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Carmel-by-the-Sea police lay out Car Week traffic, noise and enforcement plan
Summary
The police chief described route changes, pedestrian protections, new decibel monitoring and tow‑truck support to reduce reckless driving and noise during Car Week, plus shuttle and parking arrangements to ease congestion.
Carmel-by-the-Sea police on Thursday told the Community Activities Commission they will deploy a series of street-configuration, traffic-calming and enforcement measures during Car Week to reduce dangerous driving and excessive noise.
Chief Dreyer said the parade route and vehicle flow will be altered so most movement occurs on Ocean Street in a chicane pattern using cones to slow vehicles; some streets will be converted to one-way at night, and additional bollards and speed bumps will be installed where needed. "We're changing the route through town... it will be going through town mostly on Ocean Street with, we call it a chicane pattern," Dreyer said.
Dreyer also described new noise enforcement tools. The department has purchased "Pipe Down," a decibel-reading enforcement kit, and trained officers to use it. "It's like a decibel reader," he said. "When somebody blasts their accelerator and it makes that real loud noise, the officers will have the ability to do enforcement." Dreyer said legal enforcement ranges from tickets for modified exhaust to sending vehicles to a state referee for inspection; in severe cases vehicles may be required to drive directly for checks after repairs.
The department said it has arranged for Carmel Tow to provide tow‑truck visibility during evening hours to discourage reckless behavior. Dreyer said the goal is visible enforcement: "we're not going to tolerate, you know, reckless driving." He added the city plans to temporarily reserve parking near Junipero and other downtown spots for police staging and enforcement operations.
Officials also discussed parking and shuttle logistics. The city has secured shuttle access at Larson Field for Tuesday through Thursday of Car Week to help move visitors; businesses and hotels may reserve parking through staff. Dreyer said changes are intended to reduce pedestrian crossings downtown and create safer walking corridors, while staff will gather baseline data from several stationary decibel readers deployed during key nights to measure sound impacts.
The commission asked about specific trouble spots (8th Avenue and other areas) and whether speed bumps or redirected traffic would help; Dreyer said temporary diversions and lane changes would limit access to some streets and that public-works adjustments and enforcement will be used as needed.
The department asked residents and businesses to follow published guidance during Car Week and said staff would continue coordinating route details, parking reservations and enforcement plans in the weeks ahead.
The commission did not take a formal vote on the safety plan; staff will continue to coordinate operational details with police and public works.
