Police spokesman Sgt. Todd Dykstra said officers will be instructed to keep an ear out for violators of the city's noise ordinance. No longer will they wait until a complaint is lodged. Citations require a court appearance, and a judge sets the fine, which, with court costs, can run around $100. About 80 were written all of last year.

Steve Luebke of Toyota & Scion of Des Moines said complainers need to think back to when they were young.

"Personally, I think a lot of today's music is the most annoying thing I've ever heard in my life," he said. "But rock 'n' roll was not intended to be played quietly. Kids are doing the same thing today that they were doing in the '60s and '70s and '80s. I think we just need to let kids be kids and try to remember how good it feels to hear loud music."

Dan Corron of Waukee, a sponsor of Saturday's event in West Des Moines, said the neighborhood leaders' wishes have run headlong into a growing trend.

"The craze right now is to do something to your car. Sound competitions are part of this," he said. "I think it all comes down to, how often is this really affecting you? Ordinances like this make young people mad about the system.

"I know I like my windows down and my system up."