Exhaust fines at checkpoints

[Steam]

How much is the fine when you get stopped at a checkpoint for having a too-loud exhaust?
I will have the old exhaust in the shed for Wof time.

In a couple of weeks my exhaust will be just straight pipes, unbaffled, for fun and parties.

[sunhuntin]

can bikes get stung for that? i didnt think it was technically illegal yet? i know the states have something like that, limiting the decibels, but didnt know we had it too? cos some harleys are amazingly loud...theres one in town that i can hear pulling away from the lights which are about a 5 min ride away, lol.

[Steam]

Yep, there are heaps of rules, and a home-made straight pipe probably breaks them all. I'm on a GN250, so it's not too loud even without an exhaust, some dude measured 95 dB without pipes, but you need to have an approved exhaust , and it can't be louder than the factory exhaust, which straight pipes obviously are.

[Ixion]

Land Transport (Offences and Penalties) Regulations 1999 (http://www.legislation.co.nz/libraries/contents/om_isapi.dll?clientID=176254&hitsperheading=on&infobase=pal_regs.nfo&record=%7B29AE6%7D&softpage=DOC)
[Schedule 1 Offence provisions and penalties

7.4.1, Operates vehicle that creates excessive noise $250 fine

I think there is also an offence of tampering with an exhaust ystem, and maybe operating a vehicel in an unwarrantable condition. But I imagine excessive noise is what they'd do you for.

More likely, a pink sticker. Can't use the vehicle until you get a new WoF. (Pink? or green ? Can't remember)

But I've never heard of a roadside checkpoint just for exhausts. Only danger would be a general purpose drink drive check point and some Plod takes objection to the noise you're making.

[Steam]

"Ixion is moderately red (slightly redder than 50000 Quaoar) and has a higher albedo (0.15) than the mid-sized red cubewanos."

He is also a fount of wisdom, thanks Ixion, exactly the info I wanted.

[sunhuntin]

Yep, there are heaps of rules, and a home-made straight pipe probably breaks them all. I'm on a GN250, so it's not too loud even without an exhaust, some dude measured 95 dB without pipes, but you need to have an approved exhaust , and it can't be louder than the factory exhaust, which straight pipes obviously are.

ginnys are among the quietest around! most 50cc scoots are louder than a ginny [well, the indicators] my buddy knocked the baffles out of his, and another friend has a backed bean can as part of his exhaust! lol.

[pervert]

You get done for excessive noise, or a modified exhaust.

As above it carries $250 (recently raised from $150), and 10 demerit points.

You might also be given a GREEN sticker.

[Gremlin]

I'm on a GN250, so it's not too loud even without an exhaust, some dude measured 95 dB without pipes,
That it?!?!?! Jeeeez, I know of stock systems that come in around 102dB.

Mine is estimated at 115, then you go all the way to a Racefit slashcut, and you're talking 130+

Don't make a massive idiot of yourself, or become a target (ie riding around at top revs) and I find thats worked for me, never had my muzzy questioned.

[McJim]

I think this legislation is aimed at the young hoons on 4 wheels that fit a steel distbin to the back of their car - makes a load of noise which was really funny when I used to burn them from the lights with stock pipes on my FTO!

It didn't seem to add many ponies but these fellas seemed to enjoy the fact that their cars sounded badly tuned. People accept motorcycles are quite load but so long as we don't hang around traffic lights revving up and annoying locals I suspect we will all be left alone.

[Fatjim]

what the legislation aims at, and what the coppers aim at are not neccersarily (sp) the same thing.

[slimjim]

thought it was 109db, was the legal limit, and on a friend's Gz250 the tag rates the exhaust at 94bd , which is a surpise as its only a 250, but i don't know if the police will ask the reading to be read at 4000rpm,in neatural, fuck cause it gona be loud, my bitch if that is the case why then have gear's, as by using the gear's you control the noise ,and doing say 70mph you are still low on db's in top gear,while having loud pipes while using lower rpm,

[lb99]

something along the lines of ".....not noticably louder than standard......" at the moment, I'd like to see a 1980s honda 4 with a standard exhaust still on it, so what are they going to compare to?, have the db limits been introduced yet?, cause how are they going to measure them in a standard fashon?


