Kenosha County has begun enforcing a law that prohibits excessive noise from mufflers that are modified or removed. Last week the Sheriff's Department began making motorists "pipe down." The action was sparked when the Department received more complaints this year than ever before, according to Sgt Gil Benn. Disturbed homeowners say the problem has been ignored for too long, says Benn.
The Wisconsin law against the modified mufflers has been on the books for years but with little enforcement in most of the state.
Feedback on the effort has mostly been positive so far. But two Harley owners groups contacted them about concerns of being singled out. Benn says it's simply a matter of enforcing the law which includes cars such as hot rods with loud mufflers.
"Our summers aren't long enough and to have them disrupted is unreasonable."
Violators must pay $186 per citation.