A team of officers from Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) and Victoria Police has conducted a roadside operation targeting noisy vehicles in Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda West, after complaints from the public.
The weekend operation resulted in seven cars and one motorcycle tested on the spot, with all eight failing to comply with the vehicle standards for noise emissions under the Environment Protection (Vehicle Emissions) Regulations 2013.
Some of the vehicles tested were found to be 13 decibels over their ‘signature’ limit. One recorded 103 decibels, at least twice as loud as permitted and loud enough to affect the local community significantly.
The team heard another 21 passing vehicles that were believed to be excessively loud, and noted their registration numbers. Those registered owners will receive a notice under section 55AC of the Environment Protection Act 1970, that requires them to take their vehicle to an EPA approved vehicle noise tester and acquire a certificate of compliance to prove their vehicle meets legal noise limits.
The most common vehicles found to be over the noise limit are Nissan Skylines, Subaru WRXs and Mitsubishi Lancers.
EPA Executive Director, Assessments, Tim Eaton, says the limits are there to protect the community from unreasonable levels of noise, and motorists should know that the fine for driving an excessively noisy vehicle is nearly $800.
“In a suburb like St Kilda, noisy vehicles can interfere with people’s enjoyment of shopping, cafes and going to the beach, or just going about their lives in their own neighbourhood, including getting a good night’s sleep. The Environment Protection (Vehicle Emissions) Regulations are designed to minimise those negative impacts,” Mr Eaton said.
“Members of the public can report noisy vehicles at their local police station, and if a police officer assesses the vehicle as being too noisy, it will be referred to EPA, which may issue the vehicle owner with a notice requiring that it be sent for testing,” he said.
“The unreasonable noise provisions of the Environment Protection Act 1970 also apply to vehicles on residential premises, such as a car left running in the driveway.”
“Drivers and motorcyclists who choose to modify their vehicles leave themselves open to enforcement action from EPA and Victoria Police if their vehicles are identified to be too loud,” Mr Eaton said.
The team will be conducting similar testing in other suburbs through summer.