Montgomery County Council to Hold Public Hearing on Vehicle Noise Camera Bill

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The Montgomery County Council will address several important issues during its upcoming meeting this week, including a public hearing on a proposed bill aimed at reducing vehicular noise in the county. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Stella Werner Council Office Building in Rockville.

The proposed legislation, supported by Council Vice President Kate Stewart (D-Dist. 4) and Councilmember Natali Fani-González (D-Dist. 6), seeks to deploy "noise cameras" throughout the county to monitor and curb excessive vehicle noise, particularly from modified exhaust systems. These noise cameras are designed to detect noise levels that exceed the state's legal threshold by at least five decibels. When such a violation is detected, the camera will capture a video of the offending vehicle, and the vehicle's owner will receive a warning for the first offense. Subsequent offenses will result in fines up to $75.

Councilmember Stewart highlighted the need for this legislation, stating, “These noise cameras will help to mitigate negative health and quality of life impacts experienced by residents from excessive noise from modified exhaust.” The bill is rooted in state legislation passed earlier this year, which allows local jurisdictions to establish pilot programs for noise abatement.

In addition to the noise camera bill, the Council will also consider new legislation introduced by Council President Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1) and Fani-González to streamline the approval process for affordable housing projects. The proposed bill would eliminate the requirement for the Housing Opportunities Commission to hold public hearings before starting new affordable housing developments. This change aims to accelerate the construction of much-needed affordable housing by removing redundant procedural steps.

The Council is expected to gather input from residents and stakeholders during the hearing, which will help shape the final outcome of these proposed measures. The noise camera initiative, if approved, would be one of the county’s latest efforts to improve public safety and enhance the quality of life for its residents.