As louder engines roar through Downtown, the city steps up enforcement.
On any given weekend, Downtown Raleigh pulses with life—from concerts at Red Hat Amphitheater to the buzz of nightlife. But for many area residents, the lively scene comes with a deafening downside: engines screaming long past last call.
“It’s mostly coming from motorcycles and street racers who’ve modified their vehicles to be as loud as possible,” says Ginny Hager, who loves DTR life—minus the sleepless nights drowned out by motor mayhem. Imagine all your neighbors went out and bought a “superpowered lawnmower and simultaneously ran it for five hours straight—that’s the level of noise we’re talking about. … They circle past at 3am, revving their engines—clearly trying to draw attention.” Never mind, adds fellow DTR resident Beth Butler, many of these vehicles are outfitted with massive stereos blaring music at all hours…