Posted by Mark Rand on 12/06/2019 23:41:19:
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.