APPLETON — Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford on Tuesday published a community letter addressing concerns about excessive vehicle noise and outlining the city of Appleton’s enforcement approach and next steps.
In the letter, Woodford says the city is actively addressing community concerns about excessive vehicle noise and traffic safety, which includes reconfiguring College Avenue, revising noise ordinances and bolstering enforcement through a new Traffic Safety Unit.
The city is increasing its emphasis on enforcing state statutes regarding illegal exhaust systems, as state law does not allow citations for noise alone.
Motorists should expect to be stopped and potentially cited if their vehicle is significantly louder than a standard vehicle or is operated in a way that increases noise.
Read Woodford’s letter here:
Over the last few years, the City of Appleton has been working to address community concerns about traffic safety and vehicle noise. Community members have been especially concerned about the issue of vehicle noise. Efforts to date have included reconfiguration of College Avenue through downtown, bolstering of the Appleton Police Department’s enforcement of traffic laws through the creation of a Traffic Safety Unit staffed with two new positions, revisions to our noise ordinances, and investigation of legal means of addressing concerns about excessive vehicle noise.
Beginning over the summer, the City of Appleton began increasing emphasis on enforcement of exhaust system requirements for motor vehicles. State Statutes do not provide for issuance of citations for noise alone, rather, on the nature of exhaust systems. Properly maintained stock exhaust systems are generally considered compliant, regardless of the level of sound they emit.
Local traffic ordinances cannot overrule State Statutes unless expressly permitted by state law.
Given these complexities, the City of Appleton has taken a measured approach to enforcement.
As procedures have been refined, we have increased emphasis on illegal exhaust systems.
Recently, motorists have expressed concerns about the growing number of traffic stops related to exhaust systems, which in most cases, are initiated by officers observing vehicles emitting noise suspected of being excessive for a stock vehicle.
While not every situation will meet the criteria for a citation, motorists should be aware that if your vehicle is significantly louder than a standard vehicle, and especially if it is operated in a way that increases noise (excessive revving, aggressive acceleration), you should expect to be stopped and may be subject to a citation.
The City of Appleton’s position on the matter of vehicle noise is as follows:
Excessive vehicle noise is a citywide problem, and has increased in recent years
- We have, and will continue to balance enforcement efforts on vehicle noise among many public safety priorities – with life safety as our ongoing top priority
- With greater emphasis on non-compliant exhaust systems, be advised that operators of excessively loud vehicles can expect to be stopped
- Enforcement is one component of addressing the issue of excessive vehicle noise, however, infrastructure design, state law, and community expectations are also important elements
- Enforcement data will be provided to the Safety and Licensing Committee of the Appleton Common Council on a quarterly basis
- The City of Appleton is working within the confines of available resources and current state law to address this issue – further investment beyond what has already been made will need to be determined by the Appleton Common Council, which represents the constituents of our 15 districts and is responsible for establishing policy and the municipal budget
We expect that greater public awareness and consistent enforcement will improve the situation over time. I thank members of the community who have brought forward concerns in constructive and collaborative ways, and I thank those who have taken steps to fix vehicles and to comply with the relevant laws and ordinances.
Sincerely,
Jake
