Appleton Police Department patch. (PHOTO: Courtesy of Fox 11 WLUK)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Appleton Police and Health Departments has shared new data on its push for vehicle noise enforcement in the city’s downtown corridor.
In a post on social media, the health department shared Appleton Police has issued 306 noise-related enforcement actions from January through May of this year.
Noise enforcement in the city is up 43%, and the 306 actions marks the highest during the stretch in five years.
The department says the rise is from additional enforcement activity, without a corresponding increase in resident complaints.
Back in March, Appleton Police says it issued 37 noise violations in the downtown corridor in January and February of 2026.
Those violations included:
- Equipping a motor vehicle with an illegal muffler
- Operating a vehicle without an adequate muffler
- Excessive revving/squealing tires
- Loud/unnecessary noise
- Modified/defective exhaust
Last September, a group called “Stop the Noise” raised awareness about the negative impact excessive noise was having on those living and working in downtown Appleton. They hoped to inspire change and increase enforcement of existing ordinances.
Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford responded, noting the police department had introduced two dedicated traffic safety officers in the last four years and had recently begun issuing more equipment violation citations to combat it.
“I understand the changes aren’t coming fast enough for folks,” said Woodford last fall. “This issue didn’t emerge overnight, and it’s not going to go away overnight.”
The full report from the Appleton Health Department can be found on their Facebook page.
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