Resident describes repeated "boom car" harassment; police informed

Priscilla Pilong, a Pennsauken resident who said she lives at 1924 Springfield Avenue, told the township committee on Aug. 14 that drivers in modified cars have repeatedly driven past her house blasting music and that one driver twice drove toward her while she stood in the street to try to stop the noise. "Stop. Stop. Stop," Pilong said she shouted during one confrontation, and said the driver later responded, "what if I don't want to?" She told the committee the driver later apologized and gave her his phone number.

The remarks came during public comment and described multiple incidents over several dates; Pilong said she emailed Sergeant Adair and thanked Chief Alvote for assistance. The report included times and dates: an incident she said occurred at 10:34 a.m. and a later episode on the same day at 2:43 p.m., plus encounters on July 24 and August 2 per her account.

Why it matters: repeated loud driving and confrontations in residential streets raise public-safety and nuisance concerns for neighbors and can escalate into threats or property damage. Pilong described fearing injury and said the encounters have been ongoing for more than a year.

In her account, Pilong said one of the drivers she spoke with told her the cars belonged to stepbrothers and identified himself as about 18 years old; she said the vehicles are Hondas with modified exhausts, lowered suspensions and distinctive decals. Pilong said a later encounter ended with the young man apologizing and exchanging phone numbers; she told the committee, "He stopped and we talked. He told me he builds, rebuilds cars … he said he was sorry for his part in all of it."

Committee members and staff urged caution about confronting moving vehicles and thanked Pilong for contacting police. Pilong said she had emailed Sergeant Adair and received a response advising her not to place herself in harm's way. The committee did not record a formal enforcement action at the meeting and no motion or vote was taken specifically about the boom-car reports.

The committee encouraged residents who feel threatened to contact police and to provide specifics—dates, times, vehicle descriptions and photos—so officers can investigate. Mayor Nicole Roberts and other officials thanked Pilong for sharing the account and for following up with law enforcement.

The committee did not announce any new ordinance or enforcement plan at the meeting related to loud-custom-vehicle complaints; residents seeking enforcement were directed to continue reporting incidents to the police department so patrols or follow-up investigations can be scheduled.