Decibel meters installed in speed cameras now catch motorists with noisy cars in NYC

---

NEW YORK CITY, USA – It’s been reported and confirmed that the driver of a BMW M3 sports sedan with a modified exhaust system was recently ticketed in New York for violating the city’s Noise Code. A new type of traffic camera installed in the city recorded and photographed the offending vehicle. Equipped with an internal decibel meter pointed at the road, the new devices can measure the decibel levels near the roadway as a vehicle passes. Artificial Intelligence tech helps the cameras filter out genuine automotive noises against the background of other random noise. 

These new devices can automatically issue a ticket if the car exceeds a preset noise threshold and are expected to appear in more places in the USA soon. 

In a news story first broken by Road & Track magazine, it was revealed that the ticket was issued by New York’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The ticket notice instructed the owner of the car to have its non-compliant muffler repaired or replaced, and to take the vehicle to a DEP location for inspection once complete. 

The notice further threatens a hefty US$875 charge if the vehicle owner fails to take action, and additional fines are threatened if the notice goes unanswered. The sideshow joke is that in New York City, sewage processing facilities also double as vehicle inspection centres as both under the purview of the Department of Environmental Protection. So the BMW M3 owner has to report to one such facility for vehicle inspection.

---

---

As pictured below, the text of the summons reads: 

“Your vehicle has been identified as having a muffler that is not in compliance with Section 386 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, which prohibits excessive noise from motor vehicles. Your vehicle was recorded by a camera that takes a picture of the vehicle and the license plate. In addition, a sound meter records the decibel level as the vehicle approaches and passes the camera. “

NYC’s Department of Environmental Protection has since confirmed that such a system does exist, and is part of a DEP pilot program that started in September 2021. It is planned to carry on until June 30, 2022, when it will be reevaluated by the Department. 

The City of Knoxville in Tennessee in the USA has also launched a similar program to crack down on noisy cars, using what it calls “noise cameras” from U.K. manufacturer Intelligent Instruments Ltd. This trial program is designed to record all vehicle data when the traffic camera is triggered, including audio levels as the car passes by, and then the vehicle data is uploaded to a server where a human technician then decides to proceed with issuing a ticket or not.

---

---

It’s unclear if Intelligent Instruments is also behind the tech of New York City’s nose cameras, but the technology to remotely catch noisy cars has arrived and could eventually spread round the world. 
In Singapore, owners of cars with illegally modified exhausts risk getting a S$1,000 fine if caught, though there are a range of LTA-approved performance exhaust fittings for specific models that meet the noisy limit requirements.

We’ve not yet rolled out such noise detecting cameras here yet, though judging by the number of noisily modified cars we hear roaring down an empty street one does wonder if this can be implemented here sooner rather than later.

---

• 
  Aion Y Plus Premium 63.2kWh Review: OooOOoh! Square Room!
• 
  The Denza D9 is BYD’s next big thing for Singapore, we went to China to take a look
• 
  Cycle and Carriage Singapore launches new Smart showroom and unveils the Smart #3
• 
  Audi Singapore to premier all-new Lifestyle destination platform by end-2024
• 
  Zeekr X RWD Review: Futuristic urban cruiserweight champ