NSW noise detection camera trial captures 1000 hooning vehicles
A new road camera trial has captured 1000 hooning cars and motorcycles blaring down suburban streets, with almost half of them repeat offenders.
A whopping 1000 noisy cars and motorcycles have been caught by new hi-tech road cameras hooning down suburban streets in NSW in the last 12 weeks.
The Environmental Protection Authority installed three noise detection cameras in Bayside and Wollongong council areas in December in response to community concerns about “anti-social behaviour” and “noisy vehicles”.
The NSW camera trial has already captured 1000 incidents, with almost half caused by repeat offenders.
“We’ve determined that over 180 vehicles have committed 434 of noise events,” NSW EPA director Sonia Errington told Nine.
“The cameras are triggered by noise events over a certain decibel reading, then that activates a microphone and number plate recognition cameras as well.”
Driving a vehicle which exceeds the prescribed noise limit by 15 decibels or more while the vehicle is stationary currently incurs a fine of up to $1200.
“Operators and owners are responsible for ensuring that noise from their vehicles is kept within reasonable levels,” NSW EPA stated.
Engineers at the University of Technology Sydney sound lab have been testing the new cameras to ensure they can distinguish loud vehicles from other sounds in preparation for the next phase of the trial.
“ … It gets more complicated (when there are) multiple vehicles … but that’s what we are being tasked with here by the EPA,” mechanical engineering Associate Professor Benjamin Halkon told Nine.
The EPA said the trial is likely to extend until mid-to-late 2025, when it will determine whether the cameras can be used to fine drivers.
“The trial will not result in fines but will instead determine if the noise camera technology is fit-for-purpose to identify noisy vehicles,” NSW EPA stated.
“If the trial is successful, some legislative changes may be required to allow the use of noise camera technology to be used for a range of regulatory responses.”
Originally published as NSW noise detection camera trial captures 1000 hooning vehicles