As impressive as the 10,000rpm V8 in the new Temerario is, we’re undoubtedly going to miss the animal shriek of the 5.2-litre V10 in the Lamborghini Huracan. The city of New York, it would appear, doesn’t feel the same way, because its ‘noise cameras’ have just slapped a Huracan Performante owner with an $800 (approx. £600) fine for being too loud – despite his car being totally stock.
The cameras were introduced to the city last year, ostensibly to catch drivers with illegally modified cars. They use sensors to detect noises above 85 decibels at a distance of 50 feet, then take a picture of the offending car’s registration, sending a fine to the driver.
However, Anthony Aquilino, a New York insurance broker, found he’d triggered one of the cameras despite his Huracan being totally unmodified. While the Huracan Performante is certainly towards the louder end of the road car scale, it still complies with any noise limit regulations that were in place when it was produced.
Aquilino is now suing the city of New York, reports the NY Post, as he believes the system shouldn’t have targeted him as the driver of an unmodified car. However, both Council Member Keith Powers – a major proponent of the cameras – and the city’s Department of Environmental Protection have clarified to the publication that the limit applies to all cars, regardless of whether they’ve been modified.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante – rear
That’s despite Powers previously saying “We’re going after those who are potentially using an illegal vehicle, a modified vehicle,” at the time of the system’s introduction.
Aquilino maintains that he wasn’t speeding at the time he triggered the noise camera, although How’s My Driving NY – a website that publicly lists traffic violations in the city – shows that he apparently did receive two other tickets on the same day; one for running a red light and another for speeding in a school zone.
Noise cameras like the ones in New York have also been rolled out in several other US cities. Currently, there aren’t any in the UK, but they were trialled between 2022 and 2023 at various sites. While their goals are ultimately for the betterment of communities, it does seem rather unfair that a car that’s deemed totally legal and roadworthy should still be slapped with a fine. On the other hand, should it really only be those with access to expensive supercars that are able to enjoy some good, old-fashioned engine noise?
