Fort Collins Police Educate Community on Updated Vehicle Noise Ordinances
Fort Collins Police Department recently hosted a Coffee & Conversations with a Cop event focused on newly updated municipal traffic codes addressing vehicle noise, officials announced September 23.
The community engagement session provided residents an opportunity to learn about modifications to Traffic Code 225 (Mufflers) and the newly adopted Code 1418 (Unreasonable vehicle noise), which was officially passed as Ordinance No. 086, 2025 and adopted by City Council on June 4, 2025.
The updated regulations require all vehicles to maintain properly functioning mufflers and prohibit modifications designed to increase noise levels. Specifically, the codes ban straight pipes, cut-offs, bypasses, and similar devices that amplify vehicle sounds beyond legal limits.
According to Fort Collins municipal traffic codes, violations can result in fines of $1,000 or more per infraction, significantly higher than standard moving violations in the city, which typically range from $35 to $150 for offenses like speeding.
The enhanced penalties place Fort Collins among the most stringent jurisdictions in Northern Colorado for vehicle noise enforcement. Loveland imposes fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 per violation, while Greeley maintains similar penalty structures with specific decibel limits of 55 dBA for residential areas during daytime hours and 50 dBA during nighttime.
Police officers use both subjective and objective criteria to determine violations, including audible distance from vehicles, time of day, neighborhood context, and resident complaints. For precise measurements, enforcement may utilize sound level meters calibrated according to national standards, with readings taken at 25 feet from the nearest traffic lane during low-wind conditions.
The Coffee & Conversations with a Cop program, established by Fort Collins Police in the early 2010s, hosts monthly or quarterly community meetings to address local concerns and explain policy changes. The sessions regularly cover traffic safety, neighborhood policing priorities, and updates to municipal codes.
Beyond basic muffler requirements, the updated ordinances specifically target intentionally disruptive vehicle modifications and behaviors. The codes prohibit engine revving, tire squealing, excessive music volume, and amplified horn use at disruptive levels in residential areas.
Fort Collins police officers receive specialized training in noise ordinance interpretation and sound measurement equipment operation to ensure consistent enforcement of the updated regulations.
The enhanced focus on vehicle noise comes as Fort Collins continues addressing quality of life concerns in residential neighborhoods. The ordinances aim to balance residents' expectations for peaceful communities with vehicle owners' rights to modify their automobiles within legal parameters.
Residents can review the complete updated Traffic Codes 225 and 1418 on the City of Fort Collins website through the municipal clerk's office codes section.