The city council tonight deferred action for two weeks on a proposed noise ordinance revision. The council agenda included an item that would give the police the power to impound a vehicle that violates the noise ordinance (noise so loud it can be heard from 75 feet from the vehicle). Councilwoman Van Auken explained she wanted to (a) make sure motorcycles would be exempted, and (b) gather more information on how effective enforcement of this type of ordinance has been in the communities where it has been tried.
5 thoughts on “Council roundup: Council quiet on noise ordinance”
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CJ,
A minor correction: I don’t want “to make sure that motorcycles would be exempted.” I want to make sure that we target the real problem. I’ve never had a complaint about motorcycles, and the City has never issued noise violation tickets to them. A number of communities , including Chicago, exempt them from noise pollution ordinances, and I’d like to explore further why that is.
As always, thanks for your comprehensive review.
Barbara
Thanks for the clarification, Barbara.
Chicago has targeted motorcycles, particularly along Rush St., that have tampered or inadequate mufflers. I’m not sure whether this enforcement will continue or if it will be like the cell phone ordinance that is rarely enforced.
My question is, why should motorcycles be exempted from the noise ordinance? Aren’t loud motorcycles just as obnoxious as blaring music when it goes by your house and rattles the windows or pierces your ears? Cars can’t drive around with mufflers as poor as some motorcycles I’ve heard around town. Noise is noise. Let’s be consistent.
those motorcycles are a nuisance when they roar down the farmington road hill by bradley park…