HomeMy WebLinkAbout088 - 06/03/2025 - AMENDING SECTION 225 OF THE FORT COLLINS TRAFFIC CODE TO CLARIFY THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EQUIPMENT VIORDINANCE NO.088,2025
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING SECTION 225 OF THE FORT COLLINS TRAFFIC CODE TO CLARIFY
TI-IE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS RELATED TO MUFFLERS
A.Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS)staff continue to receive numerous
reports from community members regarding noise occurrences throughout the City.
These reports span a variety of sources including vehicle-related noise complaints.
B.In response,FCPS has reviewed reported incidents and citations related to
noise violations from 2023 to 2024.The goal was to assess how effectively current
ordinances are being used in enforcement and what code updates would better assist
police in enforcement of these violations.
C.Based on this analysis,an amendment to the current muffler ordinance was
identified and presented to the Council as an option to consider at the April 22,2025,
work session.
D.Amending the muffler ordinance language in Section 225 of the Fort Collins
Traffic Code will enhance clarity and allow police staff to apply the ordinance more
effectively during enforcement efforts.Specifically,the ordinance is broken out into
sections adding clarity for officers to enforce equipment violations related to noise.
In light of the foregoing recitals,which the Council hereby makes and adopts as
determinations and findings,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS that Section 225 of the Fort Collins Traffic Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
225.-Mufflers.
(1)No person shall operate a motor vehicle subject to registration and operated
on a roadway without an adequate muffler in constant operation that is
properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise.
(2)No person shall operate a motor vehicle with a muffler or exhaust system
that is equipped with a straight pipe exhaust system,a cut-off,bypass or
similar device.
(3)No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner
which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of such vehicle
above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle,and such
original muffler shall comply with all of the requirements of this Section.
(4)Any commercial vehicle,as defined in Section 42-4-235,C.R.S.,subject to
registration and operated on a roadway,that is equipped with an engine
compression brake device is required to have a muffler.
(5)For the purposes of this Section,muffler shall mean a device consisting of
a series of chamber or baffle plates or other mechanical design for the
purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and
effective in reducing noise.Straight pipe exhaust system shall mean any
straight muffler that does not contain baffles,including but not limited to
glass packs,steel packs and straight pipes.
(6)This Section shall not apply to electric motor vehicles.
Introduced,considered favorably on first reading on May 20,2025,and approved
on second reading for final passage on June 3,2025.
/4
ayor
ATTEST:
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Effective Date:June 13,2025
Approving Attorney:Dawn Downs
Exhibits:None