By John Howell Sr.

Batesville police will crack down loud vehicles, whether the noise comes from poor or non-existent mufflers or from music systems, Police Chief Tony Jones said.

Jones pledged stricter enforcement following a visit to the meeting of the mayor and board of aldermen by Eureka Street resident Chuck Johnson.

“I’m coming today as a concerned citizen … very concerned about the external noise being emitted by the exhaust systems of some vehicles in this town,” Johnson said. Johnson said that an incident at a noisy neighborhood party visited by drivers of loud vehicles had prompted his visit to the board meeting.

“It’s come to a head,” Johnson said.

Deputy Police Chief Don Province said that city ordinances prohibit both loud vehicles and “nuisances,” both of which were applicable to the situation Johnson had described.

Province said that he encouraged citizens who were disturbed by activities like those Johnson had described to call the police department and ask the dispatcher to not reveal their identity but to request an officer investigate the complaint.

Johnson said that he did not call police while the party was ongoing because some of his neighbors thought they might be associated with having prompted the police visit and feared retaliation.

“That’s different from loud mufflers,” Chief Jones said.

“I think the loud music ought to be in there, too,” Ward 3 Alderman Stan Harrison said.

“Our guys do write these citations for loud mufflers and music,” Province said.

 “Loud music can be a judgment call, … what I consider to be loud, you may not,” Jones said.

Jones and Province later presented copies of the vehicle noise ordinance that states that music is too loud if an officer can hear it 30 feet away from the vehicles.

The police chief also said that a driver can control vehicle most exhaust noises, regardless of the equipment. “I can put straight pipes on a vehicle and ease around town anywhere you won’t ever hear them … it depends on the driver …. If it passes state inspection then the mufflers are legal,” Jones said.

“I had one hurt my ear yesterday,” Ward Four Alderman Eddie Nabors said.

Jones said that his department would respond to the complaints with increased enforcement of the vehicle noise ordinance, which also targets vehicles that emit fumes and smoke.