CUT THE NOISE!

by Matthew Martin matthew.martin@dailypost.co.nz
Motorists repeatedly caught with loud stereos or exhausts are likely to lose their licence under tough new laws aimed at ridding our communities of noisy cars.

New penalties for "operating a vehicle in a noisy manner" - which includes car stereos as well as exhaust systems - aim to sting the likes of boy racers where it hurts and give police wider subjective powers.

The fines are going down from up to $250 to $50 - but the demerit points for being noisy are increasing, from up to 10 per offence to 25. That means getting to 100, at which point a driver loses his or her licence for three months, is a lot easier.

Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Kevin Taylor says noisy cars and car stereos can be deemed to be anti-social behaviour if they are a public nuisance."If you are in the middle of a park with your friends and no-one else can hear you then I would be disappointed if any measures were taken against you. But if you want to play your car stereo at full noise in the middle of the night in a suburban street then expect to attract our attention," Mr Taylor said.

Police can now carry out a "subjective test" ... to determine whether cars are too noisy. "If a vehicle is obviously louder than a standard vehicle or you are making lots of noise then you are a target," Mr Taylor said.



Cars with an exhaust system or "blow-off valves" that make more than 95db (decibels) of noise will be deemed to be too loud. A level of 95db is about the same as listening to a jet aeroplane taking off 100m away or a jackhammer.

Owner of Rotorua's Mag and Turbo Warehouse Kyle Fraser said the law changes were good but he doubted it would stop a few "bad apples" spoiling it for everybody. They were the few who "just don't care" and who the law would target, he said.

"Since the law was changed we have noticed guys coming in to have their backyard modifications corrected.

"Every car that comes in here for work leaves in a legal condition. What they do when they get home is up to them," he said.

"Quite often guys will take silencers off their exhausts and put them back on when they go for a warrant of fitness."

- additional reporting Katee Shanks

THE FACTS * Old law: $250 fine and 10 demerit points

* New law: $50 fine and 25 demerit points

* New law: Police can stop you for having your car stereo up too loud

* Maximum decibel level for a car exhaust is 95db while stationary

* If your exhaust is noisy take it to a Vehicle Testing Station and staff there will check it for you