Noisy cars - legal position with neighbours
Discussion
I have a silencer removed from my exhaust. It's still got 2 silencers and a Cat so it's far from excessively loud to the point car alarms go off but it's louder than many.
Neighbour really doesn't like it (I already know many ways I could be an ass and make more noise etc) but I don't want to do that mainly because there's other folk in the street all if whom are nice and I don't want to annoy.
Subsequently... Where do I stand from a legal perspective. Given the exhaust isn't standard manufacturer spec I know it's not technically legal in that respect. If he reports it... What is likely to come of it (if anything)? New MOT needed? Section 59 is my guess at worst?
All the other neighbours don't really have an issue with it. One has a gran turismo which is much louder and another has a 355 which again, is louder.
Very annoying but if it's going to result in plod actually doing something then I will buy a bypass valve but I don't want to spend £££ for the sake of one miserable bloke with nothing better to do!
Thanks.
Ps he has 2 (yes 2) motor homes amongst several cars. Fairly sure he can't keep these under his house deeds (motor homes) but given I don't have a copy and I can't obtain one I don't want to moan at this and end up with egg on my face!
Ta very much!
Neighbour really doesn't like it (I already know many ways I could be an ass and make more noise etc) but I don't want to do that mainly because there's other folk in the street all if whom are nice and I don't want to annoy.
Subsequently... Where do I stand from a legal perspective. Given the exhaust isn't standard manufacturer spec I know it's not technically legal in that respect. If he reports it... What is likely to come of it (if anything)? New MOT needed? Section 59 is my guess at worst?
All the other neighbours don't really have an issue with it. One has a gran turismo which is much louder and another has a 355 which again, is louder.
Very annoying but if it's going to result in plod actually doing something then I will buy a bypass valve but I don't want to spend £££ for the sake of one miserable bloke with nothing better to do!
Thanks.
Ps he has 2 (yes 2) motor homes amongst several cars. Fairly sure he can't keep these under his house deeds (motor homes) but given I don't have a copy and I can't obtain one I don't want to moan at this and end up with egg on my face!
Ta very much!
so you've modified your car in such a way that it won't pass an MOT and you're looking to blame your neighbour who has 2 (two) motorhomes?
Depending on the hours you are coming to and from the house I cant say it would bother me, but you're not really in a position to argue. One thing I've learnt is that its good to maintain neighbourly relations whenever possible. So ask yourself, is it really worth kicking off about it?
Depending on the hours you are coming to and from the house I cant say it would bother me, but you're not really in a position to argue. One thing I've learnt is that its good to maintain neighbourly relations whenever possible. So ask yourself, is it really worth kicking off about it?
How do you know he doesn't like it? Did he tell you in person?
If you are on talking terms then I would just tell him that you're obviously not doing it to wind him up on purpose and that there is nothing legally wrong with the car. Explain that you obviously have no choice but to start the car in order to drive it and explain to him there are kids starving in Africa, Global Warming and other problems going on he could worry about instead.
If you are on talking terms then I would just tell him that you're obviously not doing it to wind him up on purpose and that there is nothing legally wrong with the car. Explain that you obviously have no choice but to start the car in order to drive it and explain to him there are kids starving in Africa, Global Warming and other problems going on he could worry about instead.
senorblm said:
so you've modified your car in such a way that it won't pass an MOT and you're looking to blame your neighbour who has 2 (two) motorhomes?
Depending on the hours you are coming to and from the house I cant say it would bother me, but you're not really in a position to argue. One thing I've learnt is that its good to maintain neighbourly relations whenever possible. So ask yourself, is it really worth kicking off about it?
Where did he say his car hasn't passed its MOT?Depending on the hours you are coming to and from the house I cant say it would bother me, but you're not really in a position to argue. One thing I've learnt is that its good to maintain neighbourly relations whenever possible. So ask yourself, is it really worth kicking off about it?
OP has mentioned that the car is simply louder than standard but still quieter than a standard car which is loud by default therefore to me it sounds like his neighbor is simply being unreasonable and a grumpy spoil sport.
GardenShed said:
...Given the exhaust isn't standard manufacturer spec I know it's not technically legal in that respect. If he reports it... What is likely to come of it (if anything)? New MOT needed? Section 59 is my guess at worst?
..
Samjeev said:
Where did he say his car hasn't passed its MOT?
OP has mentioned that the car is simply louder than standard but still quieter than a standard car which is loud by default therefore to me it sounds like his neighbor is simply being unreasonable and a grumpy spoil sport.
Where does it say I have said it has no MOT? OP has modified his car that he himself questions the legality of, now if by removing one silencer the car is still road legal, great, he has a sound foundation to tell his neighbour to do one if he chooses. However, if by removing the silencer the car subsequently wouldnt pass an MOT then that is differentOP has mentioned that the car is simply louder than standard but still quieter than a standard car which is loud by default therefore to me it sounds like his neighbor is simply being unreasonable and a grumpy spoil sport.
OP, fine.
Also, bikes don't like to be warmed up anymore. Start it and ride it.
AdamGP said:
I can't help you from a legal point of view, but I have a similar issues with an old lady opposite, She has asked me can I take my bike elsewhere to warm up before ride outs... err no?!
My Triumph Daytona has a can with no baffles but isn't excessively loud.
My Daytona has no baffles and IS VERY loud.My Triumph Daytona has a can with no baffles but isn't excessively loud.
Also, bikes don't like to be warmed up anymore. Start it and ride it.
OP, from your post I would assume the other loud cars live further up the street and you live next door to the neighbour in question. He probably doesn't like the fact the "noise" is now right next to his property but if you have tax, insurance and a valid MOT he can jog.
Perhaps you could invite the 355 and Mazza round for a coffee morning, just a thought.
That is all
Perhaps you could invite the 355 and Mazza round for a coffee morning, just a thought.
That is all
jon- said:
My Daytona has no baffles and IS VERY loud.
Also, bikes don't like to be warmed up anymore. Start it and ride it.
Really is this true?? I have a Daytona and it hunts as it warms up and Triumph told me this was the water circulating in cold and colder sections. They said once the idle was level then ride it....Also, bikes don't like to be warmed up anymore. Start it and ride it.
If all you are doing is starting up, setting off then coming home later in a loud car then my approach would be try to keep the revs down so not to annoy the neighbours. Courtesy is quite simple and I'm sure you probably are already.
If you're the type who works on the car and has it regularly revving away on the drive then I would suggest the neighbour has every right to be annoyed if it's a regular thing but there is nothing he can do about it other than calling environmental health to report a noise nuisance. They would come and investigate but you may well have shut up by then. In my experience they may ask the complainant to keep a diary of occasions then investigate that and issue a warning if they deem it unacceptable but legally, that's it.
If you're the type who works on the car and has it regularly revving away on the drive then I would suggest the neighbour has every right to be annoyed if it's a regular thing but there is nothing he can do about it other than calling environmental health to report a noise nuisance. They would come and investigate but you may well have shut up by then. In my experience they may ask the complainant to keep a diary of occasions then investigate that and issue a warning if they deem it unacceptable but legally, that's it.
I'd say don't worry about it. You'll get a second chance if the authorities decide to clobber you for it.
It's good to be nice to your neighbours though. So drive gently down the road rather than tearing up and down making loads of noise. Don't allow your car alarm to go off during the night. If your exhaust is noisy keep the revs down. Try to be friendly towards your neighbour, obviously some people there is no hope of ever getting along with but do what you can.
It's good to be nice to your neighbours though. So drive gently down the road rather than tearing up and down making loads of noise. Don't allow your car alarm to go off during the night. If your exhaust is noisy keep the revs down. Try to be friendly towards your neighbour, obviously some people there is no hope of ever getting along with but do what you can.
'It’s illegal to modify the exhaust system to make a vehicle noisier after it has been ‘type approved’ (checked it meets environmental and safety standards).'
Taken from the government website. But are the police really going to fine or prosecute every single owner of a car with a modified exhaust system? To me it's kind of like one of those laws that make it illegal to ride a pig across Tower Bridge on a Sunday.
Taken from the government website. But are the police really going to fine or prosecute every single owner of a car with a modified exhaust system? To me it's kind of like one of those laws that make it illegal to ride a pig across Tower Bridge on a Sunday.
Speed Badger said:
'It’s illegal to modify the exhaust system to make a vehicle noisier after it has been ‘type approved’ (checked it meets environmental and safety standards).'
Taken from the government website. But are the police really going to fine or prosecute every single owner of a car with a modified exhaust system? To me it's kind of like one of those laws that make it illegal to ride a pig across Tower Bridge on a Sunday.
I think that law pertains to doing things like removing the baffles or sound deadening materials from an exhaust. An aftermarket exhaust for example hasn't been modified. If Laws like this were taken to their nth degree pattern parts would be illegal as would fitting anything other than the exact brand and type of tyre fitted by the factory.Taken from the government website. But are the police really going to fine or prosecute every single owner of a car with a modified exhaust system? To me it's kind of like one of those laws that make it illegal to ride a pig across Tower Bridge on a Sunday.
StottyEvo said:
That seems like a very reasonable request.
So she expects me to push the bike in full leathers etc so its out of her ear range, oh so reasonable.With regards to the warming up comments, were talking that the bike is running whilst I put my helmet/gloves on, hardly excessive.
AdamGP said:
StottyEvo said:
That seems like a very reasonable request.
So she expects me to push the bike in full leathers etc so its out of her ear range, oh so reasonable.With regards to the warming up comments, were talking that the bike is running whilst I put my helmet/gloves on, hardly excessive.
In your initial comment you didn't say "I start it whilst I put my helmet and gloves on" you said "she asked me if I could take my bike elsewhere whilst I warm it up".
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