Watch out NZ. Noise cameras

[chrisso]

Noise Cameras; You could be next... I reckon these thing wont be Bullet Proof
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/25/2572.asp

[Bob]

Good spot. I remember hearing about these cameras a few years back. Back then, they were talking about running them from the back of patrol vans, but it looks like the technology has moved on.

Think initially they're being used to monitor trucks breaking noise regs, but you can bet the next inclusion will be bikes with loud aftermarket (non road-legal) exhuast systems.

[imne1]

if they bring them here they'll be just another target for vandalism, like every other fixed camera ...in Welly at least. Its amazing how many photos you can ruin by throwing a milkshake at the lens, or eggs, they're pretty good too.

[T.I.E]

im curious to see where the microphones will be located...

maybe cheap audio device playing a sound with headphones attatched to the micro phones. what song could you chose.
or mearly some foam spary over the mics. ear plugs for the machine?

[Taz]

Just gotta love the way the australian government comes up with new and innovative ways to fleece the population.

[OutForADuck]

Ok... I'm getting to be more and more of a fan for ANARCHY.

[slimjim]

well i'll be in favor only for those bloody truckies using their exhaust brakes in towns.....

[Deano]

I'd be interested to see how they monitor the noise levels and what factor of error they have.

Does the unit have a wind factor correction ? What about when it rains ? Background noise level ? A noisy vehicle out of sight of the camera could influence the reading.

Environmental noise monitoring has a margin of error of up to 5dBA, so the measured level would have to be higher than the legal standard before enforcement action.

[Jantar]

I can picture it now. A kid with a sound blaster playing a recording of a noisy vehicle sitting under the camera, and turning the volume up full every time ANY vehicle drives by.

[skidMark]

Straight pipes.


Wheelies.

[naphazoline]

surely they can't be that reliable.as mentioned above,the varying noises around would have to stuff them up somewhat.

[Ixion]

I think this has been slightly mis-reported.

My understanding is that the intent was to monitor trucks using engine braking ('Jacob's Brakes').

The device will recognise the characteristic sound of the Jacob's Brake, and take a picture of the truck.

The offence being using engine braking AT ALL, not the dB value of it.

It would be very difficult , legally, to use such a device to monitor noise levels, since, as noted, other extraneous factors could contribute, and it would be hard (impossible?) to robustly associate a "loud noise" with a specific vehicle. These issues do not arise with the engine braking usage, since the bylaw bans ALL engine braking.

[Ocean1]

The offence being using engine braking AT ALL, not the dB value of it.

And yet some of the new systems are all but undetectable...

Some can, however, wake one up in the wee small hours from fookin' miles away.

[scuzeme]

Next we will all have to have bikes helmet and riding gear a certain shade of grey and ride around saluting a portrait of Helen and the Oligarchy.
PC automatons, why dont they just wrap the whole of society in cotton wool, better still confine us to our beds so we never go out and annoy another person or God forbid hurt ourselves.

The future looks bleak indeed.

[Pedrostt500]

I can picture it now. A kid with a sound blaster playing a recording of a noisy vehicle sitting under the camera, and turning the volume up full every time ANY vehicle drives by.

Theres a go for a boring afternoon, every time a cop car drives past blast an air horn, so they get the , how could it define the type of noise?