Defendant faces $60,000 in penalties to date
Seattle (May 31, 2024) – Today, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison filed a motion for default judgment against Miles Hudson, known as the Belltown Hellcat driver, after Mr. Hudson failed to respond to the City’s lawsuit alleging violations of the City’s noise code. To date, the ongoing noise violations and the defendant’s failure to bring his vehicle into legal compliance have resulted in almost $60,000 in applicable penalties which continue to accrue at $1,300 per day.
“Mr. Hudson has cultivated online infamy by flagrantly breaking Seattle’s laws and waking his neighbors with excessive noise. It’s time for him to face the consequences of his actions. That’s why I have requested that the court find Mr. Hudson in default and award the City all applicable penalties,” said City Attorney Ann Davison.
On March 29, 2024, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) issued a notice of violation to Mr. Hudson for excessive noise connected to his vehicle. The notice of violation directed Mr. Hudson to remove the modifications to his vehicle muffler and exhaust system by April 15. The notice warned that failure to comply would result in penalties of up to $1,300 per day. In the two months since that notice of violation, Mr. Hudson has failed to remove the illegal modifications or address the excessive noise.
On May 7, 2024, City Attorney Davison filed a lawsuit on behalf of the City demanding judgment for non-compliance with the notice of violation. Mr. Hudson had until May 30 to respond to that lawsuit but failed to do so. A hearing in the case is scheduled for June 18.
The defendant, Miles Oliver Hudson, was previously charged by the City Attorney with two counts of reckless driving. He was ordered by a Seattle Municipal Court judge to no longer drive the vehicle but continued to flaunt the Hellcat’s excessive noise on social media.
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