KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Over the past few months, Knoxville leaders have collected data about noise in the downtown area using a noise camera. It creates a recording every time a noise registers above 86 decibels.
So far, city leaders said around 1,300 cars have set off the camera. They also said it has helped them find the noisiest times of the day — around 8 p.m. on Saturdays and around 2 a.m. on Sundays. They said police aren't issuing citations related to the camera, but also said that could change soon.
"Looking at the data over the past few months, we have definitely understood the issue more, which really was the goal in putting it up," said Carter Hall, the policy and innovation business manager of Knoxville.
The camera and technology to support it cost around $27,000, but it was free for the city through a pilot program. City leaders now need to decide if they want to keep it once the program is up.
"We have an issue with this," said Andrew Roberto, the city's vice mayor. "Now, the next step is looking at enforcement."
They said that the camera would effectively be a tool to ensure that the city's quality of life stays at high standards. They would move it to different spots around the city, collecting data that could be used to develop enforcement strategies.
"We're hearing from people who live downtown," Hall said. "We're hearing from business owners, we're talking to people who are downtown — a lot who say it feels like a lot."
Some visitors in the downtown area said they hadn't noticed any noise concerns.
"We have not heard anything that's been keeping us awake or anything that's disturbed us during our visit," said Jacob Togstad, a tourist in Knoxville. "We haven't noticed any unusual noises."
However, others said that the noise laws should be enforced, and the camera could help police officers prevent unexpected loud noises.
"Everybody's wanting to show off with the noise and, yes, I think those ordinances need to be enforced," said Steve Daves, who lives in Knoxville.