Earlier this week, the Victorian Government announced it will begin implementing a new trial of roadside acoustic cameras, costing the taxpayer $1.3 million dollars.

The trial will see seven cameras placed at various locations across Melbourne and the state of Victoria over the next two years, which can “detect and snap the registration plates of vehicles that exceed noise limits”, according to a statement issued by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen’s office on Tuesday.

The cameras can be mounted roadside or fixed to poles, so they can be moved to different areas depending on when and where noise complaints are raised.

Steve Dimopoulos MP and Nina Taylor MP took to social media to announce the trial this week.

“We’re announcing that the EPA will trial across four locations in Melbourne, seven cameras to deal with hoon drivers,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

“This acoustic camera trial will help in detecting and reducing the number of noisy vehicles in our streets and suburbs, helping families feel safer,” he further said in a statement.

If a camera detects a vehicle as being in breach of noise limits, the data and photograph from that camera will be forwarded to the EPA, which will issue the vehicle owner a notice to have the offending vehicle tested for noise compliance. Failure to do so can result in a $1221 fine for individuals and a $6105 fine for companies.

While no dates or specific locations have been named as part of the trial, the operation will begin later this year and run for two years from that point.

In 2025, the EPA received 9100 noise reports, from which 1222 noisy vehicle infringement notices were issued. While that is a significant increase from the 5404 reports in 2020-2021, that was a much quieter period on Victorian roads due to strict COVID-19 lockdowns.

Victoria is not the first state to trial vehicle noise detecting cameras, with New South Wales having done so in the Wollongong and Bayside council areas from December 2024 until mid-to-late last year.

That trial was run in conjunction with the NSW EPA, with the findings released on 24 March this year.

“A small cohort of drivers is responsible for a high proportion of noisy events. Of all events, 55% are caused by the same group of vehicles that pass by the noise cameras at different times and days, and sometimes at more than one noise camera location,” the statement said.

“Motorcycles are responsible for around 55% of noise events, despite representing only around 4% of registered vehicles in NSW.”

Unlike Victoria, the NSW trial saw no fines or notices issued directly if vehicles were detected to be in breach of the cameras. However, according to the statement on the findings, “the EPA has also acted with NSW Police and Transport for NSW to target noisy and illegally modified vehicles, with targeted campaigns in areas known to be frequented by offenders. Sixteen vehicles were issued with defective vehicle notices during enforcement campaigns late last year in Bulli and Rockdale.”