By:
James Hunt
In many cities including Kuta,
Sanur
or Jimbaran
in Bali,
car alarms are thought to be a necessity. Because
many people, especially those in apartments,
don't have access to a garage, cars must be
parked on the street overnight.
Unfortunately this also makes them targets
for car thieves. That's where car alarms come
in to play. With their loud sirens and flashing
lights, they're supposed to make excellent deterrents.
There's just one problem?.they drive people
crazy. Since most of them seem to have a hair
trigger, they're set off if the slightest bit
of movement is detected. This doesn't sit well
with the neighbors, many of whom wake up several
times a night because of noisy car alarms.
It's not that anyone wants to encourage car
theft, but a sane person can only take so much.
It's estimated that ninety percent of all car
alarm activations are not due to theft at all.
In 2001, eighty three percent of the complaints
to New York City Police Department's Quality
of Life Hotline were in regard to car alarms.
In fact, ninety one percent of New Yorkers surveyed
believed that noises due to car alarms diminished
their quality of life. These days, car alarms
go off so often that people don't even go to
their windows anymore to check.
Since newer vehicles are equipped with immobilization
devices, there's really no need to install a
car alarm. Especially since no one takes them
seriously anymore. In fact, car alarms are used
more often to locate one's car in a crowded
mall parking lot than to deter a potential thief.
According to a report by Transportation Alternatives,
car alarms do so little to prevent theft that
many insurance companies are no longer offering
a discount to those who install these devices.
Studies have also shown that repeated exposure
to noise pollution caused by car alarms decreases
worker productivity causes property values to
do down and diminishes a child's scholastic
aptitude.
If car alarms don't work and only serve as
an annoyance, it stands to reason that they
shouldn't be necessary and in fact, shouldn't
be allowed. If you feel they're a nuisance and
would like to do something about them, contact
your police department and inquire as to where
you should register your complaint. If enough
people take a stand against car alarms, they
may succeed in silencing them for good.
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