Jackson, TN Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Section 15-412 sits in Title 15, Chapter 4 among the city's other driving-conduct rules, next to backing vehicles safely under § 15-411 and following too closely under § 15-424, and it bars unnecessarily sounding the horn, "racing" the motor, or causing tires to "screech" or "squeal." Jackson Police Department officers, whose traffic-enforcement authority comes from §§ 15-103 and 15-110, write the citations, which go onto the docket the city judge keeps under § 3-201. Because unnecessary vehicle noise happens while a vehicle is being operated, it is treated as a moving-vehicle offense for court-cost purposes: § 3-204's schedule of court costs sets $20.00 in costs for moving-vehicle violations, charged in Jackson City Court in addition to whatever fine the judge sets for the specific offense.

The rule applies to any motor vehicle operated on a Jackson street, alley or public way, and covers the three most common driver-noise complaints the code names by name: horn use, engine racing and tire squeal, rather than leaving the standard to a vague "reasonable noise" test.