WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin NewsWarm Weather Could Test New Noise Ordinance

Warm Weather Could Test New Noise Ordinance

by Sarah Thomsen

The warmer weather this week means a new Green Bay city ordinance could soon be put to the test as more people hop on their bikes.

It is a sound of summer. Motorcycles cruising around the city.

Many are fine, but some are too loud and warrant a citation. Unless police are right there however, the bike or car with a loud muffler are long gone by the time police arrive to issue a ticket.

To combat the problem, the city council passed a new noise ordinance late last summer. It allows citizens to take down information, like make, model and license, and email it to police via their website.

It's enough for officers to at least figure out the driver or bike owner.

Lt. Brad Florence says, "we can't be everywhere. We need to have the people's assistance to track them down."

Just because another citizen writes up a complaint about your vehicle, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll automatically get a ticket.

"We would either go to the person's house, listen to the vehicle there or have them come here to the police department and take a reading."

Lt. Florence shows us the sound meter police use if someone brings their vehicle to the station after a complaint is filed.

"So, we're in the 71.6 range from about 15 feet away from the motorcycle, and that's what we'd generally test a person's motorcycle from."

Police also have mechanics check for modified mufflers and an EPA stamp. If there's a violation, they issue a ticket.

So far, only a handful of people have used the website, but police think it's just because few people know about it.

Mayor Jim Schmitt, who spearheaded this ordinance is glad to see it working, even if it is slow to start. "To people to know there is a cure, there is something can do about it. I think is really important and they really appreciate having that extra tool to keep our neighborhoods quiet and quality place to live."

To make a noise report on the police department's website click here.