Austin proposes fines for loud engine noise

According to a Feb. 23 memo from Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the new offense would be a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a $500 fine, but it is unclear if the department might fine motorists at a lower amount. 

The ordinance defines a range of behaviors that could be considered in violation of the new rules: excessive acceleration or deceleration absent an emergency; rapid acceleration or deceleration by “quick upshifting of transmission gears”; racing or revving up an engine; or intentionally applying  “unnecessarily excessive acceleration” when stationary — a practice motorcycle enthusiasts refer to as “rev bombing.”

“Rev bombing” has become a major problem for people who live along RM 2222 in West Austin, area resident Lisa Capps told the City Council at a Tuesday meeting. 

“We’re asking for a practical, enforceable solution that restores basic peace and safety to our neighborhood,” Capps said.

At the Tuesday meeting, city attorney Chris Coppola said the state law against disorderly conduct includes a provision that prohibits noise levels that become a public nuisance. But, Coppola said, enforcing noise ordinances is difficult and it’s especially difficult in this case because it involves motorists who are constantly on the move. The new ordinance will give Austin officers a new tool to try to combat the problem, Coppola said.

The draft ordinance includes several factors officers should consider when determining if someone has violated the ordinance. That list includes:

If the City Council votes to adopt the new ordinance Thursday, Davis said in her memo that she would begin training officers on how to enforce it and work to educate the community about the new rules. She also said there would be a 30-day grace period during which officers would have the discretion to issue verbal or written warnings to motorists instead of citations before the new regulation takes effect.