New York Drivers on Edge as Noise Cameras Make Their Debut

New York drivers alarmed by noise cameras appearing throughout the city

Drivers in New York have been alarmed by the appearance of noise cameras. The state authorities have spoken out and have given details of the measures that will be taken to reduce noise pollution in said state.

Earlier in the week, City Councilman Keith Powers released a new report, which focuses on noise pollution hotspots within New York. This is so that something can be done at the legislative level.

Apparently, the first measure will be to install noise cameras. In February 2022, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) installed these acoustic instruments around the city as part of a pilot program, which was supported and rejected by many people.

This measure will be used to detect noisy cars. The noise cameras would take photos of the license plate so that a fine would be activated that would be sent directly to the driver of the vehicle. The amount that repeat offenders could pay would be up to $2,000.

“These cameras are activated when they detect a sound of 85 A-weighted decibels or more about 15 meters away,” according to Gothamist. This means that, for example, a heavy tow tractor traveling at 40 mph would be fined.

According to the council member’s submitted report, more than a third of calls to 311 in the first quarter of 2023 were about inquiries related to noise pollution. The truth is that these records can mean a considerable problem for many drivers.

On October 28, several officials expected to present seven bills related to this issue; However, the meeting was postponed to October.

On the one hand, it is about defining the parameters to know what noise levels will be considered unreasonable, whether it comes from public spaces, private spaces or construction sites. On the other hand, they want to find ways to make the population comply with the new regulations. In this framework, noise cameras come into play.

The authorities seek to clarify what noise levels will be considered as noise pollutants.

What the New York authorities are looking for is for these noise cameras to be distributed equally throughout the city.

Erica Walker, professor of epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health, also discussed the future distribution of these machines. “Unless these cameras are distributed equally throughout New York City, they will tend to be placed largely in non-white areas, and will be used largely against non-white people,” she told Gothamist.

Noise levels do not vary from place to place and the definition of excessive noise depends on the localized environmental level. “Loudness is not the only aspect of sound that causes discomfort in the population,” Walker said.

The old noise code stated that unreasonable noise was at 7 dB(A) or above ambient levels between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am Meanwhile, the new proposal includes daytime limits to not exceed the 10 dB(A) or above ambient levels between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm for the same distances.

The proposed code also sets limits for impulsive sound, bursts and abrupt loud noises, such as firecrackers, gunshots or explosions. When these noises reach 15 dB(A) or exceed ambient sound levels, they are considered unreasonable.

2023-09-30 21:25:59
#York #drivers #alarmed #noise #cameras #appearing #city