Tardy airplanes landing during curfew hours between 11:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. have been facing fines of $2,500 per violation. Mineta San Jose International Airport has collected $167,000 in late fees since the program was put into effect two years ago. The airport is now researching ways to use the money.

Jonnie Banks, the manager of community outreach at the airport, who has been collecting feedback, said officials are still in the preliminary stages of deciding how to use the funds.

For Ed Rast, president of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, that decision is easy. Rast wants to see the money spent on additional noise-monitoring programs.

His suggests a program such as Fly Quiet, which San Francisco International Airport uses. The program has its own website complete with radar tracking, so residents wishing to make a complaint about airplane noise can determine exactly which airplane woke them up at 2 a.m.

Kay Gutknecht, a resident who lives near the airport, agrees that the money should be spent on mitigating noise impact.

"Since the money comes from noise, it seems that it should somehow go to continuing to reduce noise impact," Gutknecht said.

"I believe that, over time, as the airport grows, noise is just going to get worse."

Ed Hodges, of Citizens Against Airport Pollution, has a different idea. He would like to see the money spent on an air pollution monitoring station.

"It's a station that measures pollution coming primarily from airplane exhaust," Hodges said. "Then we can compare the results with other airports and determine if we are above or below average for air pollution. If we're above average, we need a plan to cut down on air pollution."

However, according Banks, the money cannot be used for just any request.

"We have federal restrictions and parameters for how the money can be spent," she said. "So some of the recommendations from the community may or may not be appropriate."

Banks said, "We have to march in tune with the FAA."

The FAA states that monies coming into the airport and that are generated by the airport cannot be used for purposes unrelated to the airport.

As an example, Banks cited a suggestion to install double-paned windows in nearby residents' houses to reduce airplane noise. Under the FAA guidelines, Banks said, this idea might not be feasible.

Banks added that very few airports have a program where curfew fines are used to benefit the surrounding community. Six airports use curfew fines, but five simply return the fines back to the airports' general fund accounts. There is little precedent, and the process is complicated, Banks said.

"We're still determining how to determine how to use the funds," Banks said.

Banks added that she welcomes any and all suggestions from the community.