Nicky Wagner National Party MP

15 January 2006

Exhaust rule changes 'window dressing'

National Party MP Nicky Wagner says new rules for noisy exhausts are only window dressing and won't do anything to curb the boy racer culture.

>From tomorrow the maximum fine for a noisy vehicle will increase from $150 to $250 and the driver will lose 10 demerit points.

"The simple reality is that those doing the checking don't have an effective, objective noise test.

"It'll still be up to police or warrant of fitness testers to guess whether an exhaust is too noisy.

"It's always hard for the public to have full confidence in a law that is so vague, and relies on the opinion of officials.

"As long as we have out-dated and weak noise standards, and no objective test, it's difficult for anyone to do anything about the problem."

Mrs Wagner is promoting a Private Member's Bill that would pave the way for approved inspectors to pass or fail a noisy exhaust at warrant time and equip the police with proper, standardised instruments to measure noise levels.

"I'm pleased the Government has finally recognised that noisy cars are an issue and I welcome moves to further tighten the rules.

"But unless we make the job easier for those on the frontline by providing them with the right tools to measure exhaust noise, there will still be ongoing confusion for the motoring public," says Mrs Wagner.

ENDS

© Scoop Media