County Councilmembers voted unanimously Tuesday for a pilot program to use noise cameras to reduce excessive sound from modified mufflers.
County police will put three automated cameras across the county that would detect and measure noise. The devices would have microphones to identify excessive noise, according to information from the council.
When volume is detected at least five decibels higher than the 80-decibel limit under state law, the camera will take video of the vehicle for identification. A warning notice will be issued for the first offense, and a second offense gets a fine of no more than $75. The penalty after the first warning will be civil, not criminal.
Sample noise camera in New York. Image courtesy Montgomery County Council.
County Council Vice President Kate Stewart emphasized it is a pilot project. It will sunset June 30, 2026, according to council documents. In July, Stewart and Councilmember Natali Fani-González introduced the bill to establish the pilot to help enforce state laws for exhaust noise.
Stewart added it is already illegal under state law to modify a muffler and to have the noise go higher than 80 decibels — “and unfortunately this has been an issue in our community,” she said Tuesday. “We have received a lot of inquiries about how we can address this.”
Fani-González said the bill was brought up during both English and Spanish conversations during town hall meetings — “we hear you loud and clear,” she said.
Police have to publish the locations of the cameras and have to put signage near the cameras before activating them. Police also have to wait at least 15 days after putting up signage before citations can be given out.
During the last legislative session in Annapolis, Del. Julie Palakovich Carr led efforts to enable local governments to create pilot programs to reduce excessive car noise with noise cameras, according to Stewart.
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Proposed Pilot Would Use Noise Cameras to Address Excessive Car Noise
