Loud stereo music from cars will no longer draw a ticket in the Bay Area

SEFFNER, Fla. - Do your stereo speakers shake the inside of you car and frighten small children and pets?  If so, you'll be happy to hear the law against playing your car stereo too loud has been struck down by the state's Second District Court of Appeals.

The ruling will go to the State Supreme Court but for now, people in most bay area counties are free to crank it up.

That's good news for Tommy McKinnie who sells and installs car stereos at his business in Seffner. He claims his souped-up truck dubbed "The Incriminator" has been judged the loudest in the U.S. 16 times.

McKinnie, known as the King of Bass, has so many amplifiers and speakers in his truck it needs extra suspension. He claims he was accused of breaking glass at a car wash in Brandon and has been ticketed for excessive noise 30 times.

That's what has changed. Since the ruling that affects 14 counties in the 2nd District, stereo fanatics will no longer be subjected to fines or penalties for cranking it up to 11.

The justices decided the law was too vague and targeted music only to the exclusion of business and political speech. That, they believe made it a violation of the 1st amendment.

Tommy McKinnie says the phone is already ringing. That will mean more business for the King of Bass... and for ear doctors everywhere.