Honking cars, rumbling trucks, construction site noise and sirens – it’s pretty loud in most major cities around the world.
Because this can also affect the health of city dwellers, New York relies on speed cameras with ears, so to speak. The city is testing traffic cameras that can measure noise. This is to identify tuned cars and motorcycles that exceed the permitted noise level. The radar takes a picture of the license plate as soon as a noisemaker vehicle drives past it.
According to the city administration, during the one-year pilot phase of the system, more than 70 drivers have already received a ticket and have to pay a fine of at least 700 euros. The traffic cameras help the overburdened New York police to take action against violations of the strict noise limits.
Noise cameras are also already in use in Paris and some cities in Switzerland.
