New rules target noisy vehicles

[dazza85]

I found this ... How noisy is your truck ???

New rules target noisy vehicles
The Press | Monday, 02 June 2008

Boy racers may have to tone down their exhausts or risk being taken off the road after new rules around noisy vehicles came into force this month.

Amendments to the Vehicle Equipment Rule targeting excessively noisy vehicles came into effect yesterday.

Minister for Transport Safety Harry Duynhoven said cars with modified exhaust systems would be subject to more stringent testing criteria next time they went for a warrant of fitness test.

"Vehicle inspectors now only have to consider whether a modified car exhaust produces noise which is less than, or similar to, the original exhaust system installed at the time of the vehicle's manufacture," Duynhoven said.

"If the inspector considers the exhaust does not meet these criteria, the vehicle will not be issued with a warrant of fitness. The vehicle owner will then have to fix their exhaust system to reduce the noise it creates."

Police will be enforcing the new criteria and have the power to "green-sticker" cars which will have to be fixed or have a noise test. Imported vehicles with modified exhausts will also be required to be no more than 90dB from the start of this month.

Duynhoven said the new rules would not affect the majority of car owners.

He said penalties for operating a vehicle in a noisy manner, including the use of loud stereos, would also soon be changed from a $250 fine and 10 demerit points to a $50 fine and 25 demerit points.

Christchurch National MP Nicky Wagner previously described the Government's efforts to curb the boy racer problem as "woeful". She said the new rules did not target noisy exhausts but would actually allow people to drive even noisier cars.

Existing traffic-noise regulations meant cars must pass a drive-by test where they did not exceed 81dB the equivalent of about 91dB on an objective test. The news rules therefore meant boy racers could modify their cars to be 4dB louder.

The regulations also allowed New Zealand cars to be several times louder than those allowed in Australia or Europe.

Wagner said the noise caused by people hooning around the streets could keep whole neighbourhoods awake and make people feel afraid and powerless.

"It also destroys businesses. Many motels, hotels and accommodation houses are struggling to deal with guests who have been kept awake by noisy cars at night," she said.

"Even restaurants get complaints about the street noise that disturbs diners."

[nzhunter]

Damn! Think im gona have to chuck a bigger muffler on you can hear mine 3 blocks away lol