Louisiana § RS 14:103.1 - Emanation of excessive sound or noise; exceptions; penalties

§ RS 14:103.1. Emanation of excessive sound or noise; exceptions; penalties

A.  No person shall operate or permit the operation of any sound amplification system which emanates unreasonably loud or excessive sound or noise which is likely to cause inconvenience or annoyance to persons of ordinary sensibilities, when both the following exist:

(1)  The sound amplification system is located in or on any motor vehicle on a public street, highway, or public park.

(2)  The sound or noise emanating from the sound amplification system is audible at a distance of greater than twenty-five feet which exceeds eighty-five decibels.

B.  The provisions of this Section do not apply to the use of a horn, alarm, or other warning device which has as its purpose the signaling of unsafe or dangerous situations or to summon the assistance of law enforcement when used for such purpose, or when used in conjunction with a permitted event.

C.  Whoever violates a provision of this Section shall be fined two hundred dollars for a first offense, and not less than three hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for second and subsequent offenses.

D.(1)  Upon conviction for a first offense, the court may order the violator to surrender to the law enforcement agency that arrested the violator or reported the violation the driver's license of the driver involved in the violation for a period not to exceed thirty days.  The violator shall be responsible for the retrieval of his driver's license from the law enforcement agency after the expiration of the period of surrender.

(2)  Upon conviction for a second or subsequent offense, the court may order the violator to surrender to the law enforcement agency that arrested the violator or reported the violation the driver's license of the driver involved in the violation for a period not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days.  The violator shall be responsible for the retrieval of his driver's license from the law enforcement agency after the expiration of the period of surrender.

E.  A governing authority of a parish or municipality may enact an ordinance consistent with the provisions of this Section  and shall incorporate the standards and elements of the crime, and the penalty provided in the ordinance shall not exceed the penalty provided in this Section.

Acts 1997, No. 811, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2005, No. 490, §1; Acts 2008, No. 94, §1.