Polk County commissioners may pass a new law to deal with loud car sound systems.
Commissioners have been working with the Polk County Sheriff's Office to draft a new law. It would start with $100 dollar fines for cars that break noise rules. Repeat offenders could get fines of up to $500.
Jon Lackey with Boulevard Customs in Lakeland specializes in car sound systems. He said some people spend tens of thousands of dollars to have his company install super loud systems.
In fact, Lackey has spent tens of thousands of dollars on his own 6,000-pound system in a truck. Lackey has been pulled over many times by police because his music is so loud.
" 'I could hear you blocks away. Why do you have your audio system that high?' " Lackey said police would say to him.
Lackey said he has tried to more careful not to get tickets in the past couple of years. But many other people still loving drawing attention with their loud car systems.
James Shuman said he has called police dozens of times about residents at an apartment complex next to his Lakeland home. They play loud music from their cars at all hours.
"They will do it when you are asleep and you actually rise out of bed, like, 'What is going on?' " he said.
Shuman supports the idea of an ordinance limiting loud car stereos.
"They need to do something about the nuisance it creates," he said.
Lackey isn't opposed to the new law.
"It's a freedom of speech as well," he said. "But at the same time I believe there is a time and a place for that."
Commissioners will take up the issue Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Bartow.