The Citizens Coalition Against Noise Pollution
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The Rumber is a siren system for use in police cruisers as a means to catch the attention of motorists with an ear splitting sound that can be heard and felt.
The siren emits low frequency duplicate tones that according to its manufacturer, Federal Signal Corporation, "have the distinct advantage of penetrating and shaking solid materials allowing vehicle operators and nearby pedestrians to FEEL the sound waves, and perhaps even see their effects through a shaking rearview mirror."
Federal Signal Corporation markets the device as an intersection-clearing device in dense urban environments with heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic. It can be heard and felt from a distance up to 200 feet away.
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The company issues an explicit warning in its marketing materials that its "sirens and speakers may cause hearing damage." For officers, in addition to the risk of permanent hearing damage, the low frequency noise may be damaging to the nervous system.
People exposed to this type of noise on daily basis suffer from hearing loss, sleep deprivation, chronic fatigue, anxiety, hostility, depression and hypertension.
Federal Signal Corporation is the manufacturer of The Rumbler. Federal Signal Corporation is a supplier of audible and visual signaling, warning equipment, and communications equipment for the industrial marketplace.
They are a member of the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NEAD), a trade group.
Washington, D.C. police have 49 cars equipped with the siren. As the department phases in new vehicles and retires its older fleet, the department intends to have all its marked patrol cars equipped with the device by 2012.
In New York City, the NYPD is testing the siren on some of its vehicles. The NYPD is considering whether to initiate an "education campaign" so that the public will not be afraid of it.
About sixty police departments are known to have purchased the device.
Other cities that are testing or deploying the siren:
Lobby your city council against the implementation of The Rumber device. Meet with police officials and discuss the issue of noise pollution from this type of siren.
Talk to your neighbors and organize; work with community groups and raise the issue against this type of siren.
Sign up at Yahoo! Groups NoiseOFF and connect with others who are working to reduce the problem in their own community.
Rumbler Intersection-Clearing System
A marketing sell-sheet that describes the device and its specifications.
Federal Signal Corporation 2007 [PDF]
The Rumbler Sound Sample
A sound sample of the device that can be downloaded for listening.
[MP3]
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