Is there a LEGAL limit on Exhaust Noise ?
Discussion
Hi 
Here is my experience regarding noise and legality...
Take my word my Porsche 928 is LOUD...Around 104 Db at idle and around 115 at 4500 revs at half a meter etc...as per track day tests...and around 125 db at 6000 revs.....
My neighbours (who I get on with) named my car >>> ARMAGEDDON .....as thats what it sounds like coming down the road
Now I run Nitrous so its NOT an option for me to run without almost straight through pipes...its also a V8 which doesnt help...
When I was setting my exhaust up...I went into the noise level thing VERY carefully...
With both an Mot examiner and a friend who is a local traffic officer...
Mot examiner = "Well he have no decibel meters so we could not fail it even if 200 db....as long as ALL parts of the system are in one piece and not rusted through or leaking , we and any other MOT station would pass it...
He also said that looking through the regulations...in the book...he might even pass it if NO EXHAUST AT ALL.....as the book only said about exhausts in good condition and not leaking etc....so anyone with problems try taking it in to an MOT on headers lol
Local Traffic policeman = Well we have no decibel meters either...so its really subjective.....but as he said ...if you sit outside someones house revving the nuts off your car...whatever the db level you can be done for a few things including disturbing the peaceHe also said....we have better things to do than worry about Porsches with loud exhausts...if you were 18 and the car was falling apart...you would be stopped anyway and checked, and probably prosecuted for other things, but he doubted whether a noisy exhaust would be one of them....
He seemed pretty sensible to me....
I think the reason nobody bothers to prosecute for noise is basically the lack of Db meters...I have one but MOT stations and Police cars do not....so would be VERY hard to prove to a court, I would think....
All the best Brett
Here is my experience regarding noise and legality...
Take my word my Porsche 928 is LOUD...Around 104 Db at idle and around 115 at 4500 revs at half a meter etc...as per track day tests...and around 125 db at 6000 revs.....
My neighbours (who I get on with) named my car >>> ARMAGEDDON .....as thats what it sounds like coming down the road
Now I run Nitrous so its NOT an option for me to run without almost straight through pipes...its also a V8 which doesnt help...
When I was setting my exhaust up...I went into the noise level thing VERY carefully...
With both an Mot examiner and a friend who is a local traffic officer...
Mot examiner = "Well he have no decibel meters so we could not fail it even if 200 db....as long as ALL parts of the system are in one piece and not rusted through or leaking , we and any other MOT station would pass it...
He also said that looking through the regulations...in the book...he might even pass it if NO EXHAUST AT ALL.....as the book only said about exhausts in good condition and not leaking etc....so anyone with problems try taking it in to an MOT on headers lol
Local Traffic policeman = Well we have no decibel meters either...so its really subjective.....but as he said ...if you sit outside someones house revving the nuts off your car...whatever the db level you can be done for a few things including disturbing the peace
He also said....we have better things to do than worry about Porsches with loud exhausts...if you were 18 and the car was falling apart...you would be stopped anyway and checked, and probably prosecuted for other things, but he doubted whether a noisy exhaust would be one of them....He seemed pretty sensible to me....
I think the reason nobody bothers to prosecute for noise is basically the lack of Db meters...I have one but MOT stations and Police cars do not....so would be VERY hard to prove to a court, I would think....
All the best Brett
I suspect all that you could get done for is, as you say, disturbing the peace or some evironmental health charge (i.e. like you're not allowed loud music etc. after 11pm and so on).
However, I think it's about being reasonable (i.e. don't rev it up loud at 5am or midnight, don't drive down residential roads at 8000rpm and so on). My Westfield is quite loud (noway near your porker tho! 104dB at IDLE!!!! mine makes 103/104 at 4500 rpm.) but I only use it at weekends during the day (if the weather is OK etc.) so neighbours won't have a problem with it. Even on the rare occasions that I use it for work that's at 8am when most people are up anyway. I'm sure if I was using it every day at 5am they wouldn't be so happy. Then again I wouldn't do that, I'd use the other car or get the westie made quieter.
However, I think it's about being reasonable (i.e. don't rev it up loud at 5am or midnight, don't drive down residential roads at 8000rpm and so on). My Westfield is quite loud (noway near your porker tho! 104dB at IDLE!!!! mine makes 103/104 at 4500 rpm.) but I only use it at weekends during the day (if the weather is OK etc.) so neighbours won't have a problem with it. Even on the rare occasions that I use it for work that's at 8am when most people are up anyway. I'm sure if I was using it every day at 5am they wouldn't be so happy. Then again I wouldn't do that, I'd use the other car or get the westie made quieter.
Watching this thread with interest as my Mustang is err... audible!
However, from a legal perspective, I am in the following situation:
1) The car is an import and being US made, has no Euro data regarding noise or emissions.
2) The entire exhaust system is brand new (as is the car) and is consequently free of any defects.
