The New York City Council on Wednesday approved a bill to bring noise cameras to the five boroughs, with the capability of detecting noise from motor vehicles in excess of legal limits.
Intro 778A (aka the Stop Spreading the Noise Act), sponsored by Manhattan Council Member and Democratic Majority Leader Keith Powers, requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the NYPD to set up cameras across the city with the capability of detecting excessive noise and fining violators.
The cameras are intended to catch scofflaws who modify their car’s mufflers or drive loud dirt bikes or ATVs, producing immense noise and depriving neighbors of sleep and peace. The problem intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, with noise complaints to 311 rising over 200% between 2019 and 2020, and have remained high since.
