Excessive Revving
Discussion
I was reading the thread about Accelerating and have been in a similar situation.
I was driving around in a 30 limit, i was going really slowly as i pulled out of a junction and then i accelerated upto 30mph.
My car is quite loud, but not the loudest ive heard.
About 5 minutes later, i was directed to pull over by two Police standing in the street. They gave me a £30 fine, no points, and said it was for excessive revving.
Is this actually something they can do? I thought when it came to exhaust volume, a complaint had to be made by the public.
Might be worth mentioning that it was clearly a teaching exercise for the less experienced officer, who was being talked through how to fill out the fine sheet.
I was driving around in a 30 limit, i was going really slowly as i pulled out of a junction and then i accelerated upto 30mph.
My car is quite loud, but not the loudest ive heard.
About 5 minutes later, i was directed to pull over by two Police standing in the street. They gave me a £30 fine, no points, and said it was for excessive revving.
Is this actually something they can do? I thought when it came to exhaust volume, a complaint had to be made by the public.
Might be worth mentioning that it was clearly a teaching exercise for the less experienced officer, who was being talked through how to fill out the fine sheet.
Since you don't list your garage in your profile, what kind of car is it? What exhaust system are you running? Any other mods like intake, manifold, decat etc?
I have to say, since it sounds like there was some on the job training happening, it does sound like you got done, pure bad luck. I'm going to take a wild guess and predict that you are young too. If you come back and tell me you drive something like a 106 or a Saxo then I won't be surprised either.
I have to say, since it sounds like there was some on the job training happening, it does sound like you got done, pure bad luck. I'm going to take a wild guess and predict that you are young too. If you come back and tell me you drive something like a 106 or a Saxo then I won't be surprised either.
Yea its a 1.8 Focus, only exhaust mod is a 3" Tip backbox. Its actually a very nice note not a drone or excessivly loud, my mum drives it sometimes 
I cant remember what the exact offence written on it was, i jsut paid it almost straight away.
I cant remember what the exact offence written on it was, i jsut paid it almost straight away.
Edited by Rsohyes on Monday 14th November 22:38
To be honest, I think a loud, revving shopping hatch like a Focus is probably going to attract more unwanted attention from the police than a proper performance car. If you've got say, a 200sx that has a loud, burbling exhaust like the one I heard the other day (and what a heavenly sound it was), there is some expectation that a performance orientated car like that will make a loud noise. It's just the way they are.
But when you have a shopping hatch making a lot of noise, it often (rightly or wrongly) attracts undue attention and people expect to see a youth driving it, often badly. Think Redtop Corsas etc etc.
I fought the same quandry when I had my Focus Zetec. I was young, it was my first car that wasn't an early millenium hot hatch. Despite the fact it was wonderfully refined and specced and very comfortable for commuting, some strange part of me wanted a new exhaust on it to make an interesting noise, perhaps to make up for the complete lack of go that it had. Eventually, I talked myself out of it (and bought an MX5 that was much more interesting to listen to). I can't think of an offence specifically mentioning revving the engine but it would definitely fall under the remit of a s.59 warning. I'll speak to a friend who is a police officer and see if I can get a look at the ticketbook and see which offence you've likely been ticketed for.
But when you have a shopping hatch making a lot of noise, it often (rightly or wrongly) attracts undue attention and people expect to see a youth driving it, often badly. Think Redtop Corsas etc etc.
I fought the same quandry when I had my Focus Zetec. I was young, it was my first car that wasn't an early millenium hot hatch. Despite the fact it was wonderfully refined and specced and very comfortable for commuting, some strange part of me wanted a new exhaust on it to make an interesting noise, perhaps to make up for the complete lack of go that it had. Eventually, I talked myself out of it (and bought an MX5 that was much more interesting to listen to). I can't think of an offence specifically mentioning revving the engine but it would definitely fall under the remit of a s.59 warning. I'll speak to a friend who is a police officer and see if I can get a look at the ticketbook and see which offence you've likely been ticketed for.
Back in the mid 90's the RUC tried to charge a mate of mine with excessive revving of his engine - it didn't go to plan for the officer..
He had a CRX 1.6 DOHC VTEC (jap import)and he was showing off to a friend that hadn't seen the car yet. He did two quick laps of the local town and pulled up in the local Spar shop carpark where he revved it hitting the limiter for a short period.
