Requires all personal audio players distributed in New Jersey to contain warning about volume and hearing loss.
The legislation requires compliance from all manufacturers who distribute personal audio players in New Jersey. By enforcing these warning labels, the state aims to promote consumer awareness and urge users to listen to media at safer volume levels. Additionally, the bill includes a civil penalty for non-compliance, which can reach up to $5,000 per violation, providing the Attorney General with the authority to enforce these penalties across the state.
Senate Bill 1132, introduced in New Jersey, mandates that all manufacturers of personal audio players must include a warning label on their products regarding potential hearing damage. The specific warning stipulates that exposure to sound levels of 115 decibels can result in permanent hearing loss after only 15 minutes. This provision seeks to address the widespread issue of hearing impairment associated with high-volume listening on portable audio devices like MP3 players and iPods, which can reach volumes as high as 130 decibels.
While the bill aims to protect consumers, it may face pushback from manufacturers and stakeholders in the audio technology industry who may argue that such regulations could impose additional burdens on their businesses. Furthermore, there could be debates about the effectiveness of warning labels, as many consumers may ignore safety warnings, thus raising questions about how to genuinely persuade listeners to adopt safer listening habits.