The ordinance would add a new guideline to city code, making it a Class C misdemeanor to intentionally create loud exhaust noises exceeding 85 decibels.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin City Council has created a new ordinance aimed at curbing loud vehicle engine noise.
The proposal would add a new guideline to city code, making it a Class C misdemeanor to intentionally create loud exhaust noises exceeding 85 decibels. The misdemeanor would come only after a police warning, and officers would weigh factors such as time of day and proximity to homes. Most violations would carry fines of up to $500.
The proposal follows mounting complaints from residents living along RM 2222 west of MoPac, who say racing and “unrelenting engine revving” from motorcycles and cars have become a chronic problem.
Earlier in the month, neighbors played cellphone video during a city council committee meeting showing motorcycles and cars accelerating loudly through their neighborhoods.
According to the City Attorney’s Office, the ordinance is designed to apply more directly to motor vehicle noise. That includes:
Excessive acceleration or deceleration without emergency needEngine revving, sometimes referred to by residents as “rev bombing”Repeated unreasonable noise from vehicles
Austin police say they’ve seen the behavior frequently at intersections and gas stations.
Supporters of the ordinance say it’s meant to curb loud noise and reckless driving at late night hours, while critics argue that the ordinance is unnecessary and subject to inconsistent enforcement.
The city will now begin a 30-day grace period for public education before enforcement of the new rules begins.