MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Montgomery County Council Vice President Kate Stewart and Councilmember Natali Fani-Gonzalez are proposing the Vehicular Noise Reduction Bill. It's a pilot program that will enforce existing state noise laws, using three "noise cameras."
Noise cameras will capture both audio and video of any noise louder than 80 decibels, which is the limit that the state of Maryland has established. According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, sounds below 80 decibels are considered safe, while frequent exposure to 85 decibels or louder creates a high risk.
The noise cameras will be installed in various locations around Montgomery County and can be moved, according to Stewart.
The penalty for violating the decibel level is a civil one. The first offense will be a warning, and the second one will be a fine not more than $75.
Stewart says all of this is because of several complaints the county has gotten from residents.
"You'll be laying in bed, it'll be two ─ three o'clock in the morning. You'll hear this noise. It'll wake you up, it'll wake the baby up, the dog will start barking and there will be chaos in your house," she explained, "then it's gone and it's hard for the police department to be able to enforce that."
Tuesday the council listened to testimony in a public hearing on the bill.
“My quality of life is greatly impacted inside my home when I'm trying to sleep,” one woman told the council.
A few speakers participated in hearing, all of them in favor the bill.
“Oh my god! it's like the woman said before me, 'You cant get to sleep at night sometimes!'" John Becker said.
Becker lives a block away from the council chambers. He told the council that he put up his own decibel meter outside his home to measure the loud noises from Rockville's streets.
"It was hitting within a five minute period five vehicles at 90 decibels,” Becker told them.
New York City and Knoxville, Tennessee both implemented noise cameras recently. In New York City, officials gave out more than 200 violations for modified exhaust and more than 140 for excessive honking. In Knoxville, 1300 cars set off the noise cameras in a span of five months.
If the proposal is accepted, the pilot program will go into effect until June 30, 2026.
After hearing from four speakers, all in favor of the legislation, the council moved on to the next step: A Joint Transportation & Environment & Public Safety Committee meeting on Oct. 7.
Becker wants to see the bill passed as soon as possible.
“This affects not only the thousands of homeowners, my fellow neighbors, residents and businesses in my area, but the thousands upon thousands in Montgomery County,” he said.