Photo Noise Monitoring Systems May Be Coming to Connecticut

"One Man's Pleasure is Another Man's Pain" is not only a great Molly Hatchet song, it's also very true. We may see this saying play out when it comes to loud music and loud vehicles here in Connecticut,  if a new bill that was raised during the Connecticut General Assembly's February session - HB-5422 - passes.

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Connecticut may be on the verge of letting its municipalities: 1. Regulate the operation and use of external speakers on motor vehicles - 2. Require decibel level testing for motor vehicles, and 3. Start a pilot program which allows cities and towns to install remote photo noise monitoring systems.

The photo noise monitoring systems will listen to your vehicles as they pass, snap a photo of an offending vehicles license plate, and send that to law enforcement, who will review, and if appropriate, hit you with a hefty fine.

HB-5422 is being co-sponsored by Rep. Gary A. Turco, 27th District, Rep. Geraldo C. Reyes, 75th District, Rep. Ronald A. Napoli, 73rd District, Senator Martin M. Looney, 11th District and Senator Will Haskell of the 26th District.

If the bill passes, these new laws would take effect on October 1, 2022. Basically you'll have to turn down your external speakers on your motor vehicle and make sure your modified vehicle exhaust system isn't producing excessive decibel levels.

The fines for violations proposed in the bill? $90 to $1,500 for repeat offenses. Obviously there is much more to HB-5422 and Connecticut already has very well defined noise-ordinance laws in place, but the thought of cameras snapping your license plate as you roll by enjoying beautiful music or the sound of a 480 horsepower engine?