'Boom Parties' Plaguing BurlCo Get New 'No Tolerance' Treatment

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Philadelphia is trying new tactics to make "boom car parties" go bust as the noisy gatherings continue to irritate New Jersey residents.

Boom car parties — large, unsanctioned events where loud music gets blasted from vehicles with massive speakers — have plagued residents for years. While the parties generally occur in Philadelphia, the noise can be heard across the Delaware River, keeping residents awake in riverside communities such as Cinnaminson and Palmyra.

In June, officials in Burlington County wrote to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker requesting the city crack down on the gatherings. Philadelphia is now taking some new approaches to stop the parties, according to State Sen. Troy Singleton, who represents Burlington County's riverside towns.

"We know this is a frustrating issue for our residents," said Singleton (7th Legislative District), "and we will keep trying to find a solution that hopefully brings peace and quiet to our riverfront neighborhoods."

A few weeks ago, the Philadelphia Police Department began enforcing a "zero-tolerance" policy, issuing $2,000 fines and potentially seizing vehicles. The city passed an ordinance last year that stiffened the penalties for "nuisance vehicles." Previously, most violators only faced fines of $100-300.

The PPD also discarded its centralized approach to boom parties, putting enforcement back in the hands of respective police districts. Centralizing police efforts hasn't been effective for stopping boom parties, according to Philadelphia officials.

Decentralizing will "increase the scope of enforcement," Adam Geer, Philadelphia's chief public safety director, wrote to Singleton.

The Philadelphia police commissioner has also directed the department's air and marine units to check the areas during their regular patrols, help disburse the gatherings and alert ground officers of illegal activity.

Philadelphia, however, is down about 1,600 officers and has needed to "triage their response, with gun violence and other serious crimes sometimes taking priority over quality-of-life issues," Singleton said.

The city has 6,000 sworn officers.