39B89396D016E90B87258A1200741C6F Hearing Summary

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For PRESENTATION FROM COLORADO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

INTERIM COMMITTEE TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
Date Aug 21, 2023
Location Old State Library

Presentation from Colorado Municipal League - Committee Discussion Only

Attachment Tag

File Name

AttachmentJGolden_vehicle_noise.pdf

03:08:17 PM

Meghan MacKillop,
representing the Colorado Municipal League, provided a presentation about
vehicle noise (Attachment J). Council Member Casey Brown, representing
the City of Golden, and Chief Joe Harvey, representing the Golden Police,
also presented.

03:10:49 PM

There was a discussion
about the challenges of highway traffic and noise. Councilmember
Brown talked about the issue as a quality of life and health issue. He
talked about the noise that commercial vehicles, passenger cars, and motorcycles
make, including the modification of mufflers.

03:12:44 PM

Council Member Brown
talked about state laws, including the requirement for mufflers on all
automobiles and mufflers for jake brakes. He mentioned that enforcement
can be a problem, including roadside inspections. He mentioned that
fines can be an issue, as they don't seem to be high enough to deter an
issue.

03:15:17 PM

Local ordinances and signs may not be working on the noise issues.

03:16:28 PM

Council Member Brown
talked about looking at mufflers in an emissions inspection, higher fines
for fleet operators, and noise cameras that function like a red light camera.

03:19:41 PM

There was a discussion
about exhibition of speed or racing as a way to enforce noise laws. Chief
Harvey mentioned that this type of charge may be better handled by the
noise system and law enforcement together. He mentioned that the
data could be a useful indicator of when patrols should be increased in
an area to address issues.

03:22:45 PM

Council Member Brown
answered questions about increased fines. He mentioned that increased
fines over time may be helpful to for repeat violations. There was
also a discussion about solving a problem that may be disappearing due
to the increased use of electric vehicles.

03:24:59 PM

There was a discussion
about costs for adding cameras versus muffler inspections.

03:28:23 PM

Council Member Brown
answered questions about succesful studies or strategies in other states
on this issue, such as New York.

Presentation from Colorado Municipal League - Committee Discussion Only

Colorado General Assembly