How revving engines, noisy mufflers could be cracked down on in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE — Revving engines and noisy mufflers could be cracked down on in Charlotte.

Right now, cameras that can measure the sounds of cars are not allowed by state law.

State law allows non-audio video surveillance in public spaces where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, per lead senior assistant attorney for CMPD Jessica Battle.

Battle gave Charlotte’s Safety Committee a presentation on what council members could do to try to combat noise problems from cars.

“The implementation of noise cameras would require new legislation at the state level,” Battle told the committee.

The committee plans on working with state lawmakers to try to work on those changes.

“The chief of police has spoken with other agencies around North Carolina and noise is not an issue that is isolated to Charlotte,” Battle said.

If state law changes, council members will likely look at first adding the audio-measuring cameras to the red-light cameras that are going around town as part of a pilot program, per Councilwoman Danté Anderson, the chair of the committee.

“The fact is what we’re doing now is not enough,” said Councilman Ed Driggs. “At the same time we need to acknowledge the difficulty of these complaints.”

Driggs noted he has called in such noise complaints during street racing himself but by the time police arrive the drivers are gone.

Anderson said the committee is in the research phase of what can be done, but the biggest goal would be to get state lawmakers to adjust the law to allow local governments to use audio-measuring cameras.