A New York City Lamborghini owner and car enthusiast is fighting back in court after his bone-stock 2018 Huracan Performante was hit with an $800 fine for excessive noise, despite having an unmodified factory exhaust system.
Lamborghini Owner Sues NYC After After his Stock Car Triggers The City’s Noise Cameras
Image source: nypost / Instagram
Anthony Aquilino was driving his Lamborghini through New York when one of the city’s new noise cameras, which use microphones to detect excessively loud exhaust notes, flagged his car for exceeding the 85 dB limit. Aquilino was subsequently mailed an $800 ticket, the first offense fine under the city’s crackdown on loud vehicles.
However, Aquilino maintains that his Lamborghini Huracan Performante exhaust is completely stock, and therefore should be in compliance with noise regulations. He’s now filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court to have the fine overturned.
The High Cost of Loud Pipes in NYC
Under New York City’s aggressive campaign against noisy vehicles, the fines are steep:
- $800 for the first offense
- $1700 for the second offense
- $2700 for the third offense
“How can anybody afford that?” Aquilino told the New York Post. “Especially if the city wants to move these cameras all across the five boroughs.”
He argues that for owners of unmodified performance cars like his Huracan Performante, the only way to avoid future fines would be to sell the vehicle altogether. “How else do you fight the fine?” he asked.
Lamborghini Confirms Aquilino’s Exhaust is Stock
To bolster his case, Aquilino took his Huracan to a Manhattan Lamborghini dealership, where technicians confirmed that the car’s exhaust system was indeed unmodified from the factory.
Lamborghini designs its vehicles, including the Huracan Performante, to meet noise regulations in the markets where they are sold. The 5.2L naturally-aspirated V10 in Aquilino’s car produces a characteristically raucous exhaust note, but one that should fall within legal limits from the factory.
Other Performance Car Owners Caught in the Crosshairs
Aquilino’s case highlights the challenges facing owners of high-performance vehicles as cities deploy automated systems to crack down on noise pollution.
Last month in California, the owner of a Chevrolet Camaro was fined simply for driving in “Sport Mode,” which an officer claimed violated state noise laws. In another incident, a Hyundai Elantra N owner had his car’s registration suspended on the spot for excessive noise while driving in the vehicle’s “N Mode,” despite the car being completely stock. After a lengthy dispute, Hyundai ultimately bought back the Elantra N, even after confirming the car was unmodified and operating as designed.
The Road Ahead for Aquilino’s Lamborghini
It remains to be seen how Aquilino’s lawsuit will play out in court. He maintains that while he supports measures to curb noise pollution, fining owners of stock vehicles is unfair. “I feel that if the residents are upset by noise and the city wants to crack down on noise – I don’t disagree with it,” he told the Post. “I disagree with if a car is unmodified and you want to fine them.”
For now, Aquilino’s Huracan faces an uncertain future on the streets of New York City. As more cities deploy automated noise enforcement, the plight of performance car enthusiasts like Aquilino may become increasingly common.
