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.   

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 Billing 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 vehicular 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.  

Continuation of Council discussion on 12/1/2025.

 None

Police Department, law enforcement partners, legal

Council may:
Approve, or 
Not approve