More drivers moving through urban areas with modified or illegal mufflers could see camera technology expand that can detect illegal noise levels, under a bill that continued to move through the Legislature on Thursday.
The House Transportation Committee Thursday passed House Bill 1588, but still had questions, such as the cost of expanding the three-year-old pilot program.
Also left unanswered under HB 1588 are the minimum decibel requirements for a violation, the amount of fines and how many additional cameras would be needed.
It would be up to the state Department of Transportation to determine exactly where more cameras would be located in urban areas, according to Rep. Adrian Tam (D, Waikiki), who introduced HB 1588.
All of the bills that are still technically alive this legislative session face a critical deadline today to keep moving or face little hope of surviving the session, which is scheduled to end May 8.
HB 1588 was also referred to the House Finance Committee, but no hearing had been scheduled as of Thursday.
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The noise detection program is similar to red light cameras already used on Oahu to catch drivers who run red lights.
Tam wants to expand
Oahu’s noise detection pilot program in response to complaints from residents in high-rise buildings.
“What happens — especially in Waikiki, urban Honolulu and stretching through Kakaako — is motorcyclists and motorists would modify their vehicles to be loud for no apparent reason other than to just look cool,” Tam said.
Urban environments amplify sound because noise travels up and reflects off buildings, he said, which makes the problem more severe for people living in dense areas.
“This nuisance affects public health, it affects people’s work lives,” Tam said.
There was no written opposition and no one opposed the bill at Thursday’s hearing.
Council member Radiant Cordero — whose district includes Kalihi Kai, Salt Lake, Aiea and Moanalua — submitted written testimony in support of HB 1588 and said residents across her district worry about disruptive noise from modified vehicles.
“This issue significantly impacts quality of life, and neighbors across my district have expressed strong support for this initiative,” Cordero wrote.
Cordero urged the committee to ensure the state provides sufficient support so that the program does not strain city resources
“as our city government is already operating under significant resource
constraints.”
The DOT’s testimony
described excessive traffic noise as a significant public health and quality-of-life
issue.
DOT said more noise
detection cameras would serve as “a deterrent to drivers” with modified exhaust systems, provide evidence for enforcement and generate data for research.
The DOH’s written comments said its authority over noise primarily focuses on
stationary sources, such
as construction.
It suggested DOT may be the appropriate authority over noise
enforcement.
Support for HB 1588 also came from the Hawaii Medical Service Association, which framed traffic noise as a public health issue linked to stress, sleep disruption and higher long-term health care costs.
“By improving compliance with noise standards, HB 1588 can improve public health, enhance quality of life and give state and county agencies the tools they need to enforce standards fairly and consistently,” HMSA wrote.
Existing noise laws already make it illegal to modify vehicles to intentionally increase noise
levels.
So HB 1588, Tam said, would both enforce existing law and “improve everyone’s quality-of-life and improve their public health.”
