Besides having a website, do you actively do anything to stop the use of boom boxes in cars and trucks? It is maddening in the Waianae area as well as other areas, too.
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha,
Yes, we actively do things.
1) We provide information to the public concerning available laws concerning noise. For example, high-powered stereos in trucks and cars is covered by the "Prohibited Noise" ordinance. While a bit lengthy, believe it worthwhile to provide it below. It is a strongly worded, easy to understand, and it carries increasingly heavy penalties for violation. If you believe a driver is in violation of this ordinance, contact HPD and report - do not confront the suspected violator yourself. HPD will dispatch an officer and, if the officer determines there is an offense, will issue the appropriate citation. You can also make a follow-up call and ask if a citation was issued or not, and if not, why not.
2) We maintain a mailing list of residents interested in the noise problem and, from time to time, we let our mailing list subscribers know about pending or proposed noise legislation, good or bad, and encourage them to email their legislators and council representatives. Our goal is to have sufficient numbers on our mailing list that they will constitute a voting block against those elected representatives who refuse to take action against noise.
3) We appear as requested at Neighborhood Board meetings to spread information on noise topics of interest.
4) We actively report violations to appropriate authorities when we observe them.
5) And we try to do other things not necessarily under any one umbrella to quieten the noise around us.
You have been added to our mailing list and from time to time you may hear from us requesting your support of noise reduction initiatives.
Hawai'i Law - ROH Sec. 41-31.1 Prohibited Noise.
(a) It is unlawful for any person or persons to play, use, operate or permit to be played, used or operated, any radio, tape recorder, cassette player or other machine or device for reproducing sound, if it is located in or on any of the following:
(1) Any public property, including any public street, highway, building, sidewalk, park or thoroughfare; or
(2) Any motor vehicle on a public street, highway or public space; and if the sound generated is audible at a distance of 30 feet from the device producing the sound.
(b) Possession by a person or persons of any of the machines or devices enumerated in subsection (a) shall be prima facie evidence that person operates, or those persons operate, the machine or device.
(Added by Ord. 90-26)
Sec. 41-31.2 Enforcement.
(a) Powers of Arrest or Citation. Any authorized police officer shall issue a citation for any violation under this article, except they may arrest for instances when:
(1) The alleged violator refuses to provide the officer with such person's name and address and any proof thereof as may be reasonably available to the alleged violator.
(2) When the alleged violator refuses to cease such person's illegal activity after being issued a citation.
(b) Citation.
(1) There shall be provided for use by authorized police officers, a form of citation for use in citing violators of this article which does not mandate physical arrest of such violators. The form and content of such citation shall be as adopted or prescribed by the administrative judge of the district court and shall be printed on a form commensurate with the form of other citations used in modern methods of arrest, so designed to include all necessary information to make the same valid within the laws and regulations of the State of Hawaii and the City and County of Honolulu.
(2) In every case when a citation is issued, a copy of the same shall be given to the violator.
(3) Every citation shall be consecutively numbered and each carbon copy shall bear the name of its respective original.
(Added by Ord. 90-26)
Sec. 41-31.3 Violation--Penalty.
Any person convicted of a violation of the provisions of this article shall be punished by a fine of $100.00 for the first offense, $500.00 for the second offense within six months of the first offense, and $1,000.00, or forfeiture of the sound system or components of the sound system up to $1,000.00 in value, or a combination of forfeiture and fine to total $1,000.00 for conviction of the third offense within one year of the first offense. (Added by Ord. 90-26)
Mahalo,
Quieter O'ahu