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Council adopts first reading of vehicle-noise ordinance with stiffer fines and 24-month repeat-window
Summary
The council adopted first reading of amendments to vehicle-noise code that add clearer, provable standards and mandatory penalties for repeat offenders; council set the repeat-offense lookback window at 24 months and exempted emergency vehicles.
Billings city staff and the police department asked the council to adopt clarified language for motor-vehicle noise enforcement, including mandatory civil penalties for violations and a clearer definition of when an outdoor speaker or modified exhaust is considered unlawful.
Legal staff noted the underlying municipal-infraction statute establishes a baseline fine ($100 base under municipal infractions) but advised council that the city may include an explicit mandatory fine in the local ordinance for these specific offenses. The draft ordinance proposed a mandatory $300 first-offense penalty and $500 for a subsequent offense within a specified look-back period.
Council debated the duration that triggers a "subsequent" offense. Several members advocated extending the subsequent-offense window beyond 12 months to deter repeat offenders; the council amended the draft to a 24-month period for escalated penalties. The ordinance explicitly exempts emergency vehicles.
Police officials said enforcement will rely on officer observation, body and vehicle camera evidence, and occasional sound-recorded evidence but acknowledged challenges in proving noise at night and obtaining probable cause to stop a vehicle. The chief agreed to provide a six-month report on enforcement activity after the ordinance goes into effect.
Council passed first reading unanimously with the 24-month amendment and instructed staff to finalize language for second reading.