"erm yes officer, It did have an open cycleworks exhaust from the factory" :innocent:

[Ixion]

Yep, there are heaps of rules, and a home-made straight pipe probably breaks them all. I'm on a GN250, so it's not too loud even without an exhaust, some dude measured 95 dB without pipes, but you need to have an approved exhaust , and it can't be louder than the factory exhaust, which straight pipes obviously are.

No you don't. No provision in NZ for exhaust approval. You must have an EFFICIENT silencer . Doesn't have to be approved by anyone. You can make your own, completely legal.



4. An exhaust system must be effective and in good
working order.
5. Noise from an exhaust system must not be
noticeably and significantly louder than it would
have been when the vehicle was manufactured
with its original exhaust system.


Reason for rejection is that the vehicle does not have an exhaust system with a means of sound reduction.

[EZAS]

I had an 1986 RX-7, 1300cc rotary with an after market turbo and a 3 inch exhaust RIGHT THROUGH to the 5inch muffler with a 3 inch tip.

At the testing station it was at 132db. This was between 2002-2004, I never got done for having an exhaust to loud. HOWEVER I did get pulled over 20 times inside of the first 3 weeks I owned the car (which averages just under once a day :P

[boomer]

That it?!?!?! Mine is estimated at 115

Did someone just fart? 115 my arse, get a grip boy:bs:

[Gremlin]

Did someone just fart? 115 my arse, get a grip boy:bs:
Thats what I have been told... I did say estimated

You mounted your plate nice and legally now? Don't want to get fined for it now, do we? :bleh:

[boomer]

Thats what I have been told... I did say estimated

You mounted your plate nice and legally now? Don't want to get fined for it now, do we? :bleh:

no i sold it for a zx7r

[Bonez]

something along the lines of ".....not noticably louder than standard......" at the moment, I'd like to see a 1980s honda 4 with a standard exhaust still on it, so what are they going to compare to?Here ya go. Bloody quiet as. Took her for a spin today. The wine of the engine is louder.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=17363&d=1128806492

[lukelin250]

I had an 1986 RX-7, 1300cc rotary with an after market turbo and a 3 inch exhaust RIGHT THROUGH to the 5inch muffler with a 3 inch tip.

At the testing station it was at 132db. This was between 2002-2004, I never got done for having an exhaust to loud. HOWEVER I did get pulled over 20 times inside of the first 3 weeks I owned the car (which averages just under once a day :P

serves you right for having a rotary, glad you sorted your shit out

[Back Fire]

no i sold it for a zx7r

you got ripped off...

[Wenier]

Thats what I have been told... I did say estimated

You mounted your plate nice and legally now? Don't want to get fined for it now, do we? :bleh:

Depending on the can it could be up towards the amount you said. Mine definitely isnt quiet, doubt it would pass their test but o well. I dont make enough noise at the wrong times so havent had a problem yet.

Last law they had was 95Db limit and 98Db i think if you had a MANZ licence, if questioned ya car was stickered (dont no colour) and you had to get it tested for the limit. Then if its all good a tag is attached so if you get pulled over again you go hey its all good.

But i think that law was thrown out as a 1year old Holden Commodore SS (i think it was) came up with 96Db so failed the test which meant their test sucked.

[lb99]

Here ya go. Bloody quiet as. Took her for a spin today. The wine of the engine is louder.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=17363&d=1128806492

thats not an 'onda, thats a 'zuki that is

[Gremlin]

I dont make enough noise at the wrong times so havent had a problem yet.
zactly mate... time and place... if I went around screaming at 11-12k, I would be hunted down...

around town, just trundling along, never normally go over 4.5k ish... so its quieter. Time and place...

