TNL assisting California Highway Patrol
with automatic identification of noisy vehicles
Press release, August 2023, San Jose, CA
The California Vehicle Code requires the engine sounds of vehicles to be below specified loudness levels. With a recent bill, the California State Senate calls for the evaluation of sound-activated enforcement devices (SAEDs) to automatically identify vehicles that are too loud. TNL is developing an SAED with a cloud-connected software back end for evaluation by the California Highway Patrol.
According to research, traffic noise may lead to adverse health effects, such as headaches, sleep disturbance, stress, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease and hormonal imbalances. Therefore, for the sake of public health, the state of California maintains strict limits for vehicle engine noise. For enforcement purposes, the California State Senate has ordered the selection and evaluation of sound-activated enforcement devices in 27150.4 of the Vehicle Code.
CHP testing SAEDs for California State Senate
The SAEDs will enable the identification and prosecution of violations of vehicle noise limits. The devices will detect and record excessive vehicle noise when it happens, locate the vehicle that causes the noise, and take a video of the vehicle for identification. The California Highway Patrol will install, utilize and evaluate SAEDs at multiple locations for testing the effectiveness, reliability and precision of the devices. After successful completion of the tests, which run last for a period of one year, judicial aspects such as chain of evidence and privacy issues shall be evaluated.
TNL assembling SAEDs and developing software back end
TNL will assemble the testable SAED, which consists of two Sorama sound sensors, two Axis cameras, a Class 1 acoustic analyzer and a 4G cellular connection kit. Additionally, TNL will develop a cloud-based back end and a web-based dashboard for the CHP to use and evaluate. The SAEDs will be installed at a location near Sacramento in order to test the usability and reliability depending on different circumstances. TNL will train users of the system and provide technical support during the evaluation period.
About TNL
TNL is a 35-year young international firm and the market leader in mobility solutions in Europe. Like Amsterdam and Rotterdam in The Netherlands, Oslo in Norway, and Copenhagen in Denmark, our USA clients are the leading cities in multi-modal traffic flow and public transit service levels. We are proud to be instrumental in establishing and delivering those world-renowned transit and mobility services to the citizens and businesses in the USA.
