May 1, 2011
Noise Free America
For immediate release
Contact:
Leslie Croo
[email protected]
Ted Rueter
[email protected]
877-664-7366
Albany: Flint, Michigan, an aging industrial town of 125,000 made famous by Michael Moore’s movie “Roger and Me,” is the winner of this month’s Noisy Dozen award from Noise Free America. In Flint, the problem of boom cars is of epidemic proportions.
Flint township resident Leslie Croo, a Vietnam veteran and a 30-year veteran of the Michigan Department of Corrections, states that “the boom car problem in the city of Flint is absolutely horrible. I have seen people go through red lights to get away from the audio assaults perpetrated by boom cars. I have seen boom cars blasting with little kids in the back seat. I have seen mothers put their hands over their baby’s ears as a boom car goes by, blasting at mega-decibels, shaking the street. These boom car drivers have no regard for anyone’s hearing, including their own. On Ballenger Street, the audio assaults from boom cars are almost non-stop.”
Croo noted that the problem of loud car stereos is nation-wide: “You can hardly go anywhere in this country without being assaulted by mega-decibel bass from subwoofers. It’s like a cancer which spreads throughout the country, eating its way into the very fabric of our society. It is disruptive and dangerous to have these boom car boys blasting away, unable to hear sirens or be aware of what is going on around them.”
Incredibly frustrated by the continuing audio assaults, Cross has started to confront boom car drivers: “Recently, I asked a boom car driver to turn it down. He said, ‘Are you going to make me turn it down?’ He told me to ‘get f—-d.’ That is the kind of element we’re dealing with.”
“This town is incredibly noisy,” stated Croo. “And it’s not just boom cars. Flint residents are also pounded by noise from motorcycles, leaf blowers, barking dogs, car alarms, and airplanes. It destroys the quality of life. It is audio abuse.”
Ted Rueter, Noise Free America’s director, noted that “the Flint police department and elected officials are being incredibly short-sighted. Allowing a community to be overtaken by noise is a recipe for decline and disaster. Allowing boom car drivers take over the streets indicates that the police has lost control and the bad guy have taken over. The Department of Justiceindicates that boom cars are related to crime, gangs, drugs, and violence The Justice Department has strongly encouraged municipal police departments to crack down on this growing menace.”
Elkhart, Indiana has the nation’s most successful anti-boom car program. The Elkhart police department has an officer devoted exclusively to writing noise citations. Fines range from $250 for the first offense to $2,500 for the fourth offense. In two years, Elkhart’s noise control officer has written more than $400,000 in tickets. Last year, Elkhart’s noise control officer, in chasing down boom cars, did more drug busts than any other Elkhart police officer.
Leslie Croo is determined to create the same sort of law in Flint: “I am very passionate about the fight against noise. I am not going to let innocent bystanders be assaulted and sit around and do nothing. I shall fight the good fight. We shall fight the good fight. Because it is right. Audio assaults from these boom cars will cease.”
Indeed, Croo will be taking to the streets to protest boom car audio assaults. On May 24, at 5:00, Croo and Mark Roberts of Roseville, Michigan will hold a protest rally at the corner of Gratiot Avenue and Common Road. Everyone opposed to boom car audio violence is encouraged to attend.
Noise Free America is a national citizens organization opposed to noise pollution. Past “winners” of the Noisy Dozen award include Roseville, Michigan; Royal Oak, Michigan; and Kalamazoo, Michigan.