MILLIONS of drivers could face fines of up to $250 within days as cities begin to roll out new road surveillance technology.
State lawmakers passed a new highway law that makes it easier for cities to mount monitors above streets.
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Connecticut, a state with more than 2.6 million drivers, passed a law allowing cities to implement noise monitoring cameras.
These devices will work similarly to red light cameras, issuing tickets to drivers based on car engine noise rather than driving behavior.
Cities will be able to implement the technology on July 1st.
Previously, local municipalities had to receive approval from the state government to monitor road noise.
The new law eliminates state bureaucracy for local governments to place the technology on their roads.
The state has also passed some regulations on noise capture technology.
All monitoring devices will limit engine noise to 80 decibels.
Drivers will also receive their tickets on a three-tier system.
First, drivers will receive a warning after a monitor detects loud noises on the road.
A second offense will result in a $100 fine. Drivers will receive a $250 fine for a third offense.
State lawmakers praised the law, saying the modified vehicles had become too noisy for their constituents.
“As I went along, more and more people came to me and said ‘yes, it’s a good idea to do something about this,’” said state Rep. Bobby Gibson, one of the bill’s sponsors. NBC Connecticut.
Joe DeLong, Executive Director of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, also mentioned that he has received several complaints from residents.
Noisy Cars, Explained
Here are some of the modifications that regulators are looking to fight:
Engine and exhaust modifications are extremely popular among car enthusiasts.
Dozens of aftermarket systems can increase a car’s performance and make it louder.
For example, some drivers may implement performance air intakes and turbochargers to increase engine power.
Other drivers may change the muffler, catalytic converter, or exhaust pipes to increase airflow.
Both changes can increase the decibels in an engine’s notes.
Drivers can also make important changes, such as removing soundproofing parts around the engine.
But studies show that increased road noise has a cumulative impact on residents’ health.
A recent Harvard Medicine study found that residents who live near noisy roads have an increased risk of heart and lung disease, anxiety and type 2 diabetes.
Participants near noisy roads also reported increased sleep and mental health problems compared to their counterparts in quiet neighborhoods.
“This legislation is a local option, so it will be the communities that I think will be most impacted by it, as well as the communities where residents express the most concern,” DeLong said.
Connecticut is not alone. Michigan has also passed similar laws to fight car modifications that make vehicles noisy.
Michigan state lawmakers have pointed out that Harvard medical studies on road noise have increased negative health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease.
But advocates have warned that noise monitoring devices have the potential to spy on low-income residents.
“What we worry about is everyone else who will be drawn into this very large net,” said Jay Beeber, executive director of the National Motorist Association.
“You get a fine, you have to defend yourself, now you have to take time off work, you have to jump through a lot of hoops.”
Beeber said laws should differentiate between drivers who modify their cars for noise and owners who have difficulty making expensive car repairs.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
