The mayor of the capital, Sergei Sobyanin, put forward a proposal to the Moscow State Duma to consider a bill establishing a minimum fine of 5,000 rubles for deliberate violations of silence. The idea links penalties to the power of vehicles and their likelihood of obstructing neighbors, with a view toward evicting such vehicles when necessary. He shared these thoughts in his blog last August:
“Some motorists have become a source of concern for Muscovites. Throughout the night they drive cars and motorcycles with loud exhausts and music that can be clearly heard from outside windows.”
In Moscow, several camera stations have been launched in test mode, integrated with sound meters. The system treats the sound of a faulty exhaust as noise, with limits calibrated around 96 to 100 decibels depending on vehicle category, and it also accounts for music played through on-board systems. Sanctions for noise already exist in the city: citizens can be fined under part one of article 6.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation for violations of current sanitary rules and hygiene standards, including nighttime noise. It is likely that this standard is what Sobyanin had in mind when he described the penalties for owners of expensive motorcycles and cars as something akin to a severe punishment.
Additionally, in the Capital Administrative Offenses Code, article 3.13 addresses “breach of the peace of the citizens.” Under this provision, noise violations from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. can result in a warning or a fine ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 rubles. More often, the focus is on noisy repair work in residential buildings that occur during restricted hours, though the provision also applies to motorists dealing with disruptive alarm activity at night.
However, enforcement for vehicle-related violations tends to be difficult. The authorities are exploring automatic fines delivered through traffic cameras and sound meters, with penalties that vary by offense. Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Davankov even proposed a 100,000-ruble fine for noisy drivers, and in cases of repeat offenses, the possibility of evacuating the vehicle from public roads. If the driver does not improve behavior, the option of assigning them to public works for a week has been floated as well.
The proposed approach would identify violators through sound meters embedded in traffic cameras. These devices would determine the source of the noise, photograph the license plate, and automatically issue a fine. At present, debates over this initiative have stalled, and no final decision has been made.
For readers seeking a broader view of current penalties, Sergey Zinoviev’s article “New 2022 Fines and Other Traps for Drivers – A Complete List” offers a comprehensive catalog of measures already in place or under consideration.