Township supports state House noise ordinance

By Dana Casadei

The Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees unanimously gave their support for state House Bill 5696 at their Tuesday night meeting on Tuesday, May 28, to tamp down the level of noise from vehicles.

“It was a concerted effort along the Woodward corridor, from Ferndale to Pontiac ,to try to curb some of this noise so residents can enjoy their own yard,” said Bloomfield Township Police Chief James Gallagher.

This bill was introduced by Natalie Price, state Representative District 5, which includes parts of Bloomfield Township and Birmingham. Gallagher has worked alongside police chiefs from Birmingham and Royal Oak, as well as others, all to sponsor the bill regarding exhaust noise. 

If passed in the Michigan legislative, House Bill 5696 would amend the current Michigan Motor Vehicle Code, making a few key changes that include eliminating legal ambiguities, increasing penalties and giving local law enforcement the authority and tools needed to protect the community. 

Because local law enforcement would have more authority, they would be able to enforce these changes against modified muffler systems without having to use a decibel reader. Police could make traffic stops without having to get a decibel reading from the volume of the muffler – a real game-changer and something that will work wonders for the noise control on Woodward. 

Getting this bill to where it’s at now has been a battle though, with Price receiving some rough pushback.

“In the Motor City it’s hard to take on the automakers,” said Gallagher.

Despite that, multiple members on the board of trustees spoke highly of their support for this resolution, noting that the noise pollution along Woodward – an iconic roadway that is driven on by millions each year – has been misused by drivers who have illegally altered or modified their vehicles' exhaust systems, leading to excessive and unusual noise that can be heard throughout the neighborhoods.

Gallagher pointed out that while this noise pollution has been a problem for decades, it is one that has only gotten worse since the Covid-19 pandemic. Noise pollution isn’t just a nuisance for the communities, but can be a major factor in decreasing a residential property’s value. 

There’s health concerns too, like how the increased stress and lack of sleep can lead to a multitude of health issues, such as Type 2 diabetes, mental health disorders, exacerbate cardiovascular disease, and issues with memory, attention, and concentration. It’s also problematic for those suffering some from PTSD. It’s bad for pets, too.

From here, the bill will hopefully make its way to the state Senate.

Clerk Martin Brook and trustee Stephanie Fakih were not in attendance at the meeting.