FOLLOWUP: Police plan noise enforcement on Alki tomorrow, and beyond

Summer-like weather has already started to bring summer-like crowds to Alki. We noticed the Seattle Police mobile precinct there yesterday evening, and now have word that police are planning more noise-enforcement patrols. SPD says the next one is planned tomorrow night (Friday, May 10th) and has other dates planned this spring and summer. The police reminder: “If your vehicle can be heard from over 75 feet away you could receive a $135 citation.” (Here’s the law, if you want to read it for yourself.)

35 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Police plan noise enforcement on Alki tomorrow, and beyond"

  • Apotheosis May 9, 2019 (4:39 pm)

    I don’t live near Alki but thank you to SPD for enforcing what should be common decency/respect for other people. No one needs to hear your obnoxiously loud and stupid exhaust system. Wish the citation was higher and that noise enforcement happened all over West Seattle and included fireworks.

    • Erithan May 9, 2019 (11:34 pm)

      Agree, would love to see this in the California/Alaska junction(and patrols at night) area right now too. It’s been pretty insane, a lot of “boom boom” cars about too, can feel and hear them a good block away some nights even.@@

  • GaronSifunkel May 9, 2019 (4:42 pm)

    “If your vehicle can be heard from over 75 feet away you could receive a $135 citation.”

    This will be glorious to see, assuming it is actually enforced.

    • DB Coop May 10, 2019 (10:18 am)

      I don’t think it’s been enforced in 10 years! With all the straight pipe Harleys and fart can Honda Civics that are allowed to make as much noise as they want, tell me so. If the police are reading this: There is a older blue BMW with an idiot looking  home made spoiler in the ActivSpace parking area with straight pipes and . The kid that owns it loves to hear his car revved at WOT as much as possible but it sounds like cr@p to the rest of us trying to live and work in this area. He’s heard to miss, he’s here daily, please give him a noise ticket! 

  • dhg May 9, 2019 (4:53 pm)

    I would so love to see those hogs gets ticket after ticket until they decide they’d rather be in California.

  • Jon Wright May 9, 2019 (5:52 pm)

    My bet is that I will be able to count the number of $135 citations actually issued out on less than one hand.

    • Mike May 9, 2019 (7:30 pm)

      You have 30 fingers?

  • Laura May 9, 2019 (7:26 pm)

    I live above Beach Drive on Genesee Hill and can hear that from well over 75 feet away. Any idea if they’re going to just be on Alki or if they’ll venture further. Cops could be rolling in cash based on the noise I hear all day and all night.

    • Rhonda Porter May 13, 2019 (10:53 am)

      Beach Drive needs more patrols desperately. The noise is secondary IMO – what’s more concerning is how fast the drivers are flying down BD. Yesterday I had a car pass 3 cars along BD just before reaching the Jacobson intersection. It can be difficult for pedestrians to cross the street safely.

  • pat May 9, 2019 (9:32 pm)

    So weak.  End of story.

    • Delridger May 9, 2019 (11:44 pm)

      Agreed, only occasional enforcement isn’t enough. Enforcement should much more regular and consistent. But this is a start. Thanks to SPD and Lisa Herbold for taking at least baby steps towards better quality of life. Mind doing some similar enforcement over here on Delridge? Maybe enforcing some speed limits while you’re at it?

  • dsa May 9, 2019 (9:34 pm)

    Part B is ridiculous.  I think and am pretty sure this was worded much better years ago.25.08.430 – Sounds created by operation of motor vehicles

    It is unlawful for any person to operate upon any highway any motor vehicle or any
    combination of motor vehicles under any conditions of grade, load, acceleration, or
    deceleration in such a manner that the motor vehicle’s exhaust noise or engine noise:

    A.

    Exceeds 95 decibels as measured by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) test
    procedure J1169 (May 1998); or

    B.

    Can be clearly heard by a person of normal hearing at least 75 feet away from the
    vehicle.

  • MartyV May 9, 2019 (9:40 pm)

    So I live on Alki. Tonight, if this was being enforced, just in the last hour, the City could have collected  over $2,000.  It sure would be nice if the noise ordinance was actually enforced every day. I watch the police waiting for speeders and ignoring the motorcycles blaring their music. 

