High Court to Govt: Take action against Indian & foreign bikes with modified silencers

The High Court of Allahabad has asked the state government for action against the silencers that cause noise pollution. . They said that the noise pollution is particularly increasing because of Bullets and other new-generation sports bikes. The owners of the motorcycles are modifying the motorcycles by removing their mufflers. Due to this, the motorcycle could be heard from hundreds of meters away.

The order was passed on Tuesday when Justice Abdul Moin took suo motu cognizance of noise pollution that was caused by modified silencers of two-wheelers. Because of the modifications to the silencers, the motorcycles were making noise in excess of 80 decibels which is not permissible under the Motor Vehicle Act. The court said that the issue of modified silencers is like Hydra you would behead one head of the Hydra and two more would replace it.

The court also said that earlier also State Government intervened and helped in stopping the misuse of loudspeakers. The Motor Vehicle Act says that every vehicle should be fitted with a silencer to reduce the engine noise and the noise that is produced from the exhaust. There is also a limit on the noise that a particular vehicle can make. It has been set to 80 decibels.

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The court said, “As soon as the menace of sound pollution through loudspeakers was somewhat controlled,  the Hydra of noise pollution again reared its ugly head and now the noise pollution is being experienced through the modified mufflers on the silencers of two-wheelers more particularly Bullets and other new era two-wheelers which are speeding on the streets of the state capital.  The vehicle riders have modified the noise mufflers/silencers so much so that a vehicle being driven can be heard hundreds of meters away whereby causing immense discomfort to the old, aged, and infirm persons as well as young children and other persons who may require silence,”

A plea could be taken by motorcycle riders as some of the motorcycles are from foreign countries. Due to this, they do not comply with the Indian regulations. Usually, Harley Davidsons motorcycles are known to produce exhaust sounds that are at 80 decibels from the factory and if the owner removes the mufflers then it exceeds the noise limit.

Cops strict with modified exhausts

Cops across our country are catching and fining owners who have modified their exhausts. Often, the motorcycle brand in question is Royal Enfield. Owners modify the exhausts to accentuate the legendary thump of the Royal Enfield’s engine which has now started dying because of new emission norms.

In February 2021, the Commissioner of Police, Pimpri-Chinchwad ordered a drive against Royal Enfield motorcycles that were using an after-market exhaust. The cops caught 2,970 owners during the span of four months. The owners who were breaking the law were fined. The cops charged Rs. 1,000 on any motorcycle that was modified. The police were able to gather  Rs 29.7 lakh in form of fines. Notice to sellers who sell after-market exhausts was sent. The notice said that the police would take strict action if the shops are found selling the illegal after-market exhausts.

Source

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