Tinley Park, IL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Threshold, roads 35 mph or less
- 86 dB(A) at 50 feet
- Threshold, roads over 35 mph
- 90 dB(A) at 50 feet
- Measurement method
- Fast meter response, 35 Ill. Admin. Code § 900.103
- Governing section
- Village Code § 70.11(E)
- Max fine
- $500 per offense under § 70.99
Summary
Tinley Park sets numeric decibel thresholds for motor vehicle noise: 86 dB(A) on roads posted 35 mph or under, and 90 dB(A) on faster roads, both measured 50 feet from the travel lane. Village Code § 70.11(E) makes a vehicle at or above those levels a conclusive, automatic violation, no officer judgment call required.
(E) A violation of this section shall be conclusively presumed if a motor driven vehicle makes a noise at or above the following decibel levels: (1) On roadways with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less, 86 dB (A) measured with fast meter response at 50 feet from the centerline of lane of travel, or an equivalent sound level limit measured in accordance with procedures established under Chapter 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code, § 900.103. (2) On roadways with speed limits of more than 35 miles per hour, 90 dB (A), measured with fast meter response at 50 feet from the centerline of lane of travel, or an equivalent sound level limit measured in accordance with procedures established under Chapter 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code, § 900.103.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-40: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance 2026-O-007, passed 2-17-2026, Resolution 2018-R-077, passed 10-2-18, and State legislation current through 2010 Pamphlet No. 7).
Full Breakdown
11(A). Rather than leaving officers to judge whether a noise is unreasonable, subsection (E) creates a conclusive presumption of a violation once a motor driven vehicle's noise reaches a set decibel level. On roadways posted 35 miles per hour or less, that threshold is 86 dB(A); on roadways posted above 35 mph, it rises to 90 dB(A). 103, the state's vehicle noise-emission testing standard. Because the presumption is conclusive, a reading at or above the threshold is itself sufficient proof of a violation; the driver does not get to argue the noise was reasonable once the meter reading clears the line.
11(B) through (D) banning cut-out mufflers and altered exhaust systems, so a vehicle can be cited either for a specific decibel reading or for the underlying equipment defect that produced it. The section was adopted by Ord. 99.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding 86 dB(A) on a 35-mph-or-slower street, or 90 dB(A) on a faster one, measured 50 feet from the travel lane, is a conclusive violation of § 70.11 carrying the § 70.99 fine of up to $500 per offense. No separate decibel-specific penalty exists, so each measured incident is charged under the section's general title penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is vehicle noise measured in Tinley Park?
Does the speed limit of the street change the noise limit?
Can I contest a decibel-based noise ticket?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tinley Park
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How other cities in Cook County handle decibel limits.