    • dsa May 9, 2019 (10:04 pm)

      Hi Marty, The initial writing of part B (wherever it was codified) was intended for boomboxes and probably vehicle amplified music.  Where it is now, it does not seem to say that IMO.  I’d like to be corrected.

  • Matt May 10, 2019 (7:14 am)

    The biggest problem I have with this is loud stereos/exhaust never once killed anyone.  However, my 25mph sees hundreds of cars a day at an average of 35mph.  The difference in those speeds of being hit by one of those cars trying to cross the street to get the mail is life and death.  Yet I’m being told there is no money to address this. 

    • sports car driver May 10, 2019 (11:12 am)

      I can’t agree more. I wish we would focus on people speeding in the residential areas where the speed limit is now 20 mph and not even slowing down through the uncontrolled 4 way stops

  • John May 10, 2019 (7:17 am)

    Wow!  This would be great if they stick to it. 90% or more of the vehicles on Alki are no problem but the other % whatever it is are terrible!  

  • Me May 10, 2019 (8:12 am)

    California Ave SW & SW Genesee St.

    that area when school lets out and any time after needs attention

    they could get folks not stoping at this stop sign every night. Ive almost been hit by a car every time i try and cross. 

  • Lindolnparkmom May 10, 2019 (8:23 am)

    How about Lincoln Park?  And furthermore, if there is a noise ordinance law why isn’t it enforced at 5AM when ferry traffic starts?  

  • Old Guy May 10, 2019 (8:29 am)

    We really need tis enforced as cars/motorcycles come back towards the bridge, in the last 1/4 mile.  Alki traffic and very late, very loud racing.

  • LAH May 10, 2019 (8:34 am)

    This is fantastic.  It would also be amazing if they enforced this for the motorcycles coming off the vashon/southworth ferries at 4:30am and screaming down Fauntleroy.  After 10 years of it I’m not sure I can take much more.  

  • WTF May 10, 2019 (9:35 am)

    Please make it uncomfortable for those who cause trouble, too. Make Alki a place they don’t want to come to anymore. Let’s aim to have a summer where no one is shot.

    • sports car driver May 10, 2019 (11:08 am)

      I’m not sure how loud cars have anything to do with shootings at Alki? Plenty of my friends drive cars that an average person think are loud and don’t shoot anything or anybody.  Sounds like stereotyping to me. Sounds like you might need to attend some unconscious bias training 

  • sports car driver May 10, 2019 (11:05 am)

    I am all for enforcement of this for cars/motorcycles that modify their exhausts to be loud. I drive a luxury sports car that has not been altered in any way however can be loud at times. I’m not sure I agree with ticketing someone that bought a car that was sold legally from a dealer that meets the federal DOT requirements. This is an undue tax on those of us who don’t drive some run of the mill car. 

  • Bradley May 10, 2019 (12:12 pm)

    I’m FAR more concerned about the hundreds of daily, blatant marijuana smokers at Alki who get into their loud cars while intoxicated and drive while thousands of pedestrians are milling around. These idiots are also driving stoned back to wherever they came from on our busy West Seattle streets. It’s supposed to be a $124 citation for public marijuana smoking and a night in jail for driving while intoxicated, but where’s THAT enforcement? Loud cars don’t run people over, but intoxicated drivers do.

    • donttreadonme May 10, 2019 (1:56 pm)

      Your bias is showing. Pretty sure every bar having a parking lot is way more of a problem re: intoxicated driving than the handful of stoners out there. 

  • neighbor May 10, 2019 (1:00 pm)

    Also a sports car driver, so I see your point, but I would also ask where on Alki or in the surrounding neighborhood you’d be revving the engine? The speed limit is 30 or below throughout, so while your unmodified engine may be capable of being loud, it shouldn’t be loud *there*.