[Sanx]

The last legislation change to affect noisy exhaust came about when Comrade Clark and the politburo rammed through the Land Transport (Unauthorised Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Act under urgency in 2003. You can find out more about what it contains (and it applies equally to bikers, not just spotty teenagers in crapped-out ricers) here (http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/vehicles/street-drag-qa2.html).

Basically, an aftermarket exhaust system must not be louder than the original one fitted by the manufacturer. There is no objective test for this (as yet - they're thinking about introducing one) and therefore it's all down to the subjectiveness of the copper who stops you. It's up to them to consider if the cans on your bike are any louder than the factory ones would have been. They don't measure sound pressure level or do anything scientific, they just guess.

So what happens if the copper reckons your cans are too loud. Well, from the LTSA website:
If a vehicle's exhaust is considered to be louder than the original exhaust that was fitted by the manufacturer, the vehicle will be given a green sticker. Vehicles that are given a green sticker must apply for a new warrant of fitness from a Transport Service Delivery agent — the Automobile Association of NZ, On Road NZ, Vehicle Inspection NZ, or Vehicle Testing NZ. This means that a noisy exhaust must be replaced or re-modified to make it quieter and the vehicle must pass all warrant of fitness requirements before it can be driven on a road.

You can't just take the bike back to your friendly bike shop - it has to be re-warranted by the four bodies mentioned above. All four groups do motorbike WOFs too.

It is probably worth questioning the cop on what basis he feels the exhaust system is louder than the original should you get stopped. Obviously, if you're running straight through pipes then ti should be pretty damn obvious, but if it's something a bit more subtle, go for it. You're not going to lose anything. Just be polite and enquire.

[slowpoke]

Yep, you'll probably get away with it for a while....but it's exactly this sort of thinking that has these laws coming in in the first place.

If you've fitted a noisier can to a bigger bike you can unobtrusively burble around at low revs, but on a GN you are forced to crack the whip on all 27.5 horses (guessing) if you wanna stay out of everyones way. Open pipes? You aren't doing anyone any favours, least of all the majority of bikers who just want to fit a slip on. It's not like GN's sound any good anyway......

[pritch]

This means that a noisy exhaust must be replaced or re-modified to make it quieter and the vehicle must pass all warrant of fitness requirements before it can be driven on a road.[/I]


The Brit bike mags talk about this. If you buy a bike with after-market cans make sure you get the original cans with the bike. You do the test with the originals. For me that might be acceptable as an annual event but I wouldn't want to know about it on a six-monthly basis.

Your mileage may vary :apint:

[Steam]

Oh it all sounds like too much trouble. Never mind about that then. I'll just buy a bigger bike when I get my full license in 3 months.

[Ixion]

I ran Ratty for about a year on what was basically an open pipe (silencer with no guts in it, so just an expansion box) Noisy as hell, but passed WoFs no problem, and never an issue with the plod. Basically I think you can get away with anything on a little bike, just cos it's little.

[herp]

My bikes ridiculously loud for a gsx-r 250. I'm pretty sure the exhaust is cracked or something cos it's deafiningly loud, even with the helmet on. Anyone know anyone with a cheap exhaust/header replacement for a `89 gsx-r 250?

[lb99]

true story

:Police: "thats a loud bike boyo, I think you should do someting about that muffler"

:mellow: "ehh, what?"

:Police: "I SAID YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR BIKE QUIETER!"

:mellow: "oh, I did, it works great"

:Police: "what then?"

:mellow: (shows cop earplugs box) "see, quiet as"

:Police: walks off shaking head, :mellow: short shifts his way into the sunset

:done:

[TLDV8]

My bike passed its last WOF no problems and was told if it was deemed to loud by the HP you would be sent to one of the designated premises with testing equipment.
I do not think an accurate (read fair) test could be done on the side of a public road.

