The City of Birmingham is leading an initiative to update the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code laws so that a “noise” amendment is included that would allow police officers to give citations to drivers for revving their engines or having a loud engine/muffler.
Recent noise levels along Woodward Avenue have caused concern with residents in Birmingham and the neighboring communities. The Woodward corridor has traditionally been a hot spot for motor fanatics to show off their prize possessions during the spring and summer months, with events like The Woodward Dream Cruise drawing thousands of spectators annually.
Birmingham and the neighboring cities of Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township now believe that the Woodward Corridor has become a nuisance for their residents, citing those rowdy drivers are often disturbing the peace. The cities are faulting the state for not updating the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code Laws to appropriately address the concerns. The laws were written long before after-market exhaust systems existed.
The cities can very well pass their own ordinances that would forbid “noisy” drivers on their local roads, however the citations will not hold in court if the tickets are being issued on State operated roadways such as Woodward Avenue.
“The police department cannot enforce local noise ordinances on public roadways because local ordinances cannot supersede the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code,” Birmingham Police Chief Mark H. Clemence told The Oakland County Times. “The Michigan Motor Vehicle Code controls all laws pertaining to public roadways.”
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) controls all signs, traffic signals, roadway markings and speed limits on Woodward Ave. and other state operated roadways. Current motor vehicle codes make noise enforcement problematic for officers to enforce on any of those state operated roads.
While the cities will continue to lobby Michigan lawmakers to get the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code updated, they also plan to double down on patrolling the Woodward corridor to deter noisy drivers away from the area.
The Birmingham Police Department will be looking to ticket drivers who break any of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Codes, such as speeding, drag racing, and driving while intoxicated. The city will also periodically invite the traffic unit of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan State Police to assist in these efforts.
Before you decide to take a cruise down Woodward Ave. this summer, here’s a refresher on the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code laws and what the punishable offenses are that could impact your drivers record.
Six Points:
- Manslaughter, negligent homicide, or other felony involving use of a motor vehicle.
- Operating under the influence of liquor or drugs.
- Failing to stop and give identification at the scene of a crash.
- Reckless driving.
- Unlawful bodily alcohol content of 0.10 or more.
- Refusal to take a chemical test.
- Fleeing or eluding a police officer.
Four Points:
- Drag racing.
- Impaired driving.
- Under age 21 with any bodily alcohol content.
- 16 mph or more over the legal speed limit.
- Failure to yield/show due caution for emergency vehicles.
Three Points:
- Careless driving.
- Disobeying a traffic signal or stop sign or improper passing.
- 11 through 15 mph over the legal speed limit.
- Failure to stop at railroad crossing.
- Failure to stop for a school bus or for disobeying a school crossing guard.
Two Points:
- 10 mph or less over the legal speed limit.
- Open alcohol container in vehicle.
- All other moving violations of traffic laws.
- Refusal of Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) by anyone under age 21.
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