New York is loud—that’s the brand. But the city has decided there’s a difference between everyday din (sirens, subways, yelling at jaywalkers) and the souped-up muffler outside your window at 3 am Enter: noise cameras.

These pole-mounted contraptions, equipped with microphones, fisheye lenses and license plate readers, are now quietly keeping tabs on New York’s rowdiest cars and motorcycles. Trigger the mic with anything over 85 decibels (think lawn mower, but angrier), and the system snaps your plate. The Department of Environmental Protection reviews the evidence and if you’re the culprit, expect a summons starting at $800 and climbing to $2,500 for repeat offenders.

Now, new reporting from the New York Post shows DEP cameras have issued more than 1,600 summonses across the five boroughs and doled out nearly $2 million in fines. (Well, four boroughs—Staten Island is still camera-free.) 

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The hot spots include Midtown’s West 41st Street, which racked up the most violations, followed by East 36th Street in Murray Hill. In Queens, Long Island City’s Borden Avenue and Astoria’s 20th Avenue also saw plenty of action.

The city’s pilot quietly grew from one rented camera in 2021 to nine city-owned devices today. Local Law 7 of 2024 now mandates at least five cameras per borough by September 2025, but DEP hasn’t yet secured the funding to make that happen. For now, consider the exact camera locations a guessing game—DEP won’t publish them, in part to prevent vandalism and to deter joyriders from dodging monitored zones.

If you’re wondering whether this is just a cash grab, here’s the breakdown: In 2024, penalties totaled $462,000, but the city only collected about a quarter of that. In fact, since launch, DEP has spent over $800,000 on staffing and more than $325,000 on equipment and calibration, so thus far, it’s not exactly a profit machine.

Still, city officials argue that noise cameras are less about revenue and more about sanity. With more than 740,000 noise complaints hitting 311 last year, New Yorkers clearly want relief. Experts say cutting down on extreme vehicle noise can reduce stress, improve sleep and even lower cardiovascular risks.

Next time you’re tempted to lay on the horn or gun the engine, remember: Big Brother isn’t just watching—he’s listening.