Police broke up a group of cars gathering and playing music at the Forest Park Bandshell parking lot in April.(Council Member Robert Holden)
Oct. 31, 2019 By Allie Griffin
Council Members Robert Holden and Paul Vallone introduced a bill yesterday that would increase fines for noise violations.
The bill specifically targets car owners who blast their stereo systems. It would increase the fine for a first offense from $100 to $200 and the fine for a third offense from $1,000 to $2,1000.
Both Holden and Vallone have received numerous complaints from their constituents regarding disruptive music and have met with the NYPD to discuss increased enforcement of noise complaints.
“For too long, car owners with vehicles equipped with excessive sound systems have congregated in our parks and public spaces and disturbed quality of life for New York City residents,” Council Member Vallone said. “Doubling these noise penalties will pressure drivers to think twice about being a bad neighbor and send a clear message that this quality of life disruption will not be tolerated.”
The bill is the latest measure to thwart Queens drivers from blasting music from inside their cars.
In April, the NYPD increased enforcement at Forest Park to crack down on gatherings of parked cars blasting music from inside the park and in July the Parks Department installed a gate at the entrance to the bandshell parking lot to curb unruly behavior.
Holden’s office had received several complaints from nearby residents that the music from the park was too loud and worked with the NYPD’s 102nd Precinct to thwart the noise levels.
“We are fortunate enough to have more space and quieter neighborhoods in the outer boroughs,” Council Member Holden said in a statement. “That is why my constituents are frustrated when car audio enthusiasts congregate in parking lots and blast music that can be heard from miles away.”
“My hope is that increasing the fine for such behavior will act as a deterrent and make people be more considerate of the neighborhoods around them,” he added.
