'Unreasonable noise'

COEUR d’ALENE — Capt. Dave Hagar said Thursday that police gave out about 20 citations for excessive noise caused by motor vehicles this summer.

He said police gave out a similar number of warnings early in the season, but when revving engines grew more persistent and even louder with modified exhaust systems, they turned to tickets.

“That’s unreasonable noise,” Hagar said.

The citations are music to the ears of many locals in the downtown area, who have in recent weeks called on the city to crack down on racket from vehicles they say have disturbed the peace far too long.

“Residents and businesses have a big problem,” Roger Smith said during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Smith, who lives on the 800 block of Bancroft Street near City Hall, said the situation reached a point to where people left the area and others stopped visiting downtown.

“Eighth Street has become a race track,” he said.

The city has an ordinance on excessive noise caused by motor vehicles. It prohibits, “The operation of any automobile, motorcycle, other vehicle, engine or motor of any size, device, or thing in such a manner as to create any loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise that is excessive, disruptive, and/or annoying to a person of reasonable sensitivities.”

City officials are working on strengthening that ordinance.

Attorney Randy Adams said the city wants to provide additional clarity on prohibited conduct specifically dealing with mufflers and noise suppression systems, and alteration of those systems.

The amendments may also propose an increase in the infraction penalty to $300 from $100.

For Smith, the changes could bring serenity to the streets.

He said loud vehicles, via engines and screeching tires, come and go from the McEuen Park parking lot, particularly in the evening.

“There seems to be minimal enforcement going on. That’s part of the problem,” Smith said.

He said Boise, earlier this year, implemented tougher ordinances regarding vehicle noise, with larger fines, and it was effective.

Smith would like Coeur d'Alene to do the same, and spread the word via public outreach.

Simply the precedence of a parked police car would do wonders to bring down the volume, Smith said.

“I think word will spread quickly after there’s a few citations written,” he said.

Smith said vehicles and motorcycles can be “driven loud or they can be driven sensibly. That’s the word we want to get out to the public.”

Hagar said police will continue to watch and listen for anything “outside of normal driving behavior."