Went though a mini checkpoint in Paeroa a while back.

Everything in order ?

Immaculate ,thanks.

Righto

:laugh: how it should be.

[sunhuntin]

so now cops have to experts at what stock vehicle exhausts sound like? wtf...isnt there something more important for them to be doing? im with the old loud pipes save lives idea, cos ive nearly fallen off when a way-too-quiet goldwing has glided up alongside. i generally hear bikes two cars back!
sure, some do take it too far [i hate some car exhausts...the really deep bassey ones. when they idle at work, it makes my head feel like its gonna explode. stupid things.

[kiwifruit]

I've never had any trouble with the law because of the volume of my pipe. Its LOUD too......

[Babelfish]

I've got me WOF coming up in Jan, so fingers crossed the two bros have a bro inside the wof station...thats said, c'mon, who could say a harsh word against a twin with a pair of throbbers attached?

Recently repacked my mufflers (steady!) too but a pair of bros are apair of bros.

[ZeroIndex]

I've never had any trouble with the law because of the volume of my pipe. Its LOUD too......

yeah, they like your loud exhaust cause as soon as they hear you, they can start their cop cars and get ready for a good chase :p GO THE ZX-10!!!!!

[Steam]

Well, today I cut off the stock muffler and put on a straight pipe.

And although it's very loud, it sounds like total and complete crap.
DON'T say I told you so, or 'I coulda told you that' because I wouldn't have believed you.
Oh well, it was worth it for the experiment.
Now I must put the original muffler back on tomorrow.

It'd be nice to have a tuned pipe for some resonance.
Oh wait, I have a better idea, just wait for a bigger bike and put a proper loud muffler on!

[Toaster]

so long as we don't hang around traffic lights revving up and annoying locals I suspect we will all be left alone.

Agreed. Behaviour should most likely come into it. Bikers are generally left alone unless they are crims or idiots. Hoons in cages deserve everything they get from the 5-0.

[EZAS]

Agreed. Behaviour should most likely come into it. Bikers are generally left alone unless they are crims or idiots. Hoons in cages deserve everything they get from the 5-0.

Disagree, I was given $2,500 worth of traffic fines in my car and not a single speeding fine, no wreckless driving, nothing "dangerous" just picky BS.
Just cos they don't like the car or as one prick put it "I looked dodgey", I got fined for random sh*t like my liscence plate in the wrong place, when it was in the stock standard place. Its not dead centre in the middle so its illegal?? I should have carried a ruler. Lowered to much, even though the car was actually 2cm higher than standard due to the aftermarket springs.

I even had one officer stop me cos his mate told him he said saw me speeding the weekend prior BS. THUS my hate of traffic cops, they all deserve to die of cancer (preferrably testicle cancer). Stereo typing everyone is something best left to the fanatics.

[Toaster]

Disagree, .

Well, you are guilty of stereotyping by the way you rudely describe all cops required to do traffic duty. yes some may be difficult and unprofessional, but not all cops on traffic duty are like that. Most are damn good people, doing a less than pleasant task for average wages.

Just a tip, I was told by an experience traffic cop that a licence plate has to be attached to the bumper, but does not have to be in the middle, so you can dispute that ticket.

Hope this helps ya......

[Motu]

Bikers are generally left alone unless they are crims or idiots.

Obviously you weren't riding a bike in the '70's.

[Fatjim]

Anybody who's heard the Bluebottle knows it makes a lauder than average noise.

Several months ago UncleB (RIP) and I where cruising down the Lower Hutt motorway at about 130. Blue and red lights start flashing and I peel off down a right hand exit to find out out that he's after Bruce.

Well, time for some fun. I rev the snot out of the thing and throw in a few backfires for good measure. I'm doing this against the hills 50 metres from the cop, going up and down several times.

I toodle back to the cop who's writing out Bruce's ticket and lean in the window with a big grin on my face and say, "whats taking so long?"

