Exhaust noise levels and the law?

[JDub]

I was wondering if anyone actually knows what the law is on exhaust noise at all please?
I know for an MOT it's not a fail yet could be an advisory, yet was wondering about the legal side of things.
Where I live the police are really cracking down on modified cars etc and want to know if it's a prosecutable offence or what the dB level limit is?
Also, if there is a DB limit; how is this determined? If it was done at the side of the road there would too much background noise to give an accurate reading...

Any info would be great. :)

[Carl-h]

I've wondered this for a while with cars.

Bikes shouldn't pass an MOT with a race exhaust an if pulled over the fine is £60 (or at least it was the last time I got caught). Generally they'll pull you if it's loud and do you if it says "not for road use" on the exhaust. If it had a British standard stamp they can't do anything but if it says nothing at all they'll still try it on.

No idea how it works with cars but I'd of thought it would be similar but can't see coppers crawling round lol.

[JDub]

I've wondered this for a while with cars.

Bikes shouldn't pass an MOT with a race exhaust an if pulled over the fine is £60 (or at least it was the last time I got caught). Generally they'll pull you if it's loud and do you if it says "not for road use" on the exhaust. If it had a British standard stamp they can't do anything but if it says nothing at all they'll still try it on.

No idea how it works with cars but I'd of thought it would be similar but can't see coppers crawling round lol.

Hmmm it's odd, I read different things everywhere I look. :(
I've just bought a Mazda 323 2l V6, it's insanely loud and I need to find out before I get pulled for it!

[VeiRoN]

I've made a thread about this a while ago,the db limit is 82.

http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=437696

[Viper]

I thought the vehicle just had to be comparable to a smilar standard version?

[Nik_L]

I thought the vehicle just had to be comparable to a smilar standard version?

Thats correct.

It will fail an MOT if it is noticeably louder than a standard car with standard system in good condition.

Brothers Celica failed on the exhaust for the above reason. He did question it and the tester explained.

However, MOT is totally different to construction and use.

[Viper]

If anything is said about the noise of the S15 I will just ask them to find one with a standard system :A:

[Ross]

82db is the legal limit.

[JDub]

Just got this from the police...

"Hi John, thanks for your question. I have done some research and just spoken with a traffic officer and the answer is as follows; any exhaust fitted to a car used on the road must have a silencer fitted (ie not a 'straight through' exhaust). Any exhaust specifically for off road or racing use should have "not for road use" or similar physically stamped into it. Most exhausts for road use will have an E or EU number, typically E6 or E7, stamped on them. There is not a legal decibel level for cars and it is down to Police officer judgement as to excessively loud exhausts for which a ticket can be issued, either by Police or by Environmental Health Officers from the council. I hope this helps, Force Enquiry Centre."

[VeiRoN]

Good to know.

[Tom5190]

Just got this from the police...

A back box is technically a silencer though....

[Ross]

Just got this from the police...

Well that's wrong I afraid. There is a legal limit.

[Viper]

Well that's wrong I afraid. There is a legal limit.

Any chance of some proof?

[Daz_Kez]

A back box is technically a silencer though....

Right you are my good sir and an officer can state no different!

[II_IFAN_II]

How can a limit be enforced though? A decibel meter is no use unless its in a completely silent place..

[Ross]

Any chance of some proof?

Sure. Link is in the other noise thread currently running. I posted it a few weeks ago iirc.

Legal noise limit is 82db iirc.

[JDub]

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151361068866341&id=22018596340&comment_id=239502953&notif_t=feed_comment

[CraigLovelock]

Never had issues with any exhaust... Used to have full decatted kam racing 2.15" system on my vts and no problems.

My bike has a yoshimura can and also yet to be pulled... Guess its just where you live.

[Prickle]

Never been pulled up and never had a second look. I know my car isnt quiet so im suprised..

[Jazz]

Mine is quite noisy. If the fed heard me floor it through dartford tunnel I would definitely be busted.

[davidharvey]

82 Db as some have said is quiet as a quiet thing, when its asleep. I think its down to the nice police officers judgement and there is no legal limit as such

[Skitts123]

I had a piper on my vtr with a cat still present. I got pulled and it measured 89db at just under 3k. I got a ticket for this and he said if i got caught again i would face my car being taken off me. Funny thing is it passed a mot 2 weeks later.

[barwell1992]

im sure most super cars are way way over 82Db

[manta]

There's an easy way out of this.

Just get a full ss system and keep the revs low, I found mine very quiet until I went over like 3k. Was the straight through one with no centre silencer.

[Nik_L]

im sure most super cars are way way over 82Db

They probably are, but the noise reg's are taken from a drive by test at a certain speed, so thats probably why they pass the DB test as they won't be as loud.

Flaps in the exhaust etc will help to keep the noise down to keep them "legal".