A new city ordinance aimed at reducing excessively loud vehicles was unanimously approved by the Cheyenne City Council on Monday.
According to the ordinance, every car operating inside the city limits must have a muffler. It specifically forbids cars that produce “excessive smoke” and those that bypass or remove their mufflers in order to make noise.
For a first offense, violators could face a fine of $100 to $200. These penalties would include jail time and would rise with each subsequent infraction.
Residents of Cheyenne are very opposed to the measure, fearing it will be used against local car clubs and alienate young people. Others said they were unclear about how it would be implemented.
The goal of the rule, according to Councilman Pete Laybourn, is to prevent Cheyenne from turning into a “wild west free-for-all.”
He declared, “We’re not on a regulatory binge.” “We’re attempting to fulfill our duties.
Additionally, he voiced skepticism about the rule’s potential to drive young people out of town, asking, “Drive them where?”
During the measure’s second reading earlier this month, Mayor Patrick Collins clarified that the timing of the offense and the conduct of the perpetrator are important factors taken into account by the ordinance.
“Maybe it’s not as important if you’re here on a Saturday and the car is a little noisier, but if you’re sitting at a stop light at two on a Tuesday morning and you’re revving your engine and making a backfire pop, I think that’s what we’re looking for,” he said. “If possible, please make it quieter, especially in the evenings.”
During that meeting, Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco stated that the measure is an improvement over the current noise ordinances that require violations to be measured from a 25-foot distance. He claimed that this makes measuring a moving vehicle all but impossible.
Comments from the Public
Collins stated at the beginning of Monday’s ordinance meeting that the measure was meant to assist in “quieting down the community.” He then asked the community members present at the meeting to testify.
According to Andrew Aragon, a resident of Cheyenne, he has owned and maintained a number of motorcycles over his lifetime. He maintained that even before legal exhaust modifications, stock Harley Davidson motorcycles were noisy machines.
He claimed that while a collection of these cars will be noisy, they won’t be disturbing.
He stated, “I don’t think there’s a good way to monitor it.” “I believe there is too much uncertainty regarding how it will be enforced.”
According to Aragon, he would prefer that the ordinance be put into effect for a trial period before being reassessed by the council.
He went on to say, “There is a lot of gray area when pulling a bike over.” “I simply believe that this is not yet ready.”
Cheyenne Motorsports owner Nick Dodgson contended that the vehicle noise standard is “entirely arbitrary” and open to police interpretation. While acknowledging that the ordinance will reduce loud motorcycles, he pointed out that there are also loud cars.
He compared it to the contrast between metal and classical music. He claimed that different sounds appeal to different people. He contended that enforcing this ordinance might discourage young people who like to drive big trucks, which would impede Cheyenne’s development.
Aaron Simoni, a resident of Cheyenne, stated that both of his daughters enjoy working on automobiles. He claimed that there aren’t many stock parts left on either of their cars.
One of his daughters’ vehicles is used for racing and has a strong engine. He claimed that this car only makes noise when it is driven recklessly.
“There is nothing from the factory on those exhausts,” he remarked. “We don’t want to make these kids targets.”
Nancy Sundin, a resident, stated that she was originally from the quiet country and lived three houses west of Central Avenue. She argued that traffic noises can raise the risk of all-cause dementia and cited a study that found they are detrimental to brain health.
She remarked, “At eighty-three, my hearing is very good.” “My point is simply that things would go much more smoothly if we thought about anyone but ourselves.”
According to state representative Lee Filer, a Republican from Cheyenne, he drives an older diesel pickup that emits smoke and loud noises when it tows a trailer. He urged “really good officer discretion” to apprehend erratic and annoying cars while permitting those that do not behave recklessly.
State Representative Alan Sheldon, a Republican from Cheyenne, stated that he disagreed with the ordinance’s ban on modified exhausts, among other things. According to him, his car is actually quieter than a stock car thanks to a modified muffler.
He claimed that while this would meet the decibel requirement, it would be against the modification ban. Additionally, the representative urged the council to consider the possibility of jail time for ordinance violations.
Sheldon stated, “Cheyenne is not a 55+ community or HOA.” We have an Air Force base and an airport. There will be some noise here.
Council Responds
After closing public comment, members of the council debated the implementation of the ordinance.
An amendment put forth by Councilwoman Michelle Aldrich would mandate that the council examine information obtained by the local police force and reassess the ordinance a year after it was first implemented. That motion was seconded by Councilman Scott Roybal.
“A lot of questions have been raised,” she stated. “I believe that just by having this conversation, we’ve already had a significant impact.”
Aldrich specifically requested data on the quantity of tickets issued and whether the majority of the tickets were issued to motorbikes or cars. She added that location and time of day will be crucial information in assessing the ordinance’s effects.
Although she had supported the ordinance at the start of the evening, Councilwoman Kathy Emmons stated that she was “really struggling” to approve it. She claimed that the public comments made her concerned about the ordinance’s “unintended consequences.”
“I’m quite worried about whether or not we can handle it with what we currently have on the books,” she stated.
Two votes were cast against the amendment by Councilmen Laybourn and Tom Segrave. Following additional public feedback on the proposal, the council approved the amendment, which will be reviewed on October 31, 2026.
Councilman Ken Esquibel mentioned that he has two loud motorcycles and a loud Call of Duty Modern Warfare III Jeep. In spite of this, he stated, he is prepared to back the Cheyenne rule since he is prepared to abide by it.
According to Councilman Mark Moody, the rule helps set Cheyenne apart from other cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Denver, which is why he supports it. Small regulations, he contended, will assist the city in averting more serious issues down the road.
The ordinance was then unanimously approved by the council in its final vote.
