DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. -- Some Dearborn Heights city officials want to silence ice cream trucks. Others said there needs to be exceptions to an ordinance already in place that discourages any vendors from making noise.

The ordinance in place prohibits noise from any huckster, street vendor or peddler while on public streets or in public places for the purpose of attracting attention of the public, including horns, bells, whistles, which technically includes ice cream trucks.

City Attorney Gary Miotke is discussing with the city council the possibility of amending the ordinance to exclude ice cream trucks.

Some members of the city council would like change the ordinance. Others feel there should be no exceptions made and would like to see the ordinance expanded to include all motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and tricycles.

Council members Janet Badalow and Margaret Van Houten said they would like to see additional regulations, including background checks, for ice cream vendors.

"What I'd like to do is include that criminal background check," said Badalow. "It really concerns me that these people are exposed to children. A lot of children."

Badalow said the danger is especially high if a small child is alone. "Sometimes parents are busy. They could be doing the dishes inside and the kids run out (to the ice cream truck)," Badalow said.

Ice cream vendors said they are also concerned about safety, but feel the process could get too expensive.

Ice cream truck operator Melissa Cohen said she's been through the application process several times.

"For everything there is a cost," Cohen said. "It cost (the truck operator) to have a background check every time, in every single city and to have to have an inspection (in each city)."

Cohen also warned that if the expenses get too high the additional cost will be passed on to the customer in the form of higher ice cream prices.

A better idea, suggested Cohen, would be for communities to share information.

Krystina Kramarz, assistant to Mayor Dan Paletko, told the Dearborn Press and Guide the city could browse any public information database - including the Michigan Sex Offender Registry and the Department of Corrections - if there were concerns about a particular vendor.

The city attorney is expected to give the city council a revised version and possibly vote on it next week.