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Council approves change to noise ordinance to deploy noise-camera trailers and establish citations for motor-vehicle noise
Summary
The council amended Chapter 8.12 to enable use of mobile noise-camera trailers to measure motor-vehicle noise, with an initial warning period during calibration and planned $250 citations for violations once enforcement commences. Residents raised additional noise concerns such as leaf blowers.
The Newport City Council voted to amend the city's noise abatement ordinance (chapter 8.12) to make it easier to enforce excessive motor-vehicle noise and to permit the use of mobile noise-camera trailers.
Councilor Romley described the program as a technology-assisted enforcement tool: the city has funded and is configuring two noise-camera trailers that will collect decibel data for the police department to review. He said the trailers will not initially issue tickets but will produce data and warnings while staff calibrate systems; after an adjustment period the city plans to move to a $250 citation for motor vehicles that violate the ordinance.
During public comment, resident Jake Roboe raised the related concern of loud leaf blowers and asked whether other common noise sources would be addressed. Councilors acknowledged the broader noise-picture and suggested residents may continue to call the Newport Police non-emergency line for enforcement actions and that the new ordinance language and equipment will provide additional data to support citations when appropriate.
Council approved the final reading of the amendment and the vote carried.
