Car Alarms

Re “War Declared on Alarms That Go Chirp in the Night, “ April 5: If you live within earshot of a “chirping car” and the police won’t help, you should try Small Claims Court.

Bring a claim of nuisance against the car’s owner, asking for damages of whatever you think the good nights’ sleep you were deprived of were worth. I would try $100 a night. If the judge does not give you that much the first time, he still might warn the car owner that he will make him pay that much if he keeps doing it and you have to sue him again.

DAVID SLAWSON

Professor of Law, USC