He didn't bat an eyelid. I guess being an old codger he wasn't too fussed, especially since he owned a Hardly with straight throughs.

[McJim]

Going back to the title of the thread, my exhaust is always fine, even at checkpoints.

[Squiggles]

they got any specifics for how they test if its too loud yet? i.e. In this gear at this RPM at this distance from this point of the vehicle?

[Toaster]

Obviously you weren't riding a bike in the '70's.

waaaay too young for that. Only a tricycle, then a little two wheel biker with trainers.....

[Toaster]

they got any specifics for how they test if its too loud yet? i.e. In this gear at this RPM at this distance from this point of the vehicle?

Its a subjective test, they are not required to use meters.... case law backs that up. You can also be done for operating a vehicle/bike casuing annoyance.... how subjective is that!

[RC1]

2 wks before i got the TLS with 2 bros it failed a warrant (to loud) because of the new laws so got it repacked and passed fine it reads 110db now not sure what it was before that,and have had no probs from cops at check points,

[Motu]

Its a subjective test,

The subjective test decides whether it needs to go for an objective test or not.The subjective test doesn't need to say if it's too loud or not,just there is some concern and it needs to be verified.The objective test is done in a controlled enviroment,and you should end up with some documentation to prove your noise output.

[Toaster]

you should end up with some documentation to prove your noise output.

An HP guy gave me a copy of the case (recent and also in the TEN-ONE mag)which says its not required and that the officers opinion is enough - hence the fact it was challenged but won by the crown. I'll have to dig that case out if I can find it and have a good read through the details.

[Motu]

So how long ago was this? When there was only the subjective test? Or more recently where we have both a subjective and an objective test? The officer's opinion that it needs to have an objective test or not?

[slopster]

My bikes pretty loud but I've never started it up during a WOF. Just to be safe I roll the last 50m into the testing station. When the tester comes out I ask if he want me to operate the lights and indicators etc and he never gets a chance to start it. Once I've actually got the sticker on I fire it up and off I go. I don't really think that they care about the noise but I'm not taking any chances because I've seen them fail cars that arn't all that loud.

[SuperDave]

...I even had one officer stop me cos his mate told him he said saw me speeding the weekend prior BS. THUS my hate of traffic cops, they all deserve to die of cancer (preferrably testicle cancer). Stereo typing everyone is something best left to the fanatics.

:rofl:

Yeah I fully agree mate, you fanatically hate traffic cops cause of a few wankers?

[TLDV8]

My bikes pretty loud but I've never started it up during a WOF. Just to be safe I roll the last 50m into the testing station.

How do they do the brake test,push you :confused:

[Ixion]

Place I go to, they just spin the wheel by hand and apply the brake. Dude tried to start the GT500 once. With the clutch pulled in ! (no leccy leg there)

[xwhatsit]

Lol yeah, I went to the testing station and the guy looked for an electric starter, didn't see one, so didn't even attempt it ^_^. He did the same thing with the brakes. Didn't seem to know about centre stands, so asked me to lift up the rear of the bike while he checked the rear wheel. I pushed it onto the stand and he seemed really surprised. Dipshit. Oh well, he passed me, even though I had next to no tread on rear tyre and the thing was leaking oil on the testing station floor. Lol. Won't get my bike done there again (unless I'm desparate for a WOF).

[DUCATI*HARD]

i wouldnt have it any other way.

[slopster]

How do they do the brake test,push you :confused:

Believe it or not he put it on the roller that the test the cars on and nearly dropped it when he locked the front wheel up! If he'd dropped it he'd be the one paying for it.

[davereid]

Yeah they used to balance my obese harley on a jack to test the wheel bearings - scary shit, $15000 and 250kg of rusting cast iron balanced on an air jack with a little man spinning the wheels.

Not sure he would have to pay though - sign says testing is at your risk. Bet they would fight if it was an expensive repair bill !