On 04/02/2024 08:02 pm, Simon Mason wrote:
The growing trend of drivers modifying their cars with loud exhausts and other questionable ‘upgrades’ has reached fever pitch in recent years.
However, in a landmark court case this month, the legal fight back against obnoxiously noisy vehicles has stepped up a gear.
The early 2000s tuning scene kickstarted an obsession with making mundane motors as loud as possible. Out went modest family runarounds, and in came popped and banged-up boy racer specials. As the ‘Fast and Furious’ generation came of age, so did a
desire to draw attention through noise pollution.
However, many councils and police forces have lost patience with booming exhaust notes disturbing the peace. This month, Wakefield-based firm AET Motorsport felt the full force of the legal system when Kirklees Magistrates’ Court found the tuner
guilty of fitting illegal vehicle modifications.
Fined over £7,000 in costs, AET openly advertised ‘decat’ exhaust systems and ECU remaps deliberately aimed at generating more noise - direct breaches of road regulations. Damningly, investigators discovered the company made no attempt to warn
customers that the modifications would render their cars illegal.
Speaking after the landmark ruling, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) described the case as a clear message that flouting laws has consequences.
“This investigation shows DVSA takes activity seriously and we will continue to take strong action on offenders,” stated the organisation’s Head of the Market Surveillance Unit.
The court result advances last year’s DVSA trial of roadside noise cameras in Kent. The crackdown looks set to put many mechanics and dealerships on notice about brazenly fitting explosive exhaust mods. However, owners should also check their
insurance policies, as invalidating a car’s MOT or impacting emissions can void cover entirely.
Alongside ear-splitting exhaust set-ups, other questionable tuning tricks like removing catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters, lowering suspension beyond legal limits, and excessively dark window tints could also land drivers in hot water.
In an age of increased roadside checks and noise cameras, not to mention tougher MOT rules, the days of harmful high-decibel driving may soon be over. For boy racers, it is less about fast cars but rather, fast and furious action from the authorities
looking to clean up the streets.
https://www.carsupermarket.com/blog/crackdown-on-noisy-cars-steps-up-a-gear
All god.
Now what steps are being taken to quieten the screamed and bellowed
obscenities yelled by chav-cyclists at pedestrians on FOOTways and
PEDESTRIAN crossings?
Perhaps the law could force chavs on chav-bikes to be muzzled and gagged?
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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