Any how the Police where in a unmarked car also in the car park... officer gets out and knocks the window, goes through is this your car sir all the usual stuff and then tells my mate he will be charging him with excessively revving his engine...Barney replies "thats impossible".. Cop replies " i just heard you hitting the rev limiter.. barneys asks cop what the purpose of a rev limiter is? Cop replies it stops you exc... never finishes the sentence.. Cop tells barney to watch himself next time he may not be so smart. Cop walks off in a huff and Barney and mate plus us who where in the car next to them piss them/ourselves laughing at the cop!!
Twas a good nights craic!
He had a CRX 1.6 DOHC VTEC (jap import)and he was showing off to a friend that hadn't seen the car yet. He did two quick laps of the local town and pulled up in the local Spar shop carpark where he revved it hitting the limiter for a short period.
Any how the Police where in a unmarked car also in the car park... officer gets out and knocks the window, goes through is this your car sir all the usual stuff and then tells my mate he will be charging him with excessively revving his engine...Barney replies "thats impossible".. Cop replies " i just heard you hitting the rev limiter.. barneys asks cop what the purpose of a rev limiter is? Cop replies it stops you exc... never finishes the sentence.. Cop tells barney to watch himself next time he may not be so smart. Cop walks off in a huff and Barney and mate plus us who where in the car next to them piss them/ourselves laughing at the cop!!
Twas a good nights craic!
Baryonyx said:
To be honest, I think a loud, revving shopping hatch like a Focus is probably going to attract more unwanted attention from the police than a proper performance car. If you've got say, a 200sx
But when you have a shopping hatch...
I hate to break it to you but most people would consider a Focus or a 200SX as a shopping hatch (admitedly the later cars had a boot)But when you have a shopping hatch...
I'd suggest anything this side of a TVR would struggle to get away with it.
The police can ticket anyone who is making a noise and generally being a tw@t. Makes no difference whether it's revving the engine, squealing the tyres or a stero blasting loud music. One way or another they've got you.
s.59 Police Reform Act 2002 enables the police to stop and seize a vehicle that is causing alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.
Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 allow the police to take action through an oral warning, a fixed penalty notice or prosecution against the drivers of excessively noisy vehicles.
s.59 Police Reform Act 2002 enables the police to stop and seize a vehicle that is causing alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.
Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 allow the police to take action through an oral warning, a fixed penalty notice or prosecution against the drivers of excessively noisy vehicles.
If it was a standard car being rev'd 'excessively' I doubt they would have said anything. Cars rev to 5-6-7-8k rpm for a reason, there's no specific law to say your not allowed to use the full rev range of your car. But as you have modified your car to make it louder, and then have driven it in such a manner that you drew their attention with loud noises, I can see why they felt the need to have words.
The truth of it is you can get away with so many things in a standard boring cars than you can't in something that draws attention, which to me makes driving mundane cars all the more fun.
The truth of it is you can get away with so many things in a standard boring cars than you can't in something that draws attention, which to me makes driving mundane cars all the more fun.
Francy555 said:
Back in the mid 90's the RUC tried to charge a mate of mine with excessive revving of his engine - it didn't go to plan for the officer..
He had a CRX 1.6 DOHC VTEC (jap import)and he was showing off to a friend that hadn't seen the car yet. He did two quick laps of the local town and pulled up in the local Spar shop carpark where he revved it hitting the limiter for a short period.
Any how the Police where in a unmarked car also in the car park... officer gets out and knocks the window, goes through is this your car sir all the usual stuff and then tells my mate he will be charging him with excessively revving his engine...Barney replies "thats impossible".. Cop replies " i just heard you hitting the rev limiter.. barneys asks cop what the purpose of a rev limiter is? Cop replies it stops you exc... never finishes the sentence.. Cop tells barney to watch himself next time he may not be so smart. Cop walks off in a huff and Barney and mate plus us who where in the car next to them piss them/ourselves laughing at the cop!!
Twas a good nights craic!
I don't know where to start with that story.He had a CRX 1.6 DOHC VTEC (jap import)and he was showing off to a friend that hadn't seen the car yet. He did two quick laps of the local town and pulled up in the local Spar shop carpark where he revved it hitting the limiter for a short period.
Any how the Police where in a unmarked car also in the car park... officer gets out and knocks the window, goes through is this your car sir all the usual stuff and then tells my mate he will be charging him with excessively revving his engine...Barney replies "thats impossible".. Cop replies " i just heard you hitting the rev limiter.. barneys asks cop what the purpose of a rev limiter is? Cop replies it stops you exc... never finishes the sentence.. Cop tells barney to watch himself next time he may not be so smart. Cop walks off in a huff and Barney and mate plus us who where in the car next to them piss them/ourselves laughing at the cop!!
Twas a good nights craic!
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