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A SUPERCAR owner turned on city lawmakers after his stock car was issued a $800 noise ticket – he said it’s unaffordable for most drivers.
He also argued it was unfair, as the only other option he has is to not drive his car.
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Anthony Aquilino, an insurance broker and car enthusiast, was driving his bone stock 2018 Lamborghini Huracan Performante through New York City.
He thought nothing of the venture until he saw an $800 ticket issued to him automatically by one of the city’s noise cameras.
The cameras issue tickets to drivers if they detect a vehicle’s exhaust is louder than 85 decibels.
Since the Hurancan has a stock exhaust max at 109 dB coming from a high-output V10 engine with an exhaust system from the factory, there isn’t much Aquilino can do.
Except, of course, not drive his car or sell it.
“The only remedy would be to sell the vehicle,” he told the New York Post.
“How else do you fight the fine?”
He’s more upset by the unattainable fine.
“The fine amount is $800 for the first offense. The second offense is $1,700 and the third offense is $2,700,” he said.
“How can anybody afford that? Especially if the city wants to move these cameras all across the five boroughs.”
On principle, Aquilino agrees that modified cars that are purposefully built to be excessively loud should be ticketed.
However, cars like his that are loud from the factory and therefore have no control over the volume, should be exempt.
“I feel that if the residents are upset by noise and the city wants to crack down on noise, I don’t disagree with it,” Aquilino said.
“I disagree with it if a car is unmodified and you want to fine them.”
Aquilino decided to sue the city for fining him and even paid for an official diagnosis from a dealership to prove there were no aftermarket parts on his car.
I feel that if the residents are upset by noise and the city wants to crack down on noise, I don’t disagree with it. I disagree with it if a car is unmodified and you want to fine them.
Anthony Aquilino
He was also traveling at the speed limit under the camera, he said.
“Aquilino did not ’cause or permit’ the total sound from the vehicle to exceed the sound level restrictions, as he did not modify the vehicle in any way and operated the vehicle in an ordinary and reasonable manner,” his suit reads.
“I’m not speeding, I’m not driving excessively,” Aquilino said.
“I was driving down 41st Street at a normal rate of speed and there’s people walking by and they don’t even pick up their heads. If I was driving that recklessly or being that noisy, they would have picked up their heads like, ‘What is that noise?’ No one even budges.”
Interestingly enough, however, public records acquired by the NY Post revealed he was ticketed twice that day for driving through a red light and speeding in a school zone.
New York City isn’t the only city to start cracking down on cars with modified exhaust systems terrorizing neighbors by way of cameras.
Currently, New York City has 10 cameras and plans to add more.
Washington D.C. plans to utilize the cameras, and Knoxville, Tennessee has a few cameras up and running.
Noisy cars, explained
Here are some of the modifications that regulators are looking to fight against:
Engine and exhaust modifications are extremely popular for car enthusiasts.
Dozens of after-market systems can increase a car’s performance and make the vehicle louder.
For example, some drivers can implement performance air intakes and turbo chargers to increase the engine output.
Other drivers may change the muffler, catalytic converter, or exhaust pipes to increase air flow.
Both changes can increase the decibels in an engine’s notes.
Drivers can also make major changes, like removing sound deadening parts around the engine.
But, studies show that increased road noise has a cumulative health impact on residents.
A recent Harvard Medicine study found that residents living near loud roadways have increased risk of heart and lung disease, anxiety, and type two diabetes.
Participants near loud roadways also reported increased sleeping and mental health problems compared to their quiet neighborhood peers.
Miami, Florida also has cameras in the downtown sector of the tropical city, as well as Sacramento, California.
Albuquerque, New Mexico is currently discussing whether or not cameras would be a viable way to crack down on loud cars.
New York City lawmakers did not respond to reporter inquiries about Aquilino’s case, as Council Member Keith Powers previously stated “all” noisy drivers would be ticketed, illegal or otherwise.
“The noise camera program was instituted to address any vehicle that is disrupting the local community by violating city and state laws related to noise,” a statement from Powers read.
“New Yorkers have a right to a peaceful night of sleep, and that’s what our program aims to achieve.”
