40 devices installed: In Paris, speed cameras are tested

If you drive through a traffic light at red, you run a not inconsiderable risk for your own wallet. Because there are now more and more intersections with red light flashers that automatically detect the violations. The result: A fine notice flutters into the house and points are entered in the central register in Flensburg. So far, however, you can feel safe if you stop at the red traffic light and let the engine roar loudly. Because this may annoy the residents, it is difficult to detect and prove with the previous forms of traffic monitoring. At least in Paris, however, this could change in the future. Noise cameras have been installed at a total of forty locations in the French capital.

A concrete limit has yet to be determined
These each consist of four microphones and have to fulfill two tasks. First, it must be documented objectively how loud a noise actually was. In addition, it should be possible to precisely locate the noise source by comparing the microphone data with the images from a camera. Ultimately, it should be possible to identify vehicles that are too loud. So far, however, the perpetrators have not yet been fined in Paris. Because it is a test phase in which the main aim is to see how reliably the new technology actually works. In addition, empirical values ​​are to be collected in order to subsequently set specific limit values ​​which must then no longer be exceeded. Because one thing is clear: residents must continue to endure normal traffic noise.

The first penalties may already be given next year
However, a legislative initiative to be voted on this autumn would allow local authorities to impose fines on particularly loud vehicles regardless of national regulations. Some Parisian suburbs have already announced that they intend to use such a scheme. However, the idea of ​​a speed trap is not entirely new. Rather, researchers in Geneva have also been working on a technical solution to the underlying problem for some time. Excessively loud vehicles are also not uncommon in Germany. In addition to tuned cars, it is especially souped up motorcycles in Germany that cause significantly more noise than allowed. So far, however, it has been difficult to prove concrete violations. This could change now.