Hammond, IN Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

22 bars operating a motor vehicle on a public right-of-way if the sound pressure level it emits exceeds the limits in Table 1, measured at a standard height of four feet and a horizontal distance of 25 feet from the center line of the monitored traffic lane. Table 1 sets limits by posted speed limit and vehicle class: at 0 to 30 mph, trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight are capped at 92 dB(A), trucks under 10,000 pounds at 86 dB(A), passenger cars at 82 dB(A), and motorcycles and other non-highway vehicles at 86 dB(A); at 31 to 55 mph, those same categories rise to 96, 90, 86 and 90 dB(A) respectively.

Division (C) separately caps motorized vehicles and recreational devices operated off a public right-of-way, including trailers, motorcycles, minibikes, go-carts, snowmobiles, amphibious craft, dune buggies, racing vehicles, water ski towing devices and watercraft, at the Table 2 limit of 82 dB(A), measured at four feet height and 50 feet from the centerline of travel. Division (E) provides that if the federal EPA sets its own noise standards for licensed interstate motor carriers under the Federal Noise Control Act of 1972, those federal standards and measurement methods supersede Hammond's local limits for the carriers they cover.

The section is titled to include "preemption," reflecting that federal standards can override it for interstate carriers specifically. 22 specifically, the cited person can request noise testing within ten days of the Chief's decision to affirm the notice.