express themselves at everyone else’s expense.

Here’s the bottom line: The city and state have laws on the books that prohibit this type of extra-loud music and vehicle exhaust noise. For example, those who disturb the peace between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. every day could end up coming home with a ticket.

Meanwhile, Idaho Code 49-937 states that, “every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke, and no person shall use a muffler cut-out, bypass or similar device on a motor vehicle.” The maximum noise level remains at 96 decibels, but only during the day.

In case you were wondering, that noise level is equivalent to the sound the engines of a Boeing 737 make – one mile before landing. Oh, and just in case you were not aware, repeated or long exposure to sounds at 85 decibels or higher can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Simply put, set a muzzle on your vehicle or face the consequences after you get slapped in the face with a ticket. If you’re not careful, you could end up getting slapped with a lawsuit in which you end up paying thousands of dollars in penalties for violating people’s rights to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Oh, and getting a ticket for disturbing the peace is also a misdemeanor, meaning you can watch your insurance premiums soar through the roof.

You have been warned.

Granted, if all of this extra-loud music and vehicle noise caused the weeds in my yard to curl up and die, I’d probably be willing to put up with the inconvenience. However, it doesn’t, so turn down your tunes and get your vehicle’s muffler replaced.

Otherwise, I may dust off my music collection and take a cruise through town with Rick Dees’ “Disco Duck” blasting away.

Well, maybe not.

– Brian S. Orban