The Aloha State is saying farewell to noise

by Halimat Olunlade, Social Media Manager

Photo credit: James Wheeler

In an effort to curb vehicle noise, Oahu, Hawaii, is starting a two-year pilot program to implement traffic noise cameras. This decision wasn’t just brought on by a few residents’ complaints, but by feedback from the entire island community. Despite laws prohibiting residents from modifying mufflers or stock pipes, the noise complaints continued to pour in. Even car enthusiasts chimed in to speak out against noise.

Using local noise complaints to zero in on traffic hotspots, the Oahu Department of Transportation will install six noise cameras targeting areas in the island’s central and southern regions, adding to cameras already installed along a highway at Halekou. As we all know, noise as low as 70 dB can cause lasting damage to hearing. These new noise cameras will set the threshold for street noise at 90 dB, slightly higher than the limit set by New York City traffic noise cameras. When a car exceeds this limit, the cameras will capture a photograph of the offending vehicle, providing law enforcement with information about the car’s make and model.

Once captured, law enforcement can use this information to build legislation that can be used to better enforce noise limits. Hawaii’s current laws issue heavy fines for violating modified muffler regulations, and this data could be used to develop more effective strategies to curb noise. Thanks to this new initiative, we can expect quieter streets in Oahu’s future.