Law enforcement agencies across the state of Florida have been getting increased complaints about loud music coming from motor vehicles. In response, Florida legislators created a new law. Drivers can now face being ticketed up to $114 for excessively loud music from their vehicles. There will be a two-week warning period for this new law, but it did go into effect on July 1, 2022.
Back in 2012, the Florida Supreme Court previously ruled that a noise ordinance restricting "plainly audible” music was vague and unconstitutional. Over the past couple years, this newly constructed statute has been structured specifically to not violate the Florida Supreme Court’s opinion. The 2012 opinion said that “Plainly Audible” Language in the previous statute from 2007 was “Unconstitutionally Vague, Overbroad, Arbitrarily Enforceable, and Impinges on Free Speech Rights.” The previous statute “Does not Contain, Nor Does It Meet, the Established Constitutional Standards for Noise Ordinances Approved by the U.S. Supreme Court.”
However, as of July 1, 2022, the new statute in effect makes it “unlawful for any person operating or occupying a motor vehicle on a street or highway to operate or amplify the sound produced by a radio, tape player, or other mechanical soundmaking device or instrument from within the motor vehicle so that the sound is:
(a) Plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet or more from the motor vehicle; or
(b) Louder than necessary for the convenient hearing by persons inside the vehicle in areas adjoining churches, schools, or hospitals.”
To view the full statute, click here. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.3045.html
On behalf of Hale Law’s team, please be cautious of how loud your music is while you are within a vehicle at all times. Not only is it now illegal in part, but it is unsafe to have music so loud you cannot pay attention to your surroundings, which can help make accidents avoidable.