    • sports car driver May 13, 2019 (10:26 am)

      I definitely don’t rev my engine but even from a stand still to slowly pulling away my Porsche GT3 can still be heard from more than 75 feet away. My problem is our government tickets/fines those of us that can afford to pay the ticket. If you are a drug user or homeless breaking a law then police do not enforce it because a.) they will never pay the fine or b.) putting someone in jail cost more and does no value for repeat offenders. I wish we could focus on real problems like public drug/alcohol use, theft and vandalism which I think make our city less livable than hearing a loud car once in a while.  

  • Re Lah May 10, 2019 (2:10 pm)

    Second that motion. Literally can set my clock according to that individual throwing revs every morning for the last so many years.Like Clockwork.it use to be rediculously annoying but has since become just another adaptable element that if it was to cease at this point would worry me.Being a biker is a risky way to commute and hearing them morning after morning tells me they are okay.In a world where noise pollution can at times be over bearing yet only expected with the human race very well alive and thriving.If one can not have mind over matter and learn to adapt tuning out the little things than they must first deal with their own issues at hand.Scientifically defined as one of the most adaptable species walking gods planet.And those who find themself more bothered by your normal day to day elemental sounds just says a lot about oneself and the battle they suffer within.In most cases if it isn’t hurting anyone else or themself why allow it to bother thyself.One can’t expect to control others actions if they have yet learned to control themself.At some point we as humans will stand to gain more as a collective to coincide in existence by just letting go allowing one to live at let live.

  • uncle loco May 10, 2019 (2:26 pm)

    Huh?

  • Alki resident May 10, 2019 (4:11 pm)

    I certainly hope the police start enforcing this law! It is overdue.  The noise is a huge disruption to what is normally our peaceful neighborhood, and it is at all hours of the day and night. We frequently see people speeding and at times drag racing (into oncoming traffic) on 63rd and Beach Drive in their modified cars/bikes. A few weeks ago as I was getting out of my car (after work- 6 ish) two cars were drag racing down the street (side by side into oncoming traffic- during rush hour no less). I debated calling the police, but I didn’t, unfortunately. I went inside and told my husband they were going to kill someone. Not a 1/2 hour later we drove down Beach Drive to dinner, and saw that  the white BMW had T-boned a lady’s car, and her car was up on the sidewalk. The other car was waiting a few blocks up on the side of the road for his buddy in the BMW to come, no doubt to continue the race. Then, taking a walk two weeks ago we came across two car clubs (gangs?) having a huge party on the side of the road at Constellation Park on Beach Drive. They were drinking and smoking pot, blocking the entire road to traffic, causing all kinds of noise. Two rivals were facing their cars towards each other in a game of “chicken” and smoking their tires, inches away from each other’s bumpers, each refusing to yield right of way to the other,  aggressively yelling at one another, with the drunk club members egging them on. This is very dangerous behavior. For those of us who live in Alki- we are sick and tired of it. I agree with “WTF”- it would be great to have a summer of non-violence where no one gets shot! And these elements DO in fact bring the aggressive, dangerous attitude and behavior to our otherwise chill beach town in the summer months. I hope to see more police out curbing all this behavior- not just the noise!

    • Rhonda Porter May 13, 2019 (10:57 am)

      PLEASE call 911 or the non-emergency number, if you prefer.  We witnessed a red mustang last week full of young men throw a glass bottle at a bicyclist. She was hit and luckily okay – just stunned. She did call the police. Sadly we need to be squeaky wheels to get the patrols we need to get Beach Drive back in line. 

  • Banned May 11, 2019 (9:37 pm)

    Enforce it daily and don’t stop after sunset, the fine should be $500, withdrawal of drivers license for a month and banned from the area for the rest of the year.

  • D May 11, 2019 (11:35 pm)

    I’m glad they’re doing these noise curfew enforcements. Now if they’ll start ticketing that’ll be great! 

  • D May 11, 2019 (11:42 pm)

    Ugh… I had hoped I could complain about those god-**** airplanes that blast by late at night. FU BFI…25.08.530 – Sounds exempt at all timesA.The following sounds are exempt from the provisions of this chapter at all times:1.Sounds originating from aircraft in flight, and sounds that originate at airports and are directly related to flight operations;

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