A pair of councils in New South Wales will soon receive new sound detection cameras in a bid to tackle loud cars and honking.
As part of the trial, which will begin before the end of 2024 and last until the end of 2025, sound cameras will be rolled out in the Bayside (around Botany Bay) and Wollongong local government areas to determine their effectiveness in reducing anti-social driving.
According to a NSW Government tender, the field trial of the audio camera system will take place “under controlled conditions” and is intended to evaluate whether the cameras “can be used to tackle noisy vehicles and anti-social driving”.
The sound camera program is a joint effort between the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Transport for NSW and NSW Police. Footage from the cameras is yet to be released by the state government.
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ABC News reports that the cameras use sound meters to detect sounds above a set decibel limit within a distance of approximately 50 feet. If a loud car is detected, cameras are used to scan license plates.
Under the current Australian Design Rules (ADR), cars built before 2005 have a noise limit of 90 decibels. For cars built before January 1983, the limit is 96 decibels.
There are also limits for motorcycles, as models built after March 1, 1984 are subject to a 94 decibel limit. The limit for older motorcycles is 100 decibels.
In NSW, motorists face fines of up to $600 if their vehicle is found to be 15 decibels or more above the limit, although a noise reading must be taken while the vehicle is stationary.
ABC News reports that it is unclear whether the laws will be changed to allow the use of sound camera readings on moving vehicles when imposing fines, or if warnings will instead be issued during the process.
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Mobile phone detection camera
While the EPA says “the cameras will be installed in the Bayside and Wollongong council areas, at locations agreed with each council”, the location of the sound cameras may change “from time to time”.
Crowdsourced data collected by Bayside Council reportedly reveals hotspots of Bay Street, Brighton Le Sands; Clareville Avenue, Sandringham; and Russell Avenue, Dolls Point.
Sound cameras are currently being used abroad in densely populated cities such as New York City and London.
New York tried one camera in 2021 and has since expanded the network to seven, which likely contributed to the fine a Lamborghini owner received in the city last month.
Violators in New York are fined US$800 (A$1158) for the first offence, followed by US$1700 (A$2460) and US$2700 (A$3906) for subsequent offences.
The cameras were trialled in a London neighborhood in 2020. Over a three-month period they reportedly contributed to 69 warnings and 163 fines and were monitored by more cameras in the area.
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