Noise Cameras

The ignition backfire was a favourite amongst students who had a car.. most notably in the hyde park corner underpass for addtional resonance. It'd probably bring London to a standstill thesed days....

One of my uncles dinged his car demonstrating a back-fire to my cousin; uncle had forgotten Mike's all important point about steering locks! Only his pride and wallet got hurt fortunately.

By the way, when did steering locks come in? I don't remember the mini I learned to drive in having one, but I'm fairly sure everything else I've driven since 1970 did? My memory is untrustworthy!

Dave

The microphone could be mounted at the side of the road with the camera on an overhead.

N.

Oooh ... Look: **LINK**

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-noise-camera-trial-to-crack-down-on-illegal-vehicles

Kinda looks like there might be some actual information available.

MichaelG.

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P.S. 

It's a relief to see the location and directionality of the microphone 

Many years ago, we checked my Scimitar Coupé with a B&K meter, from the rear 

[ newly fitted stainless exhaust system with straight-through 'absorption' silencers ]

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 12/06/2019 18:21:47

The picture in the link given by Michael above shows a car being driven towards the monitoring equipment, that configuration wouldn’t work with motorcycles as the camera will not record the registration number as this is mounted only on the rear of motorcycles, is this another well thought and researched government initiative?

Dave W

Studies have found that exposure to noise can have significant physical and mental health implications – with heart attacks, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and stress all linked to long-term contact with loud environments.

Thats me ****ed then

Mike

Must be if Grayling is involved!!!!!!!!

Be interesting to see it stand up in court. The tests for noise levels when type approved have loads of parameters- Temperature, wind speed, humidity, speed, load etc then there's also the road condition/state, other vehicles in the vicinity and street furniture, can't be done in adverse weather or wind speed above 5 metres per second. The easiest way to get someone is if they have a non approved exhaust system, other than that you're struggling with this "simple" camera set up.

The standard mark should be clearly marked on a motorcycle exhaust system, most of the noisy ones are race pipes which will not have the marking, a copper and a notebook could soon fill it at a race meeting bike park, only a pencil and notebook needed, you can’t beat a low tech solution.

Mike

Construction and use regulations, section 97:-

"Avoidance of excessive noise

97. No motor vehicle shall be used on a road in such manner as to cause any excessive noise which could have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable care on the part of the driver."

Noise cameras have never been needed if a copper or a couple of members of the public are happy to do the paperwork and testify before a magistrate. Even applies to having the windows wound down and 'music' blasting out. Although in the latter case there are public performance license offences as well .

That's a very grey area and there is a reason coppers no longer enforce it. Vehicles now have to meet set noise standards to be sold new in most countries. To make a charge stick, copper would have to prove the vehicle was above the approved standard. Only a proper noise meter measurement can do that. "By ear" no longer stands up in court.

That's why all our local Harley boys ride around with straight pipes where I live. Local coppers have no noise meter to prove in court that the bikes are over the limit. Couple times a year the transport department sends a squad of jobsworths up with a noise meter to do roadside spot checks and issue tickets to those who fail.

It seems doubtful that a roadside noise meter measuring a moving vehicle's sound could conclusively meet the standards required under the existing noise regulations for how new vehicles are tested. It is pretty strict on distance, angle, surroundings etc. But a small piece of legislation would fix that, allowing the roadside meters special privileges to collect revenue on a "near enough" basis.

Big Brother will find a way.