3) That said, it is loud, with a capital 'F'
Now, I'm not an 18 year old 'yoof' with a 1.2 Corsa and a bean can, who plays Ronnie Revitt wherever he goes. In fact, cruising on little throttle the car is of a 'normal' noise level. However, open the taps and the noise increases exponentially!
Ergo, in the eyes of the law, should I be stopped - what should my response be?
I do have a sound meter at home, so will check it using the VOSA/SVA prescribed method to see just how 'noisy' it is.
However, from a legal perspective, I am in the following situation:
1) The car is an import and being US made, has no Euro data regarding noise or emissions.
2) The entire exhaust system is brand new (as is the car) and is consequently free of any defects.
3) That said, it is loud, with a capital 'F'
Now, I'm not an 18 year old 'yoof' with a 1.2 Corsa and a bean can, who plays Ronnie Revitt wherever he goes. In fact, cruising on little throttle the car is of a 'normal' noise level. However, open the taps and the noise increases exponentially!
Ergo, in the eyes of the law, should I be stopped - what should my response be?
I do have a sound meter at home, so will check it using the VOSA/SVA prescribed method to see just how 'noisy' it is.
Interesting thread.
Said with bitterness, from my experience then if you car is antisocially loud, and being used in a manner which is not conducive to a good nights sleep by your neighbours, then you probably have nothing at all to fear. I speak as one who has had serious problems with a 'neighbour' with a very loud car (details of which have been posted on here before.) The council did nothing, as did the Police. Another neighbour and I are currently pursuing this matter with the IPCC, with a serious view to disciplinary action for the officers involved.
In short, don't be a tosser. If you really think that it's OK to make stupidly loud noises at all hours in a public place, such that it will be disturbing other people, don't. It's not difficult. And it's also not a matter of what dB it is at what revs. If someone asks you politely not to disturb them, don't disturb them. Why do you need to take it any further? This may mean simply more restraint in your use of the car, in which case then put up with parking the car 100 yards down the road and walking the rest of the distance. It may mean that you need to change your exhaust, in which case I'd be asking why you had the excessively noisy one fitted in the first place.
(I'll freely admit that some people may make vexatious complaints, in which case the waters get a lot cloudier, but the above principle still applies.)
Oli.
Said with bitterness, from my experience then if you car is antisocially loud, and being used in a manner which is not conducive to a good nights sleep by your neighbours, then you probably have nothing at all to fear. I speak as one who has had serious problems with a 'neighbour' with a very loud car (details of which have been posted on here before.) The council did nothing, as did the Police. Another neighbour and I are currently pursuing this matter with the IPCC, with a serious view to disciplinary action for the officers involved.
In short, don't be a tosser. If you really think that it's OK to make stupidly loud noises at all hours in a public place, such that it will be disturbing other people, don't. It's not difficult. And it's also not a matter of what dB it is at what revs. If someone asks you politely not to disturb them, don't disturb them. Why do you need to take it any further? This may mean simply more restraint in your use of the car, in which case then put up with parking the car 100 yards down the road and walking the rest of the distance. It may mean that you need to change your exhaust, in which case I'd be asking why you had the excessively noisy one fitted in the first place.
(I'll freely admit that some people may make vexatious complaints, in which case the waters get a lot cloudier, but the above principle still applies.)
Oli.
Hi
I agree, good neighbours help a lot, and common sense...I drive mine very slowly near home and in town (mind you the only thing I have heard thats louder than mine was Concorde taking off lol)
People with powerful noisy cars dont need to rev the whatsits off them to PROVE its powerful......kids with no power think that revving those silly huge tail pipes will make others THINK their car is more powerful...lol
Maybe there should be an age limit to decibels....so over 30 you are allowed more etc then over 40 and so on
All the best Brett
I agree, good neighbours help a lot, and common sense...I drive mine very slowly near home and in town (mind you the only thing I have heard thats louder than mine was Concorde taking off lol)
People with powerful noisy cars dont need to rev the whatsits off them to PROVE its powerful......kids with no power think that revving those silly huge tail pipes will make others THINK their car is more powerful...lol
Maybe there should be an age limit to decibels....so over 30 you are allowed more etc then over 40 and so on
All the best Brett
Kirsty5150 said:
My god, you must have found the one and only petrol head inside VOSA!!!
Indeed. What a very helpful person he was too. I suspect he gave as much information as he possibly could.There's no way on earth my car is 72dB (SPL) at that distance and 75% throttle without the baffle. Probably not even with the baffle.
Kirsty5150 said:
My god, you must have found the one and only petrol head inside VOSA!!!
There HAS to be a few. I mean many of the jobs would appeal to Automotive/Mechanical Engineering Specialists, and lets face it how many people who trained because they "want to design V8 Engines" (my reason for going into engineering) actually end up doing something slightly different. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff