Sept. 13. By Donna Randazzo. You’ve heard what sounds like gunshots or fireworks on your street or Birkdale Village. The sound can startle a sleeping baby, set your dog on high alert and drown out a conversation.

You’ve seen the posts on social media complaining about these disrespectful drivers.

The backfiring and popping sounds are coming from cars modified to cause this unmistakable, attention-grabbing sound.

As auto trends come and go, this trend, usually among 18-25 year-olds, has become a point of contention in many otherwise quiet neighborhoods.

Modifications are made to these cars to enable a rich air-fuel mixture, releasing unused fuel into the exhaust, where it burns explosively, especially on deceleration when even less fuel is required.

NC statutes are lacking

This begs the question of what, if anything, can be done, to stop the offenders? North Carolina has few laws in place that govern modified vehicles. Mufflers are required on all vehicles and must dampen the engine noise, “to prevent excessive or unusual noise” (NC Statute 20-128. Exhaust system and emissions control devices).

We’ve been woken up at all hours of the night, which we wish these people would put themselves in our shoes. Do they not have jobs to get to or things to wake up for in the morning, not to mention the stress and grief it can cause to an animal, our dog will panic, tremble and cry to the point his heart is racing.

—Cornelius resident

However, there are no stipulations as to how “excessive” and “unusual” noise is defined by the law. More specific noise ordinances and enforcement are set by each city or town.

Within the noise ordinances of Cornelius, Section 92.25 Unreasonably Loud, Disturbing and Excessive Noise Designated states, “It shall be unlawful for any person to create or assist in creating, permit, continue, or permit the continuance of any unreasonably loud, disturbing and excessive noise in the town.”

Chief Baucom

Specifically addressing autos, the ordinance states, “(H) The discharge into the open air of the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, or motor vehicle or boat, except through a muffler or other device which will effectively prevent loud or explosive noise therefrom;’ is prohibited.”

However, Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom said police are limited when it comes to enforcement.

While the goal is to have reasonably quiet streets and neighborhoods, catching the offenders is difficult. If a complaint comes in to the police department, an officer must witness the car emitting the sound to take any action.

Education

The wording of the ordinance leaves it up to the individual officer to determine if a particular vehicle violates the ordinance. In many cases it may be more effective to talk to the owner of the car, rather than calling the police. However, the police are happy to talk to an auto owner, advise them of the law and encourage the person to be respectful of their neighbors and town.

“If someone will tell us which vehicle it is, we’ll go to their house and talk to them,” Baucom stated.

Quotable

“We encourage people to call when they observe a violation and an officer is more than happy to respond and see if we can put a stop to it, and ultimately that’s the goal. We don’t want people to have to deal with the noise any more than the person complaining wants to deal with it,” he said.

“If we can stop it through education, to me that’s as good as a citation, as long as it stops. We can keep an eye on the area during specific times, but we’re just limited when it comes to enforcement.”