NYC pol Keith Powers proposes ‘noise cameras’ amid surge in complaints

Noise complaints are surging in New York City, and a Manhattan councilman thinks “noise cameras” that detect and ticket illegally loud vehicles could solve the problem.

East Side Democrat Keith Powers on Wednesday introduced six bills to address growing noise concerns across the city, including one proposal to create a “photo noise violation monitoring device program” similar to the city’s existing speed and red light camera initiatives.

“New Yorkers live in the city that doesn’t sleep, but they still have the right to a good night’s sleep,” Powers said in an interview.

Noise complaints to the city’s 311 hotline have skyrocketed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and are up 241 this month compared to Oct. 2019, according to city stats provided by the councilman’s office.

Powers attributed the rise in complaints in part to white-collar workers spending more time in residential neighborhoods.

“People have been working from home and staying in their neighborhoods and we get a constant barrage of calls from constituents who are complaining about noise complaints outside,” he said.

The noise cameras would “capture an image when they hear a certain noise at a certain disciple,” Powers said, noting that the Department of Environmental Protection is already testing the technology.

Powers’ other proposals include new requirements for certain noise levels for helicopters that use city-owned helipads and permits for after-hours debris clean-up.

Other bills would require the city to conduct sound-level inspections upon request on any property within a half-mile of a construction site and post results within 24 hours and require authorization for debris collection on weekends or before 7 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on weekdays.

Power said the “noise camera” tech could eventually also be used in enforcement against loud helicopters and construction sites.

New York City has installed thousands of speed enforcement cameras in recent years to add to its arsenal of red light cameras in place since the early 1990s.