Regular 7.
City Council Regular Business Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 03/23/2026
- TITLE
- PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING ORDINANCE amending City Code - Aggressive Driving Initiative
- PRESENTED BY:
- Rich St. John
- Department:
- Police
Presentation:
No
Legal Review:
Yes
Project Number:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends passage of the proposed amendments to BMCC 24-351 et al., which modernize and clarify the city's ordinance regulating motor vehicle noise, strengthen enforceability, and promote public health, safety, and neighborhood livability.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The BMCC amendments to the motor vehicle noise regulations aim to clarify, modernize, and strengthen the City's ability to address excessive vehicle noise, while remaining consistent with state law and constitutional requirements.
The amendments confirm that high levels of motor vehicle noise pose a local public health, safety, and quality-of-life issue. They allow the City of Billings to enforce content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions to control conduct that generates unnecessary or disruptive noise. The provisions explicitly add to, rather than contradict, existing Montana motor vehicle laws.
The revisions remove ambiguity and internal inconsistencies, establish a clear "plainly audible" standard, and expand coverage beyond amplified music to include other types of unreasonable vehicle noise, often encountered in enforcement.
Overall, the amendments give the public clear notice, provide consistent guidance to officers, and establish a legally defensible framework for civil enforcement that safeguards community peace while addressing lawful vehicle operations.
The amendments confirm that high levels of motor vehicle noise pose a local public health, safety, and quality-of-life issue. They allow the City of Billings to enforce content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions to control conduct that generates unnecessary or disruptive noise. The provisions explicitly add to, rather than contradict, existing Montana motor vehicle laws.
The revisions remove ambiguity and internal inconsistencies, establish a clear "plainly audible" standard, and expand coverage beyond amplified music to include other types of unreasonable vehicle noise, often encountered in enforcement.
Overall, the amendments give the public clear notice, provide consistent guidance to officers, and establish a legally defensible framework for civil enforcement that safeguards community peace while addressing lawful vehicle operations.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
Continuation of Council discussion on 12/1/2025.
FISCAL EFFECTS
None
STAKEHOLDERS
Police department, law enforcement partners, legal.
ALTERNATIVES
Council may:
Approve or
Not approve
Approve or
Not approve