Techotic

This has got to be one of the funniest stories concerning disturbing neighborhood peace that I have read about. 24-year-old Andrew Vactor of Urbana of Ohio was sentenced to 20-hours of classical music which included selections from Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Claude Debussy along with a $35 fine or $150 fine instead.

And you guessed it. Urbana decided to pay the fine instead. According to him he did not have time to listen to 20-hours of classical music as he had basketball practice, so he decided to pay the fine. Judge Fornof-Lippencott (who gave out the sentence) hopes that such sentencing will deter people from blasting their music and disturbing others while they drive by.

Champaign County Municipal Court Judge Fornof-Lippencott told the Springfield News-Sun she often assigns creative sentencing options. “I think a lot of people don’t like to be forced to listen to music. And I think sometimes the defendants … are put in the position the general public is put in.” She also selects episodes of Dr. Phil and The Oprah Winfrey Show that she considers relevant to other misdemeanor offenses and supplies copies to the probation department. “The idea, hopefully, is that it will inspire people not to come back for the same violation. It offers an opportunity for them to cut down on their fines and costs and at the same time broaden their horizons.”

Rap music fan sentenced to Beethoven, pays fine instead