Noisy cars and motorcycles are increasingly in the sights of authorities across Australia, with drivers in one state now facing tougher penalties under strengthened noise laws.
The new NSW rules include increased fines for a range of noise offences, with on-the-spot penalties for excessive motor vehicle noise doubled.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said the changes to the state’s Noise Control Regulation followed an extensive consultation process with communities and regulators.
EPA Executive Director of Policy Programs and Finance, Asela Atapattu, said the updated rules were designed to reflect changing lifestyles while tackling disruptive neighbourhood noise.
“We know the impact that offensive or disruptive noise can have on people. That’s why it’s important that neighbourhood noise standards are meeting community expectations,” he said.
Noisy vehicles face tougher penalties
Under the new rules, drivers using a vehicle on a road or road-related area that exceeds the prescribed noise limit by 15 decibels or more can face a $1,200 fine.
The fine is $500 for noise exceeding the limit by 5 to 14 decibels, or $300 for less than five.
Hi-tech noise cameras similar to these in the UK can detect excessively loud vehicles and capture their registration plates. Source: UK Government
Drivers can also cop a $400 fine for defective or missing noise-control equipment.
A $270 penalty and two demerit points can apply when offensive noise is emitted from a vehicle’s sound system while driving.
Police can also issue a $434 fine and three demerit points to motorists who start or drive a vehicle in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke, including unnecessarily revving an engine.
Most offences can also result in a vehicle defect notice, requiring the problem to be fixed.
Changes follow noise camera trial
The increased fines come after NSW authorities last year trialled hi-tech noise cameras in the Wollongong and Bayside council areas.
The Australian-first trial used acoustic technology to detect excessive vehicle noise before cameras captured the offending vehicle’s registration plate.
The technology found that motorcycles accounted for about 55 per cent of detected noise events, despite representing only around four per cent of registered vehicles in NSW.
Authorities also found that aggressive acceleration was a factor in all noisy events, and that the collected data is being analysed to inform future options for managing vehicle noise.
It is understood NSW Police are still reviewing the data obtained from the trial and have yet to announce a broader rollout of noise cameras.
Meanwhile, South Australia is considering hi-tech noise cameras to catch drivers with excessively loud vehicles, following NSW’s Australian-first trial of the technology.
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Aussie drivers face fines of up to $1,200 under NSW’s tougher new noise rules. Source: Getty Images/Intelligent Instruments
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The updated NSW rules also address noise from other common household sources.
Air conditioners will be exempt from restrictive use hours during severe or extreme heatwaves, while permitted hours for residential pumps and air conditioners have also been extended.
Other changes include making owners or occupiers of private property liable for off-road motor vehicle noise and adding microphones and megaphones to regulated devices on marine vessels.
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