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East Lansing residents press council on neighborhood speeding and noisy exhaust; council cites legal limits on enforcement
Summary
Residents at the April 8 East Lansing City Council meeting urged action on speeding and aftermarket “loud exhaust” vehicles in several neighborhoods. Council members said state law and a recent local ordinance limit enforcement options, and urged continued community reporting while staff and commissions study solutions.
Residents of several East Lansing neighborhoods urged the City Council on April 8 to take steps to address speeding, traffic safety near schools and aftermarket exhaust systems that make cars unusually loud.
The most direct appeals came from Anne Bean, who said she lives on the corner of Ann and Wayland and that drivers "texting" and speeding have made her porch and herb garden unsafe. "I just wanna feel safe," Bean said during public comment. Several other residents from the Southeast Marble neighborhood described children walking to school on streets with cracked or missing sidewalks and cars routinely exceeding the 25 mph limit.
The council discussed the problem at length. Council member Dr. Altman said the city’s current legal framework constrains enforcement. "We have passed an ordinance basically saying that loud exhaust is okay," Altman said, referencing local ordinance 15-41 and the limits it places on stops for offenses such as loud exhaust. Altman and several council members noted that state law complicates enforcement of moving noise violations because, he said, officers typically must use a stationary sound measurement method.
Council members and staff described several practical and process barriers. Council member Meadows said neighborhood-level traffic controls typically proceed through the Transportation Commission and urged residents to start that process for stop signs or other traffic-control changes. Council member Watson suggested non-police options such as automated enforcement in school zones and speed feedback signs, and encouraged “outside-the-box” solutions to reduce officer contact while still addressing safety concerns.
Multiple councilors also pointed to staffing constraints in the police department as a limiting factor: the council record shows the road patrol was below its recommended staffing level, which several members said reduces the department’s ability to sustain neighborhood enforcement patrols.
Why it matters: residents described near-misses involving pedestrians and bikes, and councilors framed the issue as both a public-safety and quality-of-life concern. Council members asked staff to coordinate with the police chief and the Transportation Commission, and urged continued resident reporting to keep the issue on the council’s radar.
What the council can and cannot do: speakers repeatedly reminded residents that local law (ordinance 15-41) and state evidence rules limit immediate enforcement options for noisy moving vehicles; council members said changing that would require ordinance revision, additional staff or new enforcement tools such as fixed automated systems for school zones.
The council did not take any formal vote or adopt a new ordinance on April 8. Several members encouraged residents to submit formal requests to the Transportation Commission if they want stop signs or other traffic controls considered.
Ending: Council members said they will continue to prioritize traffic safety discussions at upcoming meetings and through technical commissions; residents were urged to document incidents and use the city’s complaint and service-request systems so staff and council can assess patterns and potential fixes.
