Young people who play loud, pounding music from cars at night create conflicts in Värmland.
Now a police area manager in Arvika wants to see higher fines and revoked driving licenses to deal with the disturbances.
– It needs to be for there to be an even greater effect, says Carola Skanse to NWT.
During last weekend, the police in Värmland had to deal with “extremely” many cases where residents had their night’s sleep disturbed by the music.
Complaints came from a number of towns: Arvika, Munkfors, Sunne, Karlstad, Charlottenberg, Eda, Säffle, Karlstad and Forshaga, NWT writes.
– We have received an extremely large number of calls about loud music. The calls have reached almost every single municipality last night. I don’t know what it was about. The last jolt of the summer, Lars Hedelin, press spokesperson for the Bergslagen police region, told the newspaper at the time.
In one case, the police had to intervene when residents went outside to confront the young people.
Young people driving around and playing loud music from cars is not a new phenomenon in Värmland. During the summer of 2020, loud music from cars was the most common reason why residents in Dalarna and Värmland contacted the police.
Want to see a tougher take
Since July 2021, it is a crime to play loud disturbing music in a car or in public places such as train stations and parks and can result in a fine of SEK 1,000.
But today’s system is not enough to deter people from turning up the volume to maximum in the car, according to Carola Skanse, who believes that a tougher approach is needed.
– It is necessary for there to be an even greater effect, such as higher fines. Now it is SEK 1,000. You divide that in the car, maybe five, so SEK 200 each. There is no money like that. On average, the police in Arvika hand out fines two to three times per weekend, she tells NWT.
Skanse does not want to go into how high the fine should be instead.
She is supported by police colleagues in the town, who previously raised the issue. Everyone thinks that you should have your driver’s license revoked, something that is currently not possible.
– Within other crimes with fines, the Swedish Transport Agency can be involved. If you have received five fines within two months, the driver’s license may be looked at. I think this should also be included there, she tells the newspaper.
Police region Bergslagen, which includes Värmland, Dalarna and Örebro counties, was the region where the police issued the most administrative fines since it became a crime to play loud disturbing music and until June 5, 2022, according to Hem och Hyra newspaper.
The region topped the list by far with 546 issued fines, compared to runner-up Police Region West, which handed out 142 fines.
FACT Loud disturbing music a crime
Since July 1, 2021, it is a crime to play loud, disturbing music.
It is part of the Outrageous Behavior Act and the police can issue a fine to anyone who plays loud and disturbing music, for example from a car.
Anyone who drives jet skis in a disruptive manner is also covered by the law.
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