Hey, Answer Girl -

Why are there so many cars running around with their stereos thumping and bumping? It's obvious careless or reckless driving as these people cannot hear other vehicles or emergency equipment and sitting by them at a stoplight is horrible.

- Kara

It's not scientifically proven, but I can say with much assuredness that people who play their stereos so loudly that I can identify the song playing from inside my apartment are not as cool as they think they are.

And they're kind of rude, too.

Actually, the thumping and bumping stereos that you can hear from inside your vehicle or out on the sidewalk are illegally loud within Casper city limits.

Ordinance 8.20.020 states: "It is unlawful for any person to use, operate or permit to be played, used or operated, any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device … in any manner that disturbs the peace, quiet and comfort of any person in the city at any time with a louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for the person or persons who are in the room, vehicle or chamber in which such machine or device is operated and who are voluntary listeners thereto."

This brings us, yet again, to the noise ordinance issue that caused such a stir this summer - in some ways, the noise ordinance as it is currently written is almost impossible to enforce.

I'd guess that the distracted driver may be pulled over anyway - after all, if he or she is really that distracted, a police officer will notice.

Contact reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0616 or megan.lee@trib.com

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Answer Girl tackles questions about Casper, the universe and everything else. Submit your questions by email to megan.lee@trib.com, or call Megan Lee at 266-0616. You can also write to Answer Girl, Box 80, 170 Star Lane, Casper, WY, 82602.