Small Iowa Town Cracks Down on Loud Cars with Noise Cameras

We're all familiar with Iowa speed cameras, many of which have been disabled in recent years.

You either hate them or you hate them more... but have you ever heard of a noise camera? The very concept is a bit weird.

Cameras on roads have always been known as a visual aid for law enforcement, not an audio one.

Well, that's just changed for one tiny Iowa town.

A Quiet Revolution: How a Tiny Iowa Town Is Pioneering Noise Cameras

The western Iowa city of Avoca (population under 2,000) has quietly positioned itself at the forefront of a growing movement: automated noise enforcement.

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Later this fall, in October 2025, it will begin issuing fines to drivers whose vehicles exceed acceptable noise levels, according to an Axios report.

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This small town’s innovative approach may sound simple, but its implications are reverberating all the way to Des Moines.

A Solution Born from Frustration

Residents in Avoca have long contended with disruptive noise, especially from modified engines and booming sound systems.

Avoca invested about $40,000 in the camera and another $10,000 for installation.

Maintenance will run just $1,000 annually. Fines are structured modestly: $100 for first offenses, doubling to $200 for repeat violations.

A processing company splits the fine revenue 40/60 with the city.

Avoca keeps the larger share.

Noise Cameras: Early Numbers That Speak

During a spring pilot, the camera captured 183 violations from 83 different drivers in just one month.

Strikingly, nearly a third of those violations came from only five vehicles, revealing a chronic offender pattern.

A city official said the cameras aren't here to generate high profits, but rather boost the quality of life in tiny Avoca.

More to Come?

With speed cameras at one point being all the rage in Iowa, will noise cameras replace them?

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Not everywhere. But in smaller towns and quiet neighborhoods, it could certainly catch on.

If Avoca’s program proves effective, it could offer a data-driven blueprint for towns big and small all over the U.S., not just in the Hawkeye State.

While Avoca is about 90 minutes away, there's little doubt Iowa's capital, Des Moines, is looking to see how this experiment goes.