NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York City is getting louder, and one city councilman has a plan to deal with the ear-splitting noise from dirt bikes, ATVS, cars and more.
According to data from BetaNYC, there were more than 99,000 noise complaints related to vehicles made to 311 between August 2020 and August 2021 – accounting for a 50% increase when compared to the same time period from 2019 to 2020.
Councilman Ben Kallos’ office noted that the noise complaints mostly stem from cars blasting music, frustrated motorists laying on their horns in anger and roaming motorcycle gangs.
The councilman said that the noise can be frustrating to many New Yorkers, who are just trying to get a good night’s rest.
“As a new parent these [expletive] drive by waking up my daughter after we just finished our nighttime routine and then I don’t know how I am going to get her to sleep,” said Kallos. “When I hear the revving from these roving motorcycle gangs barreling down the streets who often ride up on sidewalks, I frantically grab my daughter and find somewhere we might be safe, like by a streetlight pole where they can’t hit us, and I think to myself, ‘this can’t be normal, right?’”
To put a stop to the noise, Kallos wants New York City to follow in the footsteps of some cities in France and Switzerland, who have systems in place to monitor noise levels connected with traffic.
On Thursday, Kallos introduced a bill that would install a similar network of video cameras and high-tech microphones to catch the offenders and impose steep fines.
Under the bill, violations would be between $150 and $525 for the first violation, $300 and $1,050 for the second offense and between $450 and $1,575 for third – and subsequent offenses.
The plan already has the support of State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and some local New York City residents.
“Our city’s insanely loud car and motorcycle culture bars our neighbors from getting a good night’s sleep and affects people’s productivity, as it makes it harder to learn at school and be effective at work when the gunning of these engines shakes people awake through the walls of their homes,” said Gounardes. “We must face this issue head-on by passing this new legislation to hold those who take part in this damaging behavior accountable.”
David Gingold, who has lived on East 96th Street since 1986, is also on board.
“Being a New Yorker I have seen and heard stuff you just can’t dream or make up. To the point, the noise of motor vehicles is absolutely beyond any level that can be permitted. Around the clock, it sounds like I have a front seat at Daytona Raceway,” he told Kallos. “The noise is unbearable!!!”
Kallos’ office notes that a noise monitoring system could work as well as speed cameras, which have helped reduce speeding in the five boroughs by more than 70% on average.