Janesville adopts wider "anti‑cruising" powers for Milton Avenue to reduce congestion and safety risks

The Janesville City Council moved to adopt file ordinance number 2025‑911 on Jan. 27, 2025, amending the city's anti‑cruising laws to expand enforceable hours and create vehicle impoundment, storage and disposal authority tied to reckless driving and nonregistration violations. The measure was offered following a police presentation that said cruising on Milton Avenue creates traffic congestion, safety hazards and a drain on department resources.

City officials and the police department said the ordinance is intended as a tool to reduce recurring traffic congestion on a defined stretch of Milton Avenue and adjacent connectors. "This ordinance amendment is a resource. It's not an end all change," Janesville Police Chief Chad Pearson told the council, adding the department expects to begin with an education campaign and signage before moving to heavier enforcement.

Police staff outlined the problem with multi‑year incident data. According to the presentation, the department recorded 2,497 total traffic calls for service on Milton Avenue in 2022, with roughly 33% of those occurring between the hours the department has identified as cruise…