Glendale, AZ Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- 1st engine-brake violation
- $100.00 mandatory fine
- 2nd violation (12 mo.)
- $500.00 mandatory fine
- 3rd+ violation (12 mo.)
- Class 1 misdemeanor
- Tire squealing
- Banned, § 24-94(a)
- Emergency exception
- Imminent danger only
Summary
Glendale bans intentional tire-squealing acceleration or cornering and unmuffled engine braking on any city street. A first engine-brake violation carries a mandatory $100 civil fine, a second within 12 months is $500, and a third becomes a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(b)Engine braking; exceptions; violations.(1)A person commits the offense of engine braking if the person is operating a motor vehicle on any public street, roadway or highway in this city and uses an unmuffled engine brake...(4)A violation of any provision of this section shall be deemed a public nuisance. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a civil offense for the first violation with a mandatory fine amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00), a civil violation for a second offense in a twelve-month period with a mandatory fine amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00), and any subsequent offenses in the same twelve-month period will be charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 115).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 24-94(a) prohibits intentionally operating a vehicle at a speed on a curve or turn that creates loud and unnecessary noise through squealing tires, accelerating or decelerating to create the same squealing noise, or driving so as to damage the public right-of-way. Subsection (b) separately targets engine braking: a person commits the offense of engine braking by operating a motor vehicle on any public street, roadway or highway in the city while using an unmuffled engine brake. Reckless and negligent violations require no proof of intent or knowledge, per (b)(2), and (b)(3) exempts use of an unmuffled engine brake in an emergency to avoid imminent danger to a person or property.
00 fine for a second offense within a 12-month period, and a Class 1 misdemeanor for any subsequent offense in that same 12-month period, punished under state law. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate misdemeanor offense. A cross-reference in the code points to § 25-67 for the city's general vehicular noise standard, which sits in the separate noise chapter.
Violations & Fines
A first § 24-94(b) engine-braking violation is a civil offense with a mandatory $100.00 fine; a second within 12 months carries a mandatory $500.00 fine; any further violation in that same 12-month window is charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor under state law, and each additional day of a continuing violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is using a Jake brake illegal in Glendale, Arizona?
How much is the fine for engine braking in Glendale?
Can I use my engine brake in an emergency in Glendale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
Compare Glendale to another location·View the Arizona noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Vehicle Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle vehicle noise.