Is this legal?

**Gubb** · 13th January 2009, 21:58

Originally Posted by scumdog

Be aware - if you get stopped and stickered for excess noise you will have to get your zorst certified - the catch being that it will have to be certified at 5 decibels lower than required by law BEFORE you got stopped.

i.e: you were ok at 95 decibels but due to your modified zorst you got 'stickered' and needed zorst certified- so NOW you're only allowed a level of 90 decibels.

Whoa, that's new to me, anyone have a link to the legislation about that?

**Katman** · 13th January 2009, 22:01

Originally Posted by short-circuit

1. Watch your language when you address me

Oh dear, this sounds Dangerous.

**BIGBOSSMAN** · 13th January 2009, 22:06

Originally Posted by scumdog

Be aware - if you get stopped and stickered for excess noise you will have to get your zorst certified - the catch being that it will have to be certified at 5 decibels lower than required by law BEFORE you got stopped.

i.e: you were ok at 95 decibels but due to your modified zorst you got 'stickered' and needed zorst certified- so NOW you're only allowed a level of 90 decibels.

Typical 'you're on detention' style policing from todays police force, what a waste of space. If the guy gets stopped again and stickered, will the new limit for him then be 85dB?
Bring on the electric motorcycle I say...

=

**Ixion** · 13th January 2009, 22:06

Originally Posted by Chill

Rode past near a cop parked up by the side of the road this morning.
..

Well, that was y' big mistake right there.

Lesson no 16 in the biker lexicon. If you MUST pass a cop (much better to turn round and go another way if you see him in time , why be todays quota), then do so at WAY under the speed limit, on a trailing throttle (or whatever makes your bike quietest). Even pull in the clutch and coast past. Sit up as straight as y' can and stare straight ahead. There was a reason we used to call them snakes y'know. Don't trust 'em, there's always SOMETHING they can find to ping you for, no matter how legal you are.

Or pull into a drive or a servo or something until he's buggered off.

**trumpy** · 13th January 2009, 22:18

Originally Posted by scumdog

Be aware - if you get stopped and stickered for excess noise you will have to get your zorst certified - the catch being that it will have to be certified at 5 decibels lower than required by law BEFORE you got stopped.

i.e: you were ok at 95 decibels but due to your modified zorst you got 'stickered' and needed zorst certified- so NOW you're only allowed a level of 90 decibels.

And the logic of this piece of legislative brilliance is..........? Oh never mind..logic is not the strong point of those in our legislation drafting business.
I do feel for those of you having to administer/police some of the idiocy that seems to emanate from certain offices in our fine capital (recently with some considerable frequency it seems).

**McJim** · 13th January 2009, 22:20

The legislation itself appears to be a knee jerk reaction to some of the radical noise polluting modifications done by some bikes and by a good deal more cars. A line had to be drawn in the sand and that line was 95 decibels - which is pretty farken loud. I personally don't have any problem with this since my bike is a 2 valve per cyl air cooled twin and gets measured at 3,000 rpm. At this level my bike is really quiet - prolly only 70 decibes or so. HOWEVER when I accelerate the tone of the engine makes it sound louder than it really is.

Because of this I am worried that some young copper anxious to please his boss will hear me performing a legal overtaking maneouvre and think my bike is REALLY loud due to the pitch rather than the volume, pull me over, charge me $250 give me my first EVER set of demerit points along with my first EVER official contact with a police officer (I've met a great many socially!) and it will cost me $200 to show that the $250 charge is false and THEN have to do the same thing the following week - ad nauseum.

Maybe I should have bought a Jappa with expensive parts and short service intervals after all.....

**Ixion** · 13th January 2009, 22:24

One point , is that the decibel stuff only applies to measurements of the EXHAUST. Whereas the "excessive noise " thing from a cop can cover ANY noise. On the Titan, the intake drone can often be loader than the exhaust. Gold Wing riders could also be done for excessively load stereos.

Oh, and be VERY careful not to fart when going past that cop. It could just put you over the limit.

**Mystic13** · 13th January 2009, 22:49

This story seems to sum things up pretty well

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4601553a11.html

So even with the warrant pass they're going subjective because some people alter their exhausts after the warrant.

Seems it's time this was tested but to test post ticket would require the vehicle to be held or you could argue you've re-inserted teh silencer.

Personally i think the ticket is worth argue at least.

**Mystic13** · 13th January 2009, 23:03

This thread appears to be full of misinformation according to the Land transport website and the latest rules.

They're worth a read.

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/rul...ment-2007.html

- new rules came into effect June 08
- under 125 cc up to 96dBA and no louder than the original exhaust
- over 125cc up to 100 dBA " " " " " " "

If you're louder than original then as I read it you need to be certified.

It also seems that they will make sure Police have the tools for effective enforecement. (See point 29)

The test is not a static test but a drive by test while accelerating. So is it possible cop 1 in this case had the measuring equipment?

**mdnzz** · 14th January 2009, 07:01

My XS passed it last WOF at Rolling Thunder, had 2-1 straight pipes both sides. Got it tested and they were 103Db, more than enough to get the maximum prize of $250 and 10 demerits.
Now has 4-1 pipe and baffled.
Missus 48cc 3/4 chopper (no wof needed) has a pipe with one baffle chamber(chines crap setup), shoots flames out back on deceleration and sounds more like a trailbike, its tested at 76Db

My old subaru gtb had a factory fitted big bore exhaust always passed wof's no issue yet had a few coppers quite often tell me it was a bit loud (86Db) until I pointed out thats how Subaru (yes it was factory even had the little stickers still on it) got them made, you gotta problem with that then fine the makers of the pipe.
As soon as you modify anything you become subjected to the laws and any revenue gathering.
Its the same issue with speeding, your not allowed to do it but your still allowed to buy radar detectors to let you know there is a revenue gatherer ahead so you can slow down.
It is illegal to pervert the course of justice but manufacturers don't get touched only the end user hence the user pay term applies

**short-circuit** · 14th January 2009, 07:08

Originally Posted by trumpy

I do feel for those of you having to administer/police some of the idiocy that seems to emanate from certain offices in our fine capital (recently with some considerable frequency it seems).

Why? Most of them and Scumdog in particular, seem to relish the opportunities this kind of crap legislation presents.

**civil** · 14th January 2009, 07:20

MNZ MX clubs now have noise meters. Find you local club and go check out how loud you pipes are.

**Mystic13** · 14th January 2009, 10:02

I noticed in the Land transport site that exhaust sellers are being told of the new rules to help with compliance.

This seems to me to mean that they are needing to make sure that the pipe they sell complies with the dBA limits. If this is the case then any pipe sold through the specific brand dealer should be good to go. I wonder if the exhaust manufacturers, importers and re-sellers have the cert and can you use that rather than paying for a new one each time?

**fireliv** · 14th January 2009, 10:21

Ok so if this matter goes to court then first off I would think this would go before a JP. U dont need a lawyer if that is the case. If a decibel reading was not taken a the time then what is the eveidence going to be?

Cop " He road past and I noticed his bike was loud"
You " What is the legal decibel reading for a motorcycle?"
Cop "_______decibels"
You " And what reading is my bike at"
Cop " Dont know I didnt get a reading done"
You " Then how can you prove beyond a reasonable doubt that my bike was over that reading"
Cop " I can't"

Not very convincing is it?
No prosecutor would push this case, I mean there is just no evidence.