From his 17th floor apartment near Fiserv Forum, Roger Winter can hear the roar of motorcycle engines and the sound of music blaring from speakers. It’s so loud that it sometimes triggers his Apple Watch’s loud noise notification, he said.
“I close my windows, shut the door, turn the AC up, and I still hear it,” Winter, 79, said.
The ruckus goes on all night most weekends, but it’s primarily during the warmer months of the year, he said. He asked Public Investigator what can be done about the noise.
It’s up to the Milwaukee Police Department to enforce the city’s excessive noise ordinance, but it can be tricky. Here’s what you need to know about filing a complaint with the city.
What counts as excessive noise in Milwaukee?
Any noise that disturbs the “peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring occupants” could qualify as a public nuisance, according to the city’s ordinance. Some examples described in the ordinance are loud music, engine noise and even lawn mowers and construction sites operating at late hours. Just about any noise that can be heard 50 feet or more from its source can qualify as a nuisance.
How do I file an excessive noise complaint?
You can call the Milwaukee Police Department’s non-emergency line at 414-933-4444.
To file a loud vehicle complaint, the department recommends you collect as much information about the vehicle as possible, including, license plate number, make and model, and date and time of the incident, an MPD spokesperson said. You may need to testify in court if a citation is issued, the ordinance states.
How does MPD decide whether to issue a citation?
If officers can hear the noise from 50 feet or more away, they may issue a citation, the ordinance says. But it’s up to the officer’s discretion whether to issue a citation for a “a defective or illegal muffler,” the department said.
How much does this citation cost?
The citation for defective or modified mufflers can range from $98.80 to $124. A citation for loud music from vehicles is $240, the department said.
“Depending on the behavior the driver is engaging in there may be other violations that would be appropriate,” the department said.
What else can be done to address excessive noise?
Street closures are one approach that Winter said has helped reduce the noise around his building. Winter noticed about a year ago that the city began closing off North King Drive between Juneau Avenue and State Street on Friday and Saturday nights around 9 p.m. It’s helped reduce the flow of loud vehicles on weekend nights, Winter said.
The police department has closed off this section occasionally over the past decade and began closing it permanently in the summer months in 2022 “due to cruising issues and loud music,” the department said.
“The street closure adds extra safety for the public to cross the street,” the department said in an email Oct. 15. “Also, the street closure helps us maintain control over any ‘vehicle/motorcycle cruising’ which we have historically seen in this area.”
However, Winter says citations are the best route.
“Nothing can get somebody’s attention faster than a fine,” Winter said.
Alderman Robert Bauman, whose district includes downtown, agrees.
“The only remedy is for police to enforce the law,” Bauman said.
How can I report a vehicle if I can’t see the license plate?
That’s tricky, especially if you’re on the 17th floor like Winter. He says he wouldn’t be able to see a license plate from up there.
“Am I supposed to get binoculars?” Winter said. “It’s not realistic.”
The police department said it won’t be able to identify the car without the necessary details. Winter could request extra patrol in his district during the times he notices this nuisance, the department said.
Excessive noise is a frequent issue in District 4, according to Bauman. He said it’s among many quality-of-life issues that people are noticing.
“They see the reckless driving, the running of stop signs, the loud motorcycles and street takeovers that completely disrupt a neighborhood,” Bauman said.
Gina Lee Castro is a Public Investigator reporter for the Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at gcastro@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: You ask, we answer: What can I do about loud motorcycles in my Milwaukee neighborhood?
Reporting by Gina Lee Castro, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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