APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Appleton’s Common Council decided to limit the use of automated license plate reading cameras (ALPR) and tabled a resolution to increase penalties for excessive vehicle noise.
The ALPR limit is the first of its kind for our area.
ALPR limits would ban city from acquiring ALPR cameras for streets
Three months after Appleton deactivated its ALPR cameras, Common Council went one step further. Common Council decided to prohibit the city from using, acquiring, installing or funding any ALPR cameras with only a few exceptions.
“This really has been a community effort,” said District 11 Alderperson Adrian Stancil-Martin, who proposed the partial ban. “People have continued to show up, continued to call and message about this. I didn’t see a reason not to introduce something like this. This has been asked of us for so long.”
This prohibits any ALPR cameras from being used like Flock cameras were, photographing license plates to help police in investigations. The only exceptions are to enforce parking, control nonpublic areas and regulate commercial vehicles. It specifically prohibits the city from using them, but not necessarily private companies within Appleton.
Appleton is the first municipality in our area to pass such a ban — Oshkosh discussed a similar resolution at its Council meeting last Tuesday while Green Bay continues to stand by its ALPR camera use.
The vote passed 11-1 with Ald. Brad Firkus as the only dissenter.
Noise ordinance would have raised first-offense penalty to $500
If the council had passed the noise resolution tonight, first-time offenders of the noise ordinance would have been subject to a fine of up to $500 plus court costs, and second-time offenders would have faced a fine of up to $1,000 plus court costs. Instead, the council decided to send it back to committee, meaning a group of council members in the Safety and Licensing Committee will have new discussions and can make amendments before taking up a full council vote. That’s likely to take place next Wednesday, October 28.
Appleton currently fines up to $100, plus court costs, to a first-time offender and $200 to a second-time offender, according to a resolution passed in February 2025.
“We saw that the police department has increased enforcement by 43%, yet the problem still persists,” said Ald. Vered Meltzer, who authored the proposal. “So I looked at our penalties and I [thought] this is clearly not an effective deterrent.”
The resolution targets those accelerating to create unnecessary noise caused by excessive engine revving, tire squealing or causing tires to throw stones or gravel while accelerating. A group called “Stop the Noise,” led by downtown Appleton resident Steve Kuper and Ald. Martyn Smith, pushed for more restrictions last fall.
“To increase is a good thing, so that the citation hurts instead of just a slap on the wrist,” Kuper said over the phone. He said he hopes consistent enforcement accompanies it, as the noise level has at times improved, but not always.
Smith agrees that steeper penalties would only help the cause.
“We’re hopeful that this will allow for better enforcement and certainly make people think twice before blowing past the noise limits,” said Smith.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says increases like this can lead to increases in violations, as the public can see the fines as unfair. This may or may not have any deterrent effect, according to research from the city attorney’s office.
“I’m basically opposed to what’s before council tonight, because I feel like it’s too big of an increase on a percentage basis,” said Ald. Chris Croatt.
Police officers have discretion over excessive vehicle noise — there isn’t an exact threshold.
