By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
A CRANBOURNE man’s boisterous Nissan Skyline has left him coughing up a fine of nearly $800 for exceeding vehicle noise limits.
The Frankston Magistrates’ Court recently upheld Environment Protection Authority Victoria’s (EPA) decision to fine him.
The man was pulled over in his Skyline last year in Frankston, as part of a joint blitz with the EPA and Victoria Police.
When EPA officers tested the car they found it was much noisier than the legal limit, with the likely cause being an aftermarket exhaust system the man had fitted to the vehicle.
Under the Environment Protection Act 1970 (the EP Act) it is an offence against the registered owner or driver of a vehicle for it to exceed prescribed noise standards.
The man was issued with a notice to obtain a certificate of compliance from an approved noise tester, and make whatever repairs were needed to be within legal noise limits.
The matter landed in court when he challenged a fine issued by EPA over the offence.
EPA Regulatory Practice and Strategy Executive Director, Chris Webb said the court’s decision reinforced the seriousness of noise pollution and the importance of EPA’s monitoring program.
“EPA officers regularly join Victoria Police on roadside operations and this decision shows the community can have confidence in our continued efforts to target noisy vehicles,” Mr Webb said.
“There’s no excuse for ignoring noise standards when modifying your vehicle, or for failing to maintain your vehicle to the extent that it becomes a community nuisance.
“Everyone has a right to live in an environment free from preventable noise. Apart from being annoying, noisy vehicles can also cause sleep disturbance and other health impacts.”
Mr Webb said fines for exceeding noise limits were $758 for individuals and $1516 for a company car.
The community can report a noisy vehicle to the traffic management unit at their local police station.
Once the police have observed and confirmed the vehicle as being noisy, it will be referred to EPA for noise testing.
For further information on noisy vehicles visit www.epa.vic.gov.au.
