- A new bill is being referred to the House Committee on Transportation, targeting Michigan drivers with modified exhaust systems.
- It proposes to fine first-time violators $500, and repeat offenders up to $1,000.
- The bill follows complaints from residents of Woodward Avenue.
Drivers in Michigan could face fines of up to $1,000 and criminal charges if found to have cars with modified exhaust systems. The bill, introduced by state Rep. Natalie Price, D-Berkley, is aimed at targeting loud vehicle exhaust systems, proposing hefty fines and penalties for those who modify their cars to amplify noise.
Introduced on Thursday, the proposed legislation would authorize police to stop vehicles for excessive noise and impose harsher fines. First-time offenders could face a $500 fine, escalating to $1,000 for repeat offenders, with the possibility of a misdemeanor charge for third-time violators. Currently, the penalty for such infractions is just $100.
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Price’s bill also aims to penalize those who perform exhaust modifications, targeting both drivers and the mechanics who make the changes. Repeat offenders risk having their vehicles impounded or towed, adding another layer of deterrence.
The bill has been proposed following complaints from residents of Woodward Avenue, a historic corridor famed for the annual Dream Cruise. The cruise is known as the world’s largest one-day automotive event, and it regularly attracts over one million visitors and more than 40,000 vehicles.
“Day and night, Woodward is often used as a racetrack by drivers who have modified their vehicle’s exhaust systems with boosters that amplify their noise and often sound like gunshots,” said Price in a statement.
“The effect is deafening noise and a seriously eroded quality of life for residents and businesses in the surrounding neighborhoods. We need to clamp down on this purposefully disruptive behavior with a targeted approach,” Price added.
Birmingham Police Chief Scott Grewe supports the bill, noting the limitations of current laws. “Existing law limits what we can do about it, and unfortunately, the current $100-per-offense civil infractions do not seem to deter this behavior,” he said. “With higher penalties for those intentionally seeking to disturb the peace, this bill will hopefully disincentivize vehicle modification and offer us more tools to deal with those who continue doing so.”
Sen. Mallory McMorrow highlighted the negative impact of noise pollution. “While cruising on Woodward is a treasured tradition, the ear-splitting noise from new aftermarket exhausts on cars and bikes which run as loud as possible every day from the first warm day of the year until the first frost and late into each evening has made living along this historic corridor a nightmare for many residents.”
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He went on to say that many residents have worried that loud cars that backfire are instead gunshots. “Noise pollution at this volume is proven to have highly negative impacts on health — noise which disrupts sleep, wakes babies, shakes houses and even sounds like gunfire.”
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and will be debated at a future date. If passed, it could mark a significant shift in how car enthusiasts modify their vehicles, potentially affecting the vibrant car culture that has long been a staple of Woodward Avenue and similar areas.