It might be the coolest, or most annoying, PT Cruiser still on the road, depending on how you look at it. This year, police in the municipality of Central Saanich have received 17 noise complaints from residents because of the sound emanating from Canadian resident Dustin Hamilton’s PT Cruiser, reports the Vancouver Sun. So, officials literally banned Hamilton from driving his car, the Sun reports—with some limited exceptions, like driving his girlfriend to work.
The bizarre situation dates to May, when police gave Hamilton two warnings to turn the stereo down. The noise is so intense that—and this is directly from police—livestock are terrified, and little kids are waking up in the middle of the night.
No, really. Here’s the quote, courtesy of the Sun:
“People are saying their pictures are rattling on the wall and coffee cups are falling off the table,” Cpl. Dan Cottingham said. “They feel the vibrations through the floor of the house. The noise is scaring the livestock. Little kids wake up crying in the middle of the night because the stereo scares them. It’s certainly had an impact on the West Saanich corridor.
“It’s my understanding the entire back seat of his car is totally rigged up with stereo equipment. It’s quite something.”
Hamilton wound up in court this August to discuss varying his car stereo usage, and apparently the guy claims to simply love listening to music. The 24-year-old works as a car audio installer, the Sun reports.
“So what’s this all about?” asked provincial court Judge Ron Lamperson.
“It’s what I do for a living. It’s what I do for love,” said the 24-year-old car-audio installer. “I’ve put hundreds of hours and my girlfriend’s put all her money into the car. It’s what we love. To say don’t play your stereo in Central Saanich … is depressing.”
Prosecutor Jeff Johnston told the court that neighbours are so furious that the police are concerned not just for the neighbourhood but for Hamilton’s well-being.
At the hearing, the Sun reports, Hamilton was asked by the judge: “Why do you insist on playing your stereo so loud?”
He responded: “I didn’t know it was doing this ... Nobody told me it was doing this.”
Hamilton’s now facing a criminal charge of “mischief,” the Sun reports, and he’s due in court later this month. In the meantime, he’s banned from driving the PT Cruiser through most of the town.
“As of today I’m only allowed to drive basically to my lawyer meetings, if I need to take myself to the hospital and if I’m taking my girlfriend directly to work and back,” Hamilton told CTV News in Vancouver Island.
And if you’re wondering, Hamilton told the news outlet he has no intention whatsoever of downgrading the audio gear.