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Scott County judges and magistrates debate adding time limits and vehicle-specific language to noise ordinance
Summary
Magistrates discussed a resident complaint about repetitive motorcycle/ATV noise; the court explored clarifying language and possible time restrictions to give law enforcement more enforcement tools while balancing rural property rights.
Magistrates and staff discussed proposed revisions to Scott County’s draft noise ordinance after a constituent complained of teenagers repeatedly riding motorcycles for hours on weekend afternoons.
Magistrate Kelly relayed the complaint and said the current draft focuses on loud music and parties, which county attorney Cam Culbertson and others said was the ordinance’s original intent. Culbertson and other speakers suggested adding an express prohibition or clarifying language to capture loud vehicle or equipment noise if the court wants to address that behavior explicitly.
Law-enforcement participants recommended setting reasonable time windows (suggestions ranged around 10–11 p.m. as a latest cutoff) while cautioning about infringing on property-owner rights in rural areas. Several magistrates emphasized the difficulty of enforcement when officers find no violation at the scene, and the county attorney noted residents retain civil remedies (private nuisance claims) if the ordinance is not changed. The court agreed to review the ordinance language and consider adding time restrictions or clearer prohibitions to give sheriff’s deputies more clarity and potential citation authority.
