I think they should be outlawed on account of how often they break the peace whenever so much as a gust of wind sets them off. No one actually stops what they’re doing to see if someone is actually breaking into someone’s car, so why then should anyone want one? :dubious:
I’ve on one or two occasions thought about writing a note telling the owner to adjust the sensitivity of the alarm and then securing it to a brick and throwing it through the windshield. But I’m a very civilized guy, so I’ll not do such a thing.
So, what are your thoughts about these crappy things that sound-off at all hours? :mad:
Even with an immobiliser people would break into a car to steal the contents.
Without alarms I think such breakins would be a lot more common, so they still needed.
However I do think the same rules should apply to noisy neighbours as car alarms.
One offence is a slap on thr wrist, building up to a fine or eviction.
In fact, I think those same rules do apply around here.
They are stupid. Once upon a time they had a point because people would stop and look at whomever was stealing the car. Now they get ignored and the carowner ritually slain when he or she returns. I don’t care if your car is stolen, I just want the 3am noise to shut up and if that means somebody (anybody) driving it off then great. And the owner is invariably out of hearing range anyway so it all seems a little pointless.
What would be much better is a car alarm that tells the actual owner that their car is being tampered with. It’s surely not outwith the bounds of possibility to develop a silent system which will text/phone the owner when it’s triggered?
I think they’re delightful. The remind me that the rest of the world is alive even as I slumber,and that there’s always something interesting going on in the city. The hustle and bustle of the urban core-- it’s fantastic! They’re a colorful and boisterous contribution to the sound of life’s rich pageant and manifest the diversity of human experience.
These damn things scare hell out of me, especially when they happen to go off very close to my head. Often they make me drop my picks. Occasionally they attract attention, too, people turning and looking, but not that often. I always shrug and furiously pat all my pockets like I’m looking for a key, and they turn away.
Not so long ago an old guy (even older than I) pulled up to the post office as I was coming out, closed and locked his car. The alarm immediately proceeded to start wailing as he walked toward me, ignoring it.
I asked if he didn’t want to stop the alarm, and he sadly replied, “I really wish I knew how to stop that.” :eek:
I think municipalities should ban audible car alarms and give out tickets for letting them go off, with the exception that you wouldn’t get a penalty if someone was actually trying to break into your car. (This might not be a good idea in big cities where the cops arguably have better things to do.)
Nah. Was just joshing. It just seemed an odd thing to ask opinions on-- like, has anyone liked car alarms going off since, oh, 1983 or whenever? “What do you think about getting bitten by scorpions? Anyone else out there like having herpes?” Decided to consider the alternative answer, which was, of course, insane. But fun to compose.
Depends. Usually they last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. But I know of one that went off for several days as the owner was in Hawaii and had left it in a parking garage, torturing us that lived in an apartment building next to it. Eventually she was located and something was done. But it was hell while it lasted. :mad:
They’re security theater, meaning they give a false impression of making the situation secure. Which is worse than no impression at all. Why? Because nobody pays attention to them. And even if people did, what could they reasonably do? Risk life and limb over someone else’s car? It isn’t even smart to risk life and limb over your own auto.
I think the local government should provide sledge hammers and baseball bats that are available to be used by bystanders/passersby if the alarm goes off for more than 30 seconds.
