Nix the Noise in the 'Noog

Here is a recent comment from a thread on 311 NEXTDOOR website: I live behind the church in Hixson Pike and have been here over 50 years. I hear these blasted things all times of the day and night racing up into the S curves and am so sick of it. I realize the police can’t catch them as it would be to dangerous for the police officers and they would be taking to much of a chance. Surely there is something that can be done to fix this problem. I feel for those who have those nice houses right there in the S curves, it must be awful for them. This will never stop and like you I do think something needs to be done. Death doesn’t stop these idiots who ride these bikes so wrecklessly and yet if you hit one you are at fault. I have seen them riding down Hixson Pike on two wheels just showing off. This needs to stop but I don’t know how as you can talk to these people and they really don’t know anymore than you do, and are at a loss. 11 July 2020

UPDATE: Sept. 3, 2020: City of CHA residents continue to be concerned about this issue; another thread of citizen comments showed up recently on the 311 NextDoor website. And here is my Aug 25th post on the NextDoor "Motorcycle Racing" thread: The official CPD policy is to not pursue speeding vehicles for public safety reasons.

Modifications to automobile and motorcycles in Chattanooga is a current trend. It’s out of control and excessive. I walk down Market street bridge and Cherokee Blvd daily and it has become a racetrack for modified cars/motorcycles. I have a business on South Broad street as well. The police look the other way. These modified cars and trucks basically have taken over our Chattanooga. City law enforcement and city officials have not adddessed this issue. It’s time for the citizens of Chattanooga to enforce it if the city will not. It’s time to vote for public officials who make this a part of their agenda. Enough is enough! We are suppose to be a tourist driven city. Why would anyone want to visit a city when your eardrums are blown out during a walk down the street. Shame on the city of Chattanooga for allowing this and turning the other way. Frank Baker

Please stop the loud speeding motorcycles on Hixson Pike, from around Barton Ave through the S-curves and at least as far as North Access Rd. They are a daily disturbance of the peace and traffic hazard.

Ridiculous that nothing can be done for the motorcyclists that use Hixson Pike for their race track. This is going to end up very tragically if something is not done to stop them.

Motorcycles racing on Hixson Pike and S curves is a daily and nightly annoyance that is going to have a tragic ending if something is not done. Please find a way to pick up and stop these motorcycle drivers.

The noise pollution is unhealthy and very disturbing to the citizens causing undue distress and increased anxiety

Frazier’s Avenue is very loud these days.

sounds like Boyd's speedway and fast

We want a noise ordinance for barking dogs. Noise is noise. Stops these dogs from barking. It’s animal abuse too

At the meeting with City Attorney Noblett , he advised that he would research the issue and get back to me. I know that he is very busy and now with the City under a declared state of emergency, I will of course wait until that has been called off to contact him for a follow up meeting.

I did meet with City Attorney Phil Noblett on January 24. We discussed the ordinances which state: (a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any street in the city unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke. (b) It shall be unlawful to use a "muffler cutout" on any motor vehicle upon any road, street or highway. (c) Trucks, tractors, and semitrailers, as defined in T.C.A. § 55-8-101, shall not use an engine compression braking device unless the engine compression braking device is equipped with an operational approved muffler to prevent excessive or unusual noise. In this section, "approved muffler" shall mean any muffler that complies with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations on noise emissions found at 49 CFR 325, et. seq.

Hi All, I'm still working on this issue; talking with public and city government officials to learn more about it. Now of of course, all of our attention is justifiably focused on the Co-vid 19 public health issue. Please take care of yourselves and friends and family.

Please share the link to this petition with interested family, friends, and neighbors. Let's work on getting at least 150 signatures!

Hi All, h Happy January 2020 and an update: I have a meeting scheduled with Chattanooga City Attorney Phil Noblett on Friday. City Councilman Jerry Mitchell advised me to meet with him. I will ask Mr. Noblett how the ordinance requiring mufflers on all vehicles can be enforced. Will keep you posted.

I just can't stand hearing the noise of a loud vehicle passing by me, because they don't have a muffler or they have a device on their vehicles that are made purposely to be loud. I hope our officials can get this problem under control. Thanks.

We live off of Hixson Pike and the loud motorcycles are a nightly disturbance. Please enforce the noise ordinance.

Please take a moment to email your City Council member; cite the City Code language quoted in my previous comment from a few minutes ago (below) and add your personal request that the city government please enforce this code. Here is the link to our City Council members: http://www.chattanooga.gov/city-council/council-members If you aren't sure which district you live in, click on one of the member's names to go to their page. Once you are on a member's page, click on the link under their name: "District Lookup" I tried it a few minutes ago and the lookup link wasn't working. If that is the case with you, please email Jerry Mitchell, Dt 2. He's my rep and is supportive of our request.The more (polite) emails they receive about this,the stronger our case is. And please remember to share this petition with people you know who support this request and who live within the city limits.

A petition signer requested that I add this to the petition language; until I figure out how to edit the petition, here is the additional language directly from the City of CHA City Code: Sec. 24-438. - Mufflers and approved engine compression braking devices; definitions; noise test and signage. (a)No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any street in the city unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke.(b)It shall be unlawful to use a "muffler cutout" on any motor vehicle upon any road, street or highway.(c)Trucks, tractors, and semitrailers, as defined in T.C.A. § 55-8-101, shall not use an engine compression braking device unless the engine compression braking device is equipped with an operational approved muffler to prevent excessive or unusual noise. In this section, "approved muffler" shall mean any muffler that complies with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations on noise emissions found at 49 CFR 325, et. seq.(d)The Transportation Department is authorized and directed to conduct an engineering and traffic investigation to determine areas of the City which are subject to excessive or unusual noise and to place signage on such city streets which are necessary to limit excessive roadway noise to adjoining property owners. Excessive or unusual noise shall be considered in conformance with the provisions described in sections 25-66 through 25-74 of the Chattanooga City Code as well as this section.(e)"Excessive or unusual noise" shall include, but not be limited to, any sound made by a motor vehicle at any time under any condition of grade, speed, acceleration, or de-acceleration which exceeds ninety (90) decibels with reference to .0002 microbar.(f)Any test made by a mechanical instrument shall have the A Scale weighing network and fast meter response specified in American Standards Association specification

From my home on Crestwood Drive, the noise from non-compliant motor cycles, autos and trucks traveling on Hixson Pike and Fernway Rd., is extreme. Also, the street noise from non-compliant vehicles outside my office downtown at Broad St. and W. sixth St. is extreme. Noise from just one excessively loud vehicle typically disturbs hundreds of people along the vehicles route and for what benefit to the city. This problem can and should be promptly resolved by our city and county leaders!!...Jim Bullard