Ramat Gan to Impose $200 Fines for Unnecessary Car Horn Use

Ramat Gan is set to implement a new enforcement measure against drivers who use their car horns unnecessarily, contributing to noise pollution. The city council has approved regulations allowing the municipality to adopt national environmental laws aimed at preventing noise disturbances.

In parallel, the municipality secured funding from the Ministry of Environmental Protection to purchase six enforcement cameras. These cameras will be installed at six intersections in built-up areas across the city to record drivers honking their horns and creating noise nuisances. Drivers caught honking without a valid reason will face a fine of 730 shekels (approximately $200 USD).

This initiative aligns with a broader trend in Israeli local authorities adopting technological systems for noise monitoring and enforcement. These systems can identify honking and document the offending vehicles, with the data then passed to enforcement officials.

Before the system becomes fully operational in Ramat Gan, several steps remain. City inspectors will undergo training and certification from the Ministry of Environmental Protection to grant them the authority to issue these fines. The city announced in July that it had received the grant for the cameras, with installation planned for 2027. Further steps include selecting the technology, mapping noise hotspots, legal preparations, and establishing the enforcement framework.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection is actively promoting the use of technology for vehicle noise enforcement. In November 2025, the ministry announced an additional grant of 8.5 million shekels for local authorities to purchase and install noise monitoring cameras and detectors in urban centers.

Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen noted that legislative efforts to enable significant fines for improper horn use have been attempted in the Knesset but have not yet been finalized. He stated that the 730 shekel fine in Ramat Gan is the interim measure. Ramat Gan joins other Israeli cities that have already begun similar enforcement. Petah Tikva uses acoustic cameras and has issued fines of 245 shekels for unnecessary honking. Kiryat Ono is participating in a "Quiet Cities" project, and Tel Aviv-Yafo has updated its bylaws to allow fines for such offenses. Currently, fines for unnecessary honking in urban areas typically range from 245 to 475 shekels.