The Citizen Finds Out

Are the police not ticketing or enforcing muffler noise any more? It’s ear-splitting frequently.

If you’ve heard loud vehicles more frequently in recent months, you may not be alone.

“Loud mufflers, especially the ones with ‘loud popping’ have become a nuisance to area residents across Henrico County,” Henrico Police spokesman Lt Matt Pecka told the Citizen. “The loud mufflers are a primary offense and HPD is and does enforce this while on patrol. The caveat is, like most violations, police must see/hear the violation.”

But, Pecka said, it’s still a good idea to report the vehicle noise. Police officials established a new reporting system specifically for traffic violations like this (and also speeding, among others); it is https://henrico.us/services/traffic-complaints/.

If you have a question about what might constitute a noise complaint, check out the police division’s community resource guide, which answers a number of frequently asked questions.

To date this year, police officials have received more than 915 calls for service related to vehicular violations, some of which may involve noise complaints. They’ve also received nearly 1,400 calls about “loud parties or noise,” a designation Pecka said typically is used for cases that involve residences rather than vehicles.

“Personnel from all three Bureaus, Special Operations – Traffic Safety, Patrol, and Community Services all work to follow-up and address community concerns,” Peck said. “The motto remains, if you see something, say something.”

For non-emergency needs like potential noise violations, call the division at (804) 501-5000.

I read with interest your Restaurant Watch comments; however, I never see a follow-up after these inspections to know when the deficiencies found have been corrected. Can you please add this information going forward? If not, how would someone find out this information?

Unless otherwise noted, all violations noted at restaurants by health inspectors are corrected at the time of inspection. In some cases, if a violation is significant, an inspector will conduct a follow-up inspection (typically within several weeks or less) to ensure that the proper adjustments have been made. It’s rare for a restaurant to be closed by an inspector, however, even if it is found to be in violation of state standards or requirements.

Last year, inspectors conducted more than 2,500 inspections of one type of another in food establishments in Henrico. Of those, 1,215 were routine inspections, 532 were follow-up inspections and 501 were risk-factor inspections.

“The Virginia Food Regulations prescribe that food establishments are inspected at least once every six months,” according to the Virginia Department of Health. But, some establishments may be inspected less frequently, depending upon the perceived level of risk that exists for food borne illness.

The state has four levels of risk. Level 1 applies to establishments that need to be inspected only once annually (for example, a convenience store, bakery, concession stand or coffee shop that prepares, serves and/or sells only non-temperature control for safety foods or that heats commercially processed TCS foods for immediate service or hot holding, according to the VDH.

Establishments designated as Level 4 businesses – either because they serve a highly susceptible population of customers or clients, or because they conduct a specialized process requiring a variance and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan, must be inspected at least quarterly. HACCP is a systematic preventive approach to food safety from biological, chemical, and physical hazards that’s used to help reduce evident risks to safety.