Nearly 150 people crowded into the parking lot of the new Legislature building to give voice to their feelings about loud music and noise on the island.
Sen. Craig Barshinger arranged the event after receiving complaints from folks, including in Coral Bay, that music being played in bars and restaurants was irritating some people.
However, what Barshinger called "the passion level of some of the proponents of unlimited noise" apparently reduced the visibility of the complainants, the St. John Source reported.
The Source summed up the tenor of the meeting as, "Loud music is our culture and if you don't like it, leave." The meeting "turned raucous several times" as people interrupted speakers or voiced support for others' comments.
The VI deputy police chief, Darren Foy said the Department does have the $100,000 worth of sound meters authorized to help enforce a recently-passed noise ordinance for the Territory.
However, he continued, the Source reported, "The trainer told him he can't train officers to use them be cause the law is too vague."