Austin Passes $500 Fines for Excessively Loud Vehicles

New ordinance gives police broader authority to address growing noise complaints

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Austin City Council has unanimously approved a new ordinance that allows police to fine drivers up to $500 for vehicles exceeding 85 decibels in noise. The measure aims to curb a growing problem of excessively loud engines, particularly from motorcycle enthusiasts, that has become a common nuisance across the city. However, some justice advocates have raised concerns about the ordinance's subjective enforcement criteria potentially leading to inconsistent or discriminatory policing.

Why it matters

Excessive vehicle noise has become a major quality of life issue for many Austin residents, especially in neighborhoods like West Austin where loud motorcycles have been a persistent problem. The new ordinance gives police a stronger tool to address this nuisance, but there are concerns it could be unevenly applied, particularly impacting lower-income and immigrant communities.

The details

The ordinance creates a new Class C misdemeanor for drivers whose vehicles exceed 85 decibels or make sounds considered "offensive to a person of ordinary sensibilities." Officers will be required to issue a warning before writing a ticket, a change sought by the ACLU of Texas. However, the ordinance allows for subjective enforcement criteria like the intensity, unusual nature, and proximity of the noise to residences, which some worry could lead to inconsistent policing.

  • On February 26, 2026, the Austin City Council unanimously approved the new ordinance.
  • The ordinance will have a 30-day grace period before taking effect, during which officers can issue verbal or written warnings instead of citations.

The players

Austin City Council

The governing body of the City of Austin that unanimously approved the new vehicle noise ordinance.

Lisa Davis

The Austin Police Chief who asked the City Council to develop the ordinance in response to growing noise complaints.

Marc Duchen

The Austin City Council member who represents the neighborhoods that pushed for the ordinance to address loud motorcycle noise.

JJ Schmidt

The Austin Police Assistant Chief who told City Council that the department lacks many of the tools required to measure decibel levels.

Nick Hudson

The ACLU of Texas Senior Manager who wrote a letter to City Council expressing concerns about the ordinance's potential for discriminatory enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“We're not targeting normal, everyday drivers. We're not targeting any particular kind of vehicle. We're helping reduce noise from vehicles that are much, much louder than the average car.”

— Marc Duchen, Austin City Council Member (statesman.com)

“Right now, we have community members that are afraid to step out of their homes, send their kiddos to school and go to the store for basic needs. This new offense could exacerbate fear around using vehicles.”

— José Velásquez, Austin City Council Member (statesman.com)

What’s next

The ordinance will take effect after a 30-day grace period, during which officers will have the discretion to issue warnings instead of citations to motorists.

The takeaway

The new Austin ordinance aims to curb a persistent quality of life issue, but there are concerns it could be unevenly enforced, potentially impacting lower-income and immigrant communities. The requirement for officers to issue warnings before citations is an attempt to address these concerns, though the ordinance's subjective enforcement criteria remain a point of contention.