Alan Jeffery

Watch out for "Sound measuring kits" now being used by Police.
Devon and Cornwall have a campaign going about noisy exhausts, apparently backed up with decibel meters. They say that levels should be between 82 and 89 decibels, and gave one guy a fixed penalty of £30 for a reading of 93 decibels, which they said was "three times the limit"

I have no idea where they get their figures from, as there are no specific decibel levels for the MOT test, the only problem being if the tester doesn't like the sound of it. Apparently VOSA, second only to the Gestapo when it comes to motoring self expression, have set these "limits"

I'd say if anyone has a problem, refuse to pay the fixed penalty, then invite them to prove the figures. There are more problems than their tiny brains can cope with!
Just a few..
Where should they test? close to a wall or away from it? Indoors or out? How do they measure background noise? Should it be tested in the open? How far away from buildings? How far from the tailpipe? What angle? What rpm? Should it be drive by or stationary? What load? Uphill or downhill? Who checks the DB meters? How do they check them? Is there a print out? What's a "modified exhaust?" (discuss) What about Aston Martins? Ferraris? TVR's? Bl00dy noisy Buses? Harley Davidsons? Chicken Chasers? There was a sponsored charity bike meet recently where 400 bikes turned up. Should they arrest them all?

They say it's ok between 82 and 89 decibels, what if it's 81, is that too quiet?

Tell you what, if a Scooby is coming you'd get outa the way, if it's a Smartar$e electric car, it'll kill you, as you wouldn't have heard it coming.

V5RLTD

iTrader: (5)

Nothing better to do!!!! I just sold the bung for my nur spec, They'll eat me for breakfast!

JP4

iTrader: (12)

They stopped me a few weeks ago on the A3 saying the zorst was too loud and that it would frighten the elderly and others on the road!

Alan Jeffery

Sorry, I forgot a few other variables

Doppler Effect
Inverse Square Law
Temperature variations (Air density and wave transmission issues)
Altitude (pressure density and adiabatic lapse rate)

That lot should keep the lawyers busy!

JRFRACE

those do seem incredibly low figures

beef-on-the-bone

iTrader: (5)

just had mine converted to true 3" and got no boxes anyway, d'oh!!!!

bigarf

iTrader: (67)

with me taking part in the scooby sprint and my exhaust reading 112 db i made a bung for it which has taken it down to 95db.i actually like driving my car now its quieter and i dont think it sounds too noisy at all,there is no way i will get it down to 82 db.

JP4

iTrader: (12)

The question is can the Police insist on taking your car away and have it retested for MOT - and say if you were running full decat then would it not fail the MOT? Could they then do you on that count?

Alan Jeffery

My cat farts louder than 82!

Alan Jeffery

Talking of Cats..
"The Cat Police" coming soon to a town near you.
Drive by emission testing, the Greens will have a field day.

F1 CJE UK

iTrader: (8)

ha ha what next

hux309

Yeah i heard this on the radio today, you'd think they'd have better things to do.

Does anyone know the db level of a decatted tsl group n system?

DJ_Jon

iTrader: (7)

What a joke, I thought I saw them near Wrigleys roundabout with a laser gun and what looked like a sound meter last week..

Alan Jeffery

OK, laser gun in one hand, decibel meter in the other, CCTV on head, watch what they ask you to blow into!

DJ_Jon

iTrader: (7)

Yikes.. what a thought! pass me the mind bleach please

beef-on-the-bone

iTrader: (5)

looks like i'm f**ked tomorrow!!!
sneaking into town early but probably be busted onthe way home!!! the ung idea sounds good though, shall look into that.........

fmp

iTrader: (7)

its all going too far once again!!

mine is 101db at static noise test, 2/3rds revs (standard track day test), so i would be fooked!! lol

skid11

iTrader: (1)

So if anyone follows your advice and challenges the ticket i take it you will be able to help them with your "expert" evidence .
You must have similar qualifications to an MOT tester then?

top_fuel

iTrader: (1)

I heard on the radio that BOVs are to be set a DB level too!....

They must know Re-Circulating ones are best.... suppose its not too bad then.

djmisio85

The British government is a JOKE

Pretty much all that needs to be said

cster

Another kick in the teeth for attention seeking Chavs.

Alan Jeffery

There are plenty enough instances of clever people getting away with speeding tickets, how do you think I've been able to run a performance tuning centre for 30 years without getting a single conviction?
There are enough holes in sound measurement principles to drive a bus through.

Tell you what, when they stop you, just roll over and pay the man, it's what they are banking on.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I see what you mean Alan, if there is no specific guidelines for how the test is carried out (as you say, atmospherics, buildings etc all play their part in either amplifying or distorting sound), how can it be a true test?
If they want to test mine, I will be on the other side of a wall facing open ground with the wind blowing from behind me

Tony

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

The sound of most diesel vans hooning up my street at 6am are more noisey than my exhaust... Take it this test doesnt include induction noise...

Alan Jeffery

Like the hunting law, it's a theoretical minefield, and I can't see how it could ever stick if put to a legal test. If we accept that the man in blue can make it up as he goes along, fine, but noise is subjective to a degree you won't find often in a courtroom.
The worst of it is, as usual, they are targeting the wrong people. Most real trouble is caused by the mass of unemployed and unemployable directionless and feckless yobs out there, not those who work hard to buy themselves a Subaru. The vast majority of my customers don't drink and drive, don't use drugs, and don't carry blades. Why persecute them via any means possible?

DJ_Jon

iTrader: (7)

Because we are easy targets & have money in our pockets

JP4

iTrader: (12)

Alan Jeffrey - can the above happen seeing you're quite knowledgable on this area?

skid11

iTrader: (1)

I agree with with the principal of what Alan is saying...im just not sure it will stop you getting a ticket for a noisy exhaust..or getting off with it
Decat's and MOT's...as far as i know its up to the individual tester as to the noise and the year of the car as to the level of testing..i think its a different topic really though

Ciaran

iTrader: (16)

I was given an advisory on my MOT for my exhaust being excessively loud but the tester told me had he not been an bike owner who's bike was also loud he would have failed.


In my previous car I was given an ASBO for unnecessary noise at 14.30 hours.
I didn't do a wheelie as the claimed (although i would love to see a VR6 wheelie). I did do 20 in first and he said i accelerated to fast.
Yet again how fast is to fast?
I was fined for causing unnecessary alarm in a residential street with not one person on it no parked cars apart from the Boys in blue hiding in somebody drive.
he asked me why it was so noisy and i said "because it is a 2.8 V6" and he laughed and said
"yes ok whatever why would they put a 2.8 V6 engine in a golf"
I felt like saying "because they can" but just kind of grunted as i was rather mad and had decided that mouthing off would do me no favours.

Basically as per usual motorist are an easy money.

skid11

iTrader: (1)

Got an advisory on my bike as well .Left the Yoshi on rather than taking it off for the day of the MOT.So what does the advisory mean?
I know the tester and have in the past changed the can for the day of the MOT but it really makes no sense.
It seems very subjective but what seems ok to you might not wash with a middle aged magistrate or your local traffic cop.
It remains your choice though