Can we please ban car alarms? (insurance, house, neighborhood)

[Lookout Kid]

Can anyone point to a single instance where a car alarm actually stopped a theft? They seem to be completely useless, but are a tremendous noise nuisance to anyone living in any urban area. I think it's time for a state-wide ban.

[At1WithNature]

I understand the nuisance point but there are such things as two way car alarms that alert you (your keychain) when someone knocks on your car are lifts the handle. If you have thousands of dollars invested in your car in aftermarket parts or accessories, then a car alarm is essential if you love your ride.

[i blame history]

The don't make me want to move away from the car. If anything, it makes me want to take a brick to it, even if my previous intention was to continue walking down the sidewalk. Most of the time I hear alarms go off in old clunkers that are disturbed when someone gets out of a nearby car and slams the door.

[scarletneon]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

I understand the nuisance point but there are such things as two way car alarms that alert you (your keychain) when someone knocks on your car are lifts the handle. If you have thousands of dollars invested in your car in aftermarket parts or accessories, then a car alarm is essential if you love your ride.

That's fine but the only time I ever see anyone interacting with an alarmed car is when the owner forgets to press the button and sets it off themselves.

I don't know about you but I ignore them when I hear them, because usually there's nothing wrong.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Can anyone point to a single instance where a car alarm actually stopped a theft?

There has been a rash of car break-ins in my neighborhood. One night my sister was staying over at my house and her alarm was set off as someone was breaking into my neighbor's car. The police were called; the criminals spooked, and we have not had any car break-ins on my block since.

Whether it is a long term help or not remains to be seen; but it definitely served to scare them off that night.

[snoylekim]

Ban would also be technically impractical , as many new models come with the alarm built-in.. Would the state mandate that every owner take their car in to have this disabled, and pay the expense ..?? Plus, the discount for having an alarm on ones insurance would be moot .. I think there's already a provision to be ticketed for 'nuisance' if one allows an alarm to blare continuously for hours ..

[At1WithNature]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

That's fine but the only time I ever see anyone interacting with an alarmed car is when the owner forgets to press the button and sets it off themselves.

I don't know about you but I ignore them when I hear them, because usually there's nothing wrong.

That's a good point and fine and dandy. However, I have an ear out for my car's distinct alarm. Since it is after market, and a rare version, it sounds like no other car alarm around. If it is someone else's, true, I don't pay it any attention. But if it is mine, I'm running outside with a baseball bat.

[princessbing68]

My husband has our car alarm set so it "chirps" if someone goes near it. Yes it is very sensitive but considering we have expensive equipment, we have a right to have a car alarm. We live near the Metra and freight trains and if the vibration from the trains are too heavy, our car alarm will go off and my husband promptly turns it off. We have a right to protect what is ours.

[BigLake]

Tend to agree that car alarms are a public nuisance. I would venture that for every valid alarm incident, there are probably another 500 nuisance alarm instances.

The worst offenders are the alarms that go off every two minutes until stopped by the owner. If you can't show accountability and have respect for the neighbors within close earshot of the alarm, I would think the police should have authority to liberally ticket/tow the car as a public noise nuisance. Option B would be to hook an alarm sentinal into the auto owners house.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by snoylekim

Ban would also be technically impractical , as many new models come with the alarm built-in.. Would the state mandate that every owner take their car in to have this disabled, and pay the expense ..?? Plus, the discount for having an alarm on ones insurance would be moot .. I think there's already a provision to be ticketed for 'nuisance' if one allows an alarm to blare continuously for hours ..

Unfortunately, that ticket is only $25 -- whiich they attach to the car and then drive off, leaving it to blare for several more hours. When the alarm keeps going off for no apparent reason, they really should tow the damn thing, especially when it's during sleeping hours.

A few years ago there was a Jeep parked in front of my place. Alarm kept going off, called the cops, they came and slapped a ticket on it and said "nothing more we can do." Eventually, someone on the block must have reasoned that the owner obviously isn't going to notice if anyone did anything to the car.... I woke up the next morning to find the driver's side window smashed and the hood popped -- presumably, the above someone got fed up and disconnected the battery.

Yep, that guy's car alarm sure served him well.