Fort Worthians can soon expect more police officers patrolling downtown and new signage warning residents of a crack down on excessive noise.
The area’s public improvement district, managed by nonprofit organization Downtown Fort Worth Inc., and the Fort Worth Police Department partnered to address years of complaints about excessive noise produced by vehicles in the area.
These concerns were largely brought to the nonprofit’s leaders by the Fort Worth Downtown Neighborhood Alliance and public improvement advisory board members, said Matt Beard, Downtown Fort Worth Inc.’s director of public improvement districts.
“Unlike anything else, this is the current issue that we hear the most about,” Beard said.
The excessive noise in downtown Fort Worth is largely produced by vehicles with modified mufflers or exhaust systems and loud stereos, Beard said.
The noise negatively affects the quality of life for residents and commercial establishments by making it difficult for people to sleep, work and enjoy downtown amenities, he added.
Disruptive noise can be heard at all hours in Fort Worth, but data collected by Downtown Fort Worth Inc. showed excessive noise spikes late in the evenings on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
“There’s a lot of fine dining establishments with patios that people are out trying to enjoy in downtown … when a car drives by revving its engine, it’s disruptive,” Beard said.
Luis Galindo, a downtown Fort Worth resident of eight years, says the noise problem began around 2020. Since then, some businesses and restaurants have moved out of downtown while excessive noise has grown, he said.
“It was a very attractive place to be, and that’s changed,” Galindo said. “I don’t know how we’re supposed to deal with that. It does affect your quality of life.”
Through the partnership, three Fort Worth police officers are enforcing the city’s noise ordinance in the area and issuing warnings and tickets to violators.
Together, Downtown Fort Worth Inc., the city’s legal department, and transportation and public works are planning exactly where to place new signage but are considering streets that act as “gateways” into the area, Beard said.
That includes North Main, East Belknap, East and West Weatherford, West 7th and Cherry streets as well as Texas 280 Spur.
A person is in violation of public order and decency if they produce “unreasonable noise” in a public place other than a sport shooting range or in or near a private residence that they do not occupy, according to state law.
Fort Worth’s ordinance states a noise is in violation if it is disturbing to a “reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities” or if the noise exceeds certain decibel-level restrictions. Any noise that exceeds the maximum decibel level is considered a public nuisance.
Which events and entities are exempt from Fort Worth’s noise ordinance?
- Texas Motor Speedway
- Public or private school properties as permitted by property owners
- Amplifiers at entertainment venues with a capacity of 1,000 or more people at the Panther Island Pavilion
- Government entities and contractors
- Airports, railways and vehicular transportation
- City of Fort Worth outdoor events
- Regulated gas drilling and production
- Building and property maintenance
Fort Worth authorities do not require a decibel level to enforce fines. Offenders could face fines of no more than $500.
Also part of the partnership, the nonprofit’s members and Fort Worth police will publish information about the noise ordinance enforcements through regular news releases and social media channels to keep the public up to date.
Beard hopes downtown’s noise-reduction efforts will set an example for other areas in Fort Worth experiencing disruptive noise.
“It’s not any specific area,” he said. “It’s a citywide issue.”
Fort Worth police did not respond to the Report’s request for comment.
Since Downtown Fort Worth Inc. and police collaborated, Galindo’s noticed less noise disruptions within the past month.
“Hopefully, that’s going to continue and we have a quieter downtown to live in.”
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org.
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