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Council passes motor-vehicle noise ordinance with exception for emergency and contracted vehicles
Summary
Council adopted an amendment exempting emergency and metro-contracted vehicles from a motor-vehicle noise ordinance and approved the ordinance as amended. Members raised enforcement concerns and urged police prioritization for noisy, altered mufflers.
The Metropolitan Council approved an amendment and final ordinance addressing motor-vehicle noise. Council adopted an amendment exempting emergency vehicles and metro-contracted vehicles, then approved the ordinance as amended.
The amendment excluding emergency and metro-contracted vehicles passed unanimously (6–0). The sponsor (Councilmember Ellis) is listed as the drafter of the ordinance language concerning motor-vehicle noise; the amendment clarifies that emergency response and city-contracted vehicles would not be subject to the new provision.
During discussion, council members emphasized enforcement as the primary issue. One member said enforcement by police and traffic divisions must be prioritized for the ordinance to have practical effect; otherwise, changing ordinance language will be largely symbolic until officers consistently stop and cite offenders.
On the final recorded vote the bill passed 5 in favor, 1 opposed, 0 not voting. The ordinance amends Title 10 (motor vehicle noise provisions) to add the adopted language; departments responsible for enforcement will apply the new rule under standard policing and code-enforcement processes.
