Mesquite, TX Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- Plainly audible at 50 feet
- Measurement
- No decibel meter required
- Penalty
- Class C misdemeanor, up to $2,000
- Enforced by
- Mesquite Police Department
- Code section
- City Code Sec. 10-71
Summary
Mesquite treats sound from a vehicle or its audio equipment as an illegal noise disturbance when it is plainly audible at 50 feet or more in a public right-of-way, or from a neighboring property's boundary line. Officers need no decibel meter to cite it.
[Sound is a noise disturbance when] plainly audible [by a peace officer or enforcement agent] ... located on the receiving property (at the curb line or boundary line of the receiving property) ... located on the boundary line closest to the source of the sound ... located at fifty (50) feet, or more, from where the source of the sound is generated, if in a space accessible to the public or a public right-of-way.
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 10, Article III, Section 10-71 of the Mesquite City Code, sound becomes a noise disturbance when a peace officer or enforcement agent finds it plainly audible on the receiving property, at the boundary line closest to the source, or at 50 feet or more from the source in a space accessible to the public or a public right-of-way. That last prong is how Mesquite Police cite loud car stereos and sound-amplification systems without a decibel reading. Section 10-71 also folds in the state muffler requirement (Texas Transportation Code Section 547.604) and Mesquite's own engine-compression-braking ban (Section 9-249).
Violations & Fines
A noise disturbance is a Class C misdemeanor prosecuted in Mesquite Municipal Court, carrying a fine up to $2,000 per incident, with each offense subject to a separate citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Mesquite ticket a loud car stereo without a decibel reading?
How much is the fine for a vehicle noise disturbance?
Does the ordinance also cover loud mufflers and exhaust?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mesquite
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Mesquite to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
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Vehicle Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle vehicle noise.