Police outline muffler-enforcement effort after resident complaints; staffing limits constrain coverage

Duval Police Chief Ryan Keller updated the council Sept. 2 on repeated community complaints about modified and excessively loud vehicle exhaust. Keller said complaints began in May 2024 and that officers have devoted both directed and proactive (undirected) patrol time to the issue, estimating roughly 190 hours of enforcement since May — about 7% of undirected patrol time during that period. Keller said about 15 vehicles appear repeatedly on a complaints list; some drivers have been stopped and issued escalating citations. He described enforcement as an escalating civil penalty process that can eventually result in license suspension by the Department of Licensing after repeated offenses, but said most stops have involved adults rather than juveniles. Keller identified several constraints: staffing shortages (three undeployable full-time positions, at least one officer in field training, additional vacancies), the time required to prepare increasingly complex cases, and unusual acoustics in the valley that cause sound to carry. He emphasized the department’s life-safety priority for emergency calls, which can draw officers away from directed enforcement. The chief also said law enforcement cannot order a driver to restore a vehicle to stock configuration; the department can only issue violations. Councilmembers suggested low-cost education and signage at common entry points, greater public reporting (time/place/license plate) and multi-agency coordination for hot spots near jurisdictional boundaries. Keller confirmed the department accepts online reports and will continue targeted enforcement, but said a permanent solution may require legislative changes or additional resources.