RI Officials Considering Cameras To Combat Excessive Noise: Reports

PROVIDENCE, RI — Providence's mayor is looking to get state approval to install cameras specifically designed to catch excessive noise from vehicles throughout the city, reports say.

While citations would be sent to those found to have broken the noise ordinance, the goal is to encourage people to "turn down the music, or roll up the windows, or make sure that their mufflers get fixed," Smiley said, according to WPRI.

To do this, the state's Automated Violation Monitoring Systems Law would need to change, the outlet said. Emergency vehicles would be exempt and the camera's data would be approved by a human, WPRI added, citing officials.

Stationary noise camera devices are triggered when passing vehicles generate noise above a certain decibel threshold and take a picture of the offending vehicle’s license plate, according to the Providence Noise Project, a nonprofit that aims to promote the reduction of noise in the city.

In addition to hearing loss, continual exposure to noise can cause stress, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, and many other health problems, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

One webpage of the Providence Noise Project is filled with testimonials from Providence residents, who air grievances on everything from loud vehicles and music to lawnmower noise.

"Closing windows, going inside, going to a quieter room, earplugs, even wearing $100 noise-canceling headphones have almost no effect because the music is so loud," one West End resident wrote.

In their own testimony, an Elmhurst resident wrote that "the noise of leafblowers is far worse than car radios or motorcycles because it lasts for up to an hour at at time — and that’s just for one yard."

"Peaceful summer afternoons are ruined by these completely unnecessary monstrosities," the resident added.

Providence officials have already cracked down on certain sources of noise, like those coming from businesses like nightclubs, WPRI reported. The city's 2023 budget included $42,000 to purchase hand-held decibel readers, and city officials provided training to its bureau of licenses to ensure action is taken for noise violations, Smiley added to the outlet.

"We think that this will improve quality of life in our neighborhoods," Smiley told WPRI. "We think that this will make it a little bit easier for all of our families to sleep at night and get people to change their behavior."