Woodward Dream Cruise Noise Tickets Dismissed

ROYAL OAK, MI — Woodward Dream Cruisers ticketed under Royal Oak’s strict noise ordinance are catching a break. After being challenged by a local attorney on the validity of the ordinance, the city decided Wednesday to dismissed the tickets and back off of enforcing the ordinance, the Detroit Free Press reported.

“But in an Aug. 2 letter to Royal Oak City Hall, attorney Barton Morris took strong issue with the ordinances. Morris wrote that state law specifically says it is the last word on motor vehicle noise in Michigan, "and no local ordinance can pre-exempt it." He went on to state: "The city's ordinance is blatantly in violation of state law. ... Many people who are simply enjoying the summer with their cars on Woodward feel harassed."

“Still, Royal Oak City Attorney Dave Gillam said, "We have a number of tools" for enforcing noise limits "and the police will use those tools" to ticket motorists and motorcyclists with excessively loud engines, he said. Those tools include general prohibitions against noise that disturbs others, he said.”

For more, go to the Detroit Free Press.

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Photo by OneTwoThreeFourFive via Flickr Commons