Cops, Newport Beach Residents Exhaust-ed By Loud Vehicles

NEWPORT BEACH, CA—Residents and area officials have had enough of loud cars and motorcycles racing through the streets, shattering the sleepy beach-town feel of Newport Beach, police say. Over the weekend Newport Beach Police and California Highway Patrol officers educated over 100 drivers about noise ordinance violations over the weekend. Five were cited for driving over 100 miles per hour during that incident, and one car was found to be stolen, police say.

This new focused sound ordinance effort is a joint effort with multiple agencies to maintain the beach vibe with residents and visitors to Newport Beach.

"On Sunday, Newport Beach Police Department conducted a joint operation utilizing Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) Patrol and Motor Officers, Newport Beach Code Enforcement, California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR). T

"The Newport Beach Police Department received numerous complaints regarding loud vehicles with modified exhaust as well as racing vehicles traveling throughout the city over the last few months," Newport Beach Police Department spokesperson Heather Rangel says.

Many of these types of vehicles gather at non-permitted car shows and other locations within city limits.

"These loud and racing vehicles pose a safety risk and affect the quality of life of our residents and visitors," Rangel says. "As a result, the Newport Beach Police Department stepped up their traffic enforcement during this period and launched a Loud/Modified Vehicle Exhaust and Street Racing Enforcement Operations."

The operation will last through summer.

Similar campaigns to quell the exhaust noise have been attempted in beachside cities like Laguna Beach. In 2019, a noise violation program cited over 1,000 drivers over one weekend. California's noise ordinance states that 95 decibels is the legal limit for exhaust systems, though police can "exercise their judgment" if a vehicle causes a nuisance. According to the Laguna Beach Police Department, if it's over 80 decibels, it's too loud for the city.

A campaign to educate the public on the noise ordinance began in late March and is expected to run through August. Electronic signboards in "high traffic areas" will educate drivers about the state's sound ordinance exhaust laws.

Police have also spoken with those present at these "non-permitted car shows," traffic stops, and other locations in hopes to educate vehicle owners about the sound ordinance and the Newport Beach Municipal Code as it relates to loud/modified exhaust and street racing.

The Newport Beach Police Department would like to thank our allied law enforcement and state agency partners for their assistance with this operation. Because of this successful joint operation:

• 136 Vehicles were stopped for violations
• 102 Vehicles were cited for vehicle code violations (which includes loud/modified exhaust)
• 17 Vehicles were inspected on-site for modified exhaust violations by a BAR Referee
• 2 Vehicles were referred to on-site DMV Investigators for possible registration violations
• 5 Vehicles were cited for exceeding 100 MPH
• 1 Vehicle was cited for driving 130 MPH1 Vehicle was stopped and the driver arrested for 10851 CVC – Stolen Vehicle

What do you think about the noise ordinance?Let us know in comments, or by emailing your Patch Editor.

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Loud Exhaust Patrol Cites Over 1,500; Resident Riders Make Noise