Lakewood to Curb Loud Music From Vehicles

If your music causes the windows of the car next to you to vibrate, you may want to turn the volume down.

Noisy motorists may now face a citation after Lakewood City Council passed a measure Monday night that looks to curb “noise disturbances from motor vehicles.”

The new ordinance makes it a minor misdemeanor — on the first offense — to drive with the music too loud. 

Subsequent offenses committed within six months of a prior offense would be fourth-degree misdemeanors, according to the measure.

 “The ordinance creates a ‘reasonable person standard,’” said Kevin Butler, the city’s law director, describing how the new law would be enforced.

“The officers often determine whether the music causes windows to shake.”

“Noise disturbance from motor vehicle audio systems disrupt the peace and quiet enjoyment of this community,” the ordinance reads.

Council reviewed — and passed — several additional “housekeeping” measures that would bring the city in line with several changes to the state’s updated traffic code.

But there are a couple of additional measures that council is considering adding to the list.

Additionally, “noise disturbance from motor vehicles create a dangerous condition on the roadway for other vehicles and pedestrians." 

The second proposed measure clarified the language for those driving without license or those with a child support suspension in Lakewood. 

Kevin Butler, the city’s law director, recently told city council that all the new traffic ordinances “would harmonize the Traffic Code… with recent legislative enactments made by the Ohio General Assembly within the state traffic code.”

Those measures include items that clarify the language for rules and offenses such as drunken driving, U-turns and traffic signals — among others.