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An ordinance to amend Section 9.20.020 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws regarding motor vehicle noise.
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That Section 9.20.020 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is hereby amended by deleting subsection A in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to:
1. Operate any motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine that is not equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive noise.
2. Operate a motor vehicle equipped with a cut-out, by-pass, or similar muffler elimination unit, or to operate a motor vehicle with devices that amplify motor noise or motor vehicle exhaust noise.
3. Operate a motor vehicle if the exhaust noise is plainly audible at a distance of two hundred feet or more from the vehicle.
4. Operate a motor vehicle if the exhaust noise is plainly audible within a structure containing a dwelling unit.
5. Operate or allow the operation of buses in a parking or staging area if noise from the engine, exhaust, or back-up alert beeper is plainly audible from the nearest exterior wall of a transient lodging establishment within the commercial attraction (CA) zoning district.
6. Any person violating this section shall be fined not less than fifty dollars. Each violation of this section shall be deemed a separate offense.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance, as amended, would amend Section 9.20.020 of the Metropolitan Code of Law to add restrictions regarding motor vehicle noise. The new ordinance would forbid the operation of a motor vehicle within a residential zoning district if the exhaust noise is plainly audible within a structure containing a dwelling unit.
Separately, the ordinance clarifies that only motor vehicles propelled by an internal combustion engine must be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive noise. All remaining parts of Section 9.20.020 would remain the same.
The ordinance would also require that any person violating Section 9.20.020 be subject to a $50 fine. Each violation of the section would be deemed a separate offense.
As amended, the ordinance states that these prohibitions shall not apply to emergency or public safety vehicles, vehicles owned and operated by the Metropolitan Government or any utility company, or any motor vehicle used in an authorized public activity for which a permit has been granted by the appropriate agency of the Metropolitan Government or is otherwise authorized by law or contract with the Metropolitan Government.