4 ms·

I wonder what kind of hearing protection the police use while this is active. I feel like it'd be a hazardous job to operate this frequently. Also, is it illeg

I wonder what kind of hearing protection the police use while this is active. I feel like it'd be a hazardous job to operate this frequently. Also, is it illegal for a civilian to own and use one?

emodendroket 9y ago
If the police are operating it so often that this is a serious concern it raises bigger questions.
microcolonel 9y ago
> Also, is it illegal for a civilian to own and use one? I doubt it, it's basically just a large beamforming loudspeaker. I'd consider deploying them if I had a property I wanted to secure against wildlife or criminal elements. Granted, in cases where you operate it in a way which caused illegal harm to a person's hearing, you may be subject to negligence litigation. It would be wise to operate it at the lowest level which generates the desired effect, I suspect the police are more haphazard with their deployment because (fair or not) they are subject to less strict standards of behaviour in practice. Added: LRAD corp. markets the device mostly for law enforcement/public safety, military, and emergency notification, however they also market it for private users in wildlife control, and there doesn't seem to be anything said about legal concerns (though it's possible that there's an existing process controlling use of devices for similar purposes such as propane cannons). Obviously any law concerning the propagation of loud noises in general would apply with LRADs all the same. A civilian user would not likely have an opportunity to use an LRAD outdoors in a populated area.
rhizome 9y ago
Most places have noise ordinances that, like many laws, don't apply to law enforcement.
patcheudor 9y ago
It's not illegal (in the US in most jurisdictions, not a lawyer so check before you buy) to own one. In fact, they are sold to private entities all the time, mostly event venues. You can even buy one right now on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/LRAD-1000X-Long-Range-Acoustic-Device-Sonic-Cannon-Crowd-Control-Riot-/272661922096 https://www.ebay.com/itm/LRAD-1000X-Long-Range-Acoustic-Devi... Using it, however, would likely run afoul with local noise ordinances.
rdtsc 9y ago
If it is just a speaker I doubt it is illegal to own but operating it such that it causes hearing loss could probably be considered assault.
- deleted 9y ago
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specialist 9y ago
I wondered the same. One of my "trigger" issues is children without hearing protection at concerts, festivals, etc. Most people are completely unaware how much irreparable damage loudness may cause. I witnessed our local women's march. Lots of kids. (And the most chill protest march I've ever seen.) If these speakers were used directly on children, they'd certainly have damaged hearing.

I wonder what kind of hearing protection the police use while this is active. I feel like it'd be a hazardous job to operate this frequently. Also, is it illegal for a civilian to own and use one?

emodendroket 9y ago

If the police are operating it so often that this is a serious concern it raises bigger questions.

microcolonel 9y ago

> Also, is it illegal for a civilian to own and use one? I doubt it, it's basically just a large beamforming loudspeaker. I'd consider deploying them if I had a property I wanted to secure against wildlife or criminal elements. Granted, in cases where you operate it in a way which caused illegal harm to a person's hearing, you may be subject to negligence litigation. It would be wise to operate it at the lowest level which generates the desired effect, I suspect the police are more haphazard with their deployment because (fair or not) they are subject to less strict standards of behaviour in practice. Added: LRAD corp. markets the device mostly for law enforcement/public safety, military, and emergency notification, however they also market it for private users in wildlife control, and there doesn't seem to be anything said about legal concerns (though it's possible that there's an existing process controlling use of devices for similar purposes such as propane cannons). Obviously any law concerning the propagation of loud noises in general would apply with LRADs all the same. A civilian user would not likely have an opportunity to use an LRAD outdoors in a populated area.

rhizome 9y ago

Most places have noise ordinances that, like many laws, don't apply to law enforcement.

patcheudor 9y ago

It's not illegal (in the US in most jurisdictions, not a lawyer so check before you buy) to own one. In fact, they are sold to private entities all the time, mostly event venues. You can even buy one right now on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/LRAD-1000X-Long-Range-Acoustic-Device-Sonic-Cannon-Crowd-Control-Riot-/272661922096 https://www.ebay.com/itm/LRAD-1000X-Long-Range-Acoustic-Devi... Using it, however, would likely run afoul with local noise ordinances.

rdtsc 9y ago

If it is just a speaker I doubt it is illegal to own but operating it such that it causes hearing loss could probably be considered assault.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

specialist 9y ago

I wondered the same. One of my "trigger" issues is children without hearing protection at concerts, festivals, etc. Most people are completely unaware how much irreparable damage loudness may cause. I witnessed our local women's march. Lots of kids. (And the most chill protest march I've ever seen.) If these speakers were used directly on children, they'd certainly have damaged hearing.