Judge Sentences Noise Violators to Listen to Manilow

Ft. Lupton Judge Punishes Violators With Manilow
Unusual Sentence Results In Few Repeat Offenders

FORT LUPTON, Colo. Violaters of the city of Fort Lupton's noise ordinance were in for a big surprise this past Friday. The city's judge sentenced citizens who have been busted for being too loud to 1 hour of listening to unpopular or unusual music.
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In a courtroom with mostly young adult offenders, Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" played loudly on a boombox.During the full hour of punishment, they were not allowed to chew gum, eat, drink, read or even sleep.Most violators found the first few minutes funny. As time wore on with Karen Carpenter, Barry Manilow and Barney songs, they weren't laughing anymore."At about 20 minutes into it, I was trying not to fall a sleep," said violator Luis Cano.
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Judge Paul Sacco carries out the punishment about four times per year. He said he believes the sentence fits the crime."When you have a person playing rap at extreme volumes all over the city, and they have to sit down and listen for an hour to Barry Manilow, its horrible punishment," he said.
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Sacco said his love for music and helping youth inspired the unusual sentence."It's a punishment but it doesn't hurt as bad as jail or (paying) a lot of money," he said. The judge also said there have been only a few repeat offenders of the noise ordinance law. This type of punishment for the city has been around since the 1990s.