Noise pollution on Collier County streets due to vehicles with modified mufflers is gaining attention with county commissioners discussing partnering with the Quiet Florida initiative that pushes to implement more restrictions on car noise. 

Quiet Florida, led by Mary Tatigian, was established about two years ago with its community growing daily with residents experiencing constant car noise disturbances in their neighborhoods. Tatigian approached the commissioners at their last meeting to ask for support by considering ways to approach the issue. 

“Unfortunately, we’ve had a drastic change in traffic and growth in Naples, which means more noise,” Tatigian said. “We all know there is a huge problem with modified mufflers and we need your help. Think of it, the inability to relax while sitting inside your own home. The noise and on your own property, the inability to have peace and quiet. I for one think it’s un-American.” 

Collier County Sheriff’s Office has been enforcing a noise ordinance under a state law that prevents operation of a motor vehicle on highways with a modified exhaust system or noise abatement device. Lt. Dave Bruening said this ordinance complicates enforcing it on cars manufactured to be louder than normal. 

Collier leads southern Florida in enforcement of the ordinance with almost 200 more enforcement actions than Miami-Dade County.   

“We’ve actually went to the dealerships Ford, Chevy and Dodge and talked to their service managers about the sports cars. A lot of them actually have a sport mode and when engaged it will change the exhaust,” Bruening said. “I’ll read directly out of the Ford manual that says, ‘The track exhaust mode setting is only used at tracks and not for use on public roadways.’ So this is a legal car that can become illegal with the push of a button.” 

City of Miami Beach is testing the use of noise meter cameras, but data has yet to be released regarding success with this fairly new technology that was developed in the United Kingdom in 2021. Commissioner Bill McDaniel wants to see the results from the pilot program before coming to any major decision for Collier. 

“I want to ensure that we don’t get on the same path that we did before with the traffic light cameras that were an absolute debacle,” McDaniel said, referencing 19 red-light cameras in the county that were deactivated in 2013 due to disapproval from residents and legal issues. “I also know that technology and advancements in technology have certainly been enhanced and privacy can be better maintained, but I really want to see the results of that pilot program that’s currently transpiring in Miami before we make a move on anything ourselves.” 

These cameras are equipped with audio sensors that are triggered when noise limits are exceeded. Different than a red-light camera that targets the driver of the car, noise cameras will theoretically be easier to enforce because it targets vehicle owners in violation for modifying their mufflers.  

Commissioner Dan Kowal suggested hiring a private company to do an independent noise study in the area to determine how prevalent the issue is. 

“Would it behoove us to maybe have somebody, an independent organization to go out in certain times of the day or over time to actually monitor with equipment that can monitor decibels at a sound and say ‘Alright we know exactly at this point to this point, on these days, that we are having a heavier amount of [noise]’,” Kowal asked. 

Tatigian pushed commissioners to continue considering enacting a plan similar to Miami Beach. 

“We’re only asking for a trial. We’re only asking for you to think outside the box and help us,” Tatigian said. “The camera technology would require less manpower on the streets and no confrontation of the officer when he has to stop a car and ticket them for modified mufflers.” 

Commissioners unanimously voted in favor of evaluating noise cameras by contacting manufacturers, Miami-Dade and other communities where cameras are being used. The board further directed staff to work with Quiet Florida and the sheriff’s office to determine what kind of literature can be distributed to schools and car shop owners modifying mufflers as a service. 

“I wanted to get the commission thinking in terms of our upcoming budget, what the sheriff may need to help enforce some of the existing laws,” Commissioner Burt Saunders said, “and also to perhaps direct staff to come back to us with some information on how noise cameras work and what impact they could have.”