Six noisy Bendigo motorists face $1,000 fines following a joint EPA Victoria and Victoria Police operation to spot noisy vehicles on Saturday 28 October.
The roadside operation held near Lake Wendouree, tested eight suspect vehicles with six of them exceeding the permissible noise level.
“Excessively noisy vehicles are a source of great annoyance for people. We hold pop-up operations like this with Victoria Police to send a message to the motoring community; not everyone enjoys the sound of your car or bike as much as you do,” EPA Compliance Programs Unit Manager Dan Hunt said.
“It’s a bit disappointing that of the eight vehicles pulled over and tested, 75 per cent needed further action. They’ll need their vehicles to be repaired and retested again to ensure that compliance has been met with the regulations and allowable noise limits. Three of those vehicles exceeded the limit by more than 5 decibels and will also be issued a fine.”
Owners whose vehicles failed to comply with noise emission limits will also receive a Vehicle Testing Notice (VTN). The notice directs the owner of the vehicle to take it to an EPA approved vehicle tester to get a Certificate of Compliance.
Failure to comply with the notice may result in further infringement notices or the vehicle registration being suspended. That fine could be as much as $1,090 for an individual who is still not able to drive the vehicle until it is deemed compliant. If the matter goes to court that could rise as high as $5,452 for individuals and up to $54,522 for businesses.
Anyone can report a noisy vehicle to Victoria Police at any time, and they then alert EPA.
Proper servicing of your vehicle and avoiding installation of aftermarket devices or exhaust components that increase vehicle noise emissions are simple steps that can be taken by individuals.
This was one of many operations planned by EPA Victoria to target excessively loud vehicle owners, in partnership with Victoria Police, in the next 12 months. If you choose to fit aftermarket exhaust systems that breach permitted limits, the message is you will be caught and fined. And the supplier or installer of those systems could also be in breach of the law and also face a fine.
EPA and vehicle noise
• EPA regulates noise and emissions from light vehicles – under 4.5 T gross
• The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator regulates noise from heavy vehicles
• EP vehicle regulations cover vehicles in use on a highway only
• Noise limits are adopted from Federal standards
Reports of noisy vehicles.
• EPA receives noisy vehicle reports from Police Officers.
• Officers must observe the noisy vehicle on the highway
• The registered owner will receive a vehicle testing notice and have 28 days to have their vehicle tested and certified compliant at an EPA approved noise tester.
• EPA issued 4,841 vehicle testing notices between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023
• If they fail to have their vehicle certified as compliant, an individual may receive an infringement of $1,090
• Increases to $5,452 for a company owned vehicle.
Operations with Victoria Police
• EPA operates coregulatory noisy vehicle operations with Victoria Police
If you wish to report a noisy vehicle
• Inform your local police station if the vehicle is seen on the road
• Noise from a vehicle idling at a residence for a long time may be unreasonable. You can report this to your local council.
• You can also report concerns about road traffic noise to the Department of Transport or your local council.
If you want to check your own vehicle is compliant
• You can book a test with an EPA approved noise tester. Go to https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/how-to/book-vehicle-noise-test
