WeHo hears you loud and clear: The roads are too noisy.
In a bid to address vehicular noise pollution, West Hollywood City Council is set to deliberate on a new proposal this Monday night. Spearheaded by Councilmember John Heilman, the initiative seeks to collaborate with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station to develop a comprehensive strategy aimed at mitigating noise disturbances caused by vehicles in the city.
The proposal outlines a two-pronged approach: firstly, to direct the city staff to work closely with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to formulate a plan to address the vehicular noise issues, and secondly, to report back to the City Council with the proposed strategy during the regular semi-annual community safety update. This will allow for further Council deliberation before any implementation takes place.
The move comes in response to a plethora of complaints from residents about the excessive noise, particularly from high-end vehicles with modified exhaust systems, disrupting the peace in residential areas. According to the World Health Organization, noise pollution from busy roads is nearly as harmful to health as air pollution, contributing to various health issues such as hypertension and heart disease.
West Hollywood’s existing Noise Control Ordinance, established shortly after the city’s founding in 1985 and amended over the years, prohibits excessive noise in support of community health, safety, and quality of life. The ordinance specifically addresses noise from engines and mechanical devices in residential districts, especially during the quiet hours between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
The California Vehicle Code already mandates that motor vehicles must have a functioning muffler to prevent excessive or unusual noise and prohibits the modification of exhaust systems in a way that increases noise levels.
The proposal also references the city’s efforts in 2020 to implement additional noise mitigation measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and its support in 2015 for regulating helicopter noise in Los Angeles County.
Add speed bumps to all residential streets so when they’re driving from Santa Monica Blvd to Sunset they can’t speed up the roads without wrecking their rented super cars. Also make/enforce laws about engine revving. Going into Laguna Beach there are massive signs warning loud cars would receive tickets…seems to work.
I live very near San Vicente Blvd. Only one traffic light between Sunset and Santa Monica, so cars head both up and down the street as fast as possible. Exhaust roar, danger for pedestrians to cross, dangerous to drive at the legal speed – and woe to those of us trying to turn into our own driveways. Road Rage, crazed people swerving across the double-yellow because they’re delayed a few seconds, spitting, throwing things, etc.
One of the main problems are cars without mufflers and motorcycles and sports cars that make a lot of noise up and down the Sunset Strip and on Santa Monica Blvd
The City’s noise ordinance also has to e updated with respect to pool equipment. It fully exempts all noises made by properly maintained equipment “required but the City.” The fact is that the equipment over the last decade is easy to regulate so it does not operate excessive hours or make a lot of noise. The heater component is the most annoying, and it is not necessary at all from a health/safety perspective. Pool equipment should be regulated as to hours and as to noise levels. The equipment behind me has been reasonable since tenants moved in — occupying my… Read more »
Fun Fun Fun! Oh the nimbly week spot! Next one of you that appeals a housing project, you might find a new musical group visits you at various times. THE BULLHORNETS!
It will take a lot more than citing loud cars and bikes. Redesigning traffic flow and restricting traffic movement with such measures as cul de sacs will do more. A great percentage of traffic is “drive through”with all their bad habits. City traffic design is still 1970. But, we haven’t even begun to talk about such things as permits for auto use in core areas, parking, …etc.
How about the seemingly endless law enforcement and news helicopter flyovers? When I lived in Weho it was unbearable.
How about the ridiculous amount of noise from the unfathomable number of law enforcement and news helicopter flyovers in West Hollywood? Years ago when I lived in Weho it was unbelievable. Everybody blamed everybody else and claimed they couldn’t do anything about it. I was even harassed for complaining. The companies selling thermal pain windows loved it of course. I pray the situation has improved although I doubt it.
Many of those choppers are LAPD’s – and yes, news choppers. FAA sets regs for those as well as the enforcement of those regs.
Suggest you lobby your Member of Congress to update the laws regarding overflight of populated areas by aircraft.
So just 2 years ago the Counciltwits wanted low level traffic stops terminated due to alleged racial profiling. Guess they need to provide a list to LASD of what actually they want enforced.
The good thing about racial profiling,( if such a thing even exists) is that it prevents criminal behavior.
“If such a thing exists.”
Seriously?
You should get out of Malibu on occasion, and maybe read some of the national, local, and worldwide papers.
No, it does not.
https://innocenceproject.org/how-racial-bias-contributes-to-wrongful-conviction/
https://reason.com/volokh/2020/06/08/the-problem-of-racial-profiling-why-it-matters-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/
https://www.aclu.org/issues/racial-justice/race-and-criminal-justice/racial-profiling
OH my prayers are being answered! Unfortunately years of neglect of this issue has led to the insanity that we deal with here every night, It has become so lax that car dealerships sell vehicles with the mufflers already modified as an upsell. Is this legal? 20 years ago if your muffler was making noise you were ticketed straight away. It’s time to start tightening up the roads. Too many pedestrian deaths, street races and takeovers, excessive speeding. It’s like the wild west out there right now. Even the recent car chases are getting more dangerous with many recently exceeding… Read more »
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2022-hyundai-elantra-n-loud-exhaust-police-california/
WHILE YOU’RE AT IT, CAN YOU PLEASE MONITOR THE BARS & CLUBS A LOT OF WHICH HAVE SPEAKERS ON THE OUTSIDE BLASTING MUSIC. thanks.
The clubs have doubled their outside volume to “attract customers” as one DJ said. It is unbearable walking down the bicycle path next to cars let alone on the sidewalks. Code enforcement is always informed. Nothing changes.
Noble idea, but like anything else, without the proper manpower there will be zero enforcement. When was the last time any of us saw someone being ticketed for riding a scooter on the sidewalk, running a stop sign on a bike, texting while driving, etc.? The idealism of the City Council is admirable but unattainable. Let’s focus on crime and homelessness before stretching are minimal police resources any further.
It’s pretty impossible to go 10′ down the sidewalk without being near a homeless coming after you. It used to be at night, now during the day. Welcome to San Francisco, A friend just visited and said the gay Castro is closed because of this.
I heard Fisherman’s Wharf is a ghost town. I pray that’s not true because the memories that I have from my time spent there have lasted almost 40 years now