New York City is set to expand its draconian efforts to rid the city of unwanted noise by finding drivers up to $2,500 for honking their car horns.
Currently, NYC has seven noise cameras, costing the taxpayer $35,000 each to install.
The city plans to install more noise cameras in at least 5 per borough by the end of 2023.
When a noise camera detects a sound louder than 85 decibels, a ticket is automatically fined to the offending driver, ranging between $800 and $2,500
The New York City Council approved the bill on Wednesday, dubbed the “Stop Spreading the Noise” Act, which targets illegal mufflers and loud exhaust systems.
The city has caught 218 violating offending drivers whose vehicles have modified mufflers.
One hundred forty-seven of those violations include excessively honking.
However, one warned that oise cameras could be “ripe for abuse.”
“Whenever you have new technology that is capable of doing these types of things, it’s ripe for abuse,” said Jerome Greco, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society.
“There are legitimate concerns,” Greco added.
According to a report from CBS News earlier this year, city officials say the biggest culprits are those illegally modified car mufflers.
The outlet reported:
Nearly 25,000 noise complaints have been called into 311 on the Upper West Side this year.
“I have to deal with most of the 25,000. It needs to be addressed,” City Councilwoman Gail Brewer said.
Brewer said her district, the second densest in the city, is now getting its first two noise cameras.
“People want to live in the city, so there will noise. But it doesn’t have to be excessive,” Brewer said.
The city’s Department of Environmental Protection says the camera is paired with a sound meter and activates when the meter detects noise of at least 85 decibels from a source of at least 50 feet away. The camera then captures the license plates and the driver gets a ticket.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, considering there is an already noisy street to begin with,” resident Evelynn Gross said.
“We need quiet. The city is getting more and more hectic. I’m all for regulation,” Longmire said.
And while there are many noise sources, including construction noise, motorcycles, general honking, helicopters, and ambulances, tackling one sound at a time is the mission.
“I like a complaining neighborhood because that means people are being responsible,” Longmire said.
The DEP said the noise cameras were part of a 2021 pilot program. The agency continues receiving dozens of requests for additional cameras from community leaders around all five boroughs. Councilwoman Brewer said two noise cameras are a great start to providing some peace.
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