Key Point Summary – Noise Cameras

• Newport, Rhode Island installs noise cameras targeting loud cars
• Sorama tech pinpoints offenders with 64 microphones and plate readers
• Cities from New York to Hawaii join the crackdown
• Drivers of sports cars claim unfair targeting
• Supporters say quieter streets are long overdue

High-Tech Crackdown on Loud Streets

Drivers with roaring engines now face $250 fines in Newport, Rhode Island, thanks to new “noise cameras” designed to catch vehicles breaking the city’s decibel limits. The system targets cars and motorcycles with screaming exhausts, blaring stereos, and engine revs that ruin peaceful nights.
In late July, one crimson Mustang GT blasted past at 85 decibels — two over the legal limit. The camera flagged it instantly and issued a violation without a single officer on the street.

Public Anger Pushes City to Act

“Folks have reached their boiling point,” said Newport City Councilor David Carlin III, explaining how years of window-rattling noise led to the tech rollout. The city invested in two Dutch-made Sorama noise cameras, mounted on portable trailers, each equipped with 64 microphones that pinpoint the exact source of a sound.
Linked to license plate readers, the system can identify one noisy car in a sea of traffic. Police Chief Ryan Duffy says older handheld noise meters failed because offenders often sped away before officers could react.

Targeting the City’s Noisiest Streets

The first cameras went up along Thames Street — a narrow one-way road where clapboard buildings amplify every rev. On a recent evening, motorcycles roared past and a Jeep’s stereo pounded through the block. Duffy says that’s exactly the chaos these devices aim to end.
Local realtor Caroline Richards supports the move. “We should be hearing crickets and nice summer sounds,” she said. “I’m not for over-policing, but it’s just obnoxious. It’s definitely gotten worse.”

Noise Cameras Sweep Across America

Once a European mainstay, noise cameras are now spreading across the US. Knoxville, Tennessee, will soon hit loud drivers with $50 fines. Albuquerque, New Mexico, is testing three units to stop drag racing. Philadelphia has approved their use, while Hawaii will install 10 detectors across Oahu. Even tiny Avoca, Iowa, is preparing to fine roaring trucks.
New York City leads the pack, with 10 cameras run with a UK partner. Since 2021, the city has issued over 2,500 tickets — fines start at $800 and jump to $2,500 for repeat offenders. However, only about $550,000 of $2 million in fines has been collected.

Critics Say It’s Unfair

Opponents argue the tech unfairly penalizes drivers of factory-made performance cars. Harley rider James Alves received a warning despite never modifying his bike. “If I see a couple walking a dog, I pull my clutch in,” he said. “It’s just another way to grab money.”
Dentist Pat Morganti was fined when his Corvette Z06 hit 84.3 decibels. “That’s just the way the car is made,” he said. New York insurance broker Anthony Aquilino was ticketed when his Lamborghini Huracán hit 92 decibels after braking for a pothole. “I can’t change the way the car sounds,” he said after losing his appeal.

Dream Cars, Harsh Fines

Navy sailor Jonathon Zitt imported his dream car, a 1994 Nissan Skyline GT-R, only to get a $250 ticket. “That’s not an option if I can’t drive my car,” he said. “I worked my whole life to buy this.”
Some residents say the streets already feel calmer. But police are debating whether to post warning signs — even though past noise alerts backfired, prompting riders to rev louder in defiance.

Enforcement Aims to Change Behavior

Newport has only issued a few dozen tickets so far, but police expect that number to rise. Duffy says enforcement works best when it shifts habits. “I think when you have success with enforcement, you’ll be able to change the behavior,” he said.
For longtime locals like retiree Bill Hogan, the crackdown is overdue. “Do something about the damn noise and the speed,” he said. “The hue and cry is the same all over town.”