Residents press Spanish Fort council for tougher enforcement on loud vehicles, music and reckless driving

Spanish Fort — Several residents used the council's public-participation period to urge stronger enforcement of noise and reckless-driving laws, citing repeated nighttime disturbances and drag-racing behavior along Highway 90 and Spanish Main.

"On this petition, you'll find 60 names," said Levi Matthews, a resident who said he has reported loud-based music and vehicle noise to the city for more than a year and handed council members a petition. He described late-night wake-up calls at 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. and said the problem has grown in both frequency and scope.

Mike Edmond, who lives near Highway 90 on Patrician Drive, told the council the corridor between I-10 and Highway 31 has become "more or less a drag strip" on Friday and Saturday nights, with some drivers exceeding posted speeds and driving recklessly. Edmond said he has called the non-emergency police line "10 or 12 times" and asked the city to enforce existing traffic laws; he reported pets lost to traffic in the area.

Chief Barber (Police Chief) acknowledged the complaints and described a legal and practical enforcement limit: under the city ordinance officers must witness a noise violation audible at more than 50 feet. "We must witness the violation," Chief Barber said. "They're going to see us probably before we can hear it," he added, explaining why some complaints do not result in citations.

Council members discussed policy options, including targeted patrols during peak hours, time-of-day restrictions, and revisiting fines or residential overlay penalties. David (staff member) said the city can look at zoning overlays and time-of-day rules and review potential adjustments to increase deterrence in residential areas.

The council did not take immediate legislative action but asked staff to review enforcement options and potential ordinance changes. Mayor Brad Bass invited complainants to stay after the meeting for follow-up and encouraged continued reporting to help officers document patterns.

What's next

Staff will review enforcement feasibility and possible ordinance changes — including higher fines in residential overlays and time-of-day limits — and report recommendations to the council at a future meeting.