Heres To The Quiet Life!

Booming hi-fi systems and modified exhausts could soon be a thing of the past, as Devon and Cornwall police target anti social drivers, with new sound measuring kits.

The devices are being used with other enforcement measures, and during the first trial in Newton Abbot, a driver was fined £30 when his car exhaust tripled the level of acceptable noise.

The meters will be used in several selected ‘trouble spots’ around the town, alongside other local areas such as Exmouth Seafront, and Plymouth Hoe. The police initiative, follows several consultations with local Devon and Cornwall communities, to identify the top concerns within the area. Anti-social driving and excessive noise were a ‘significant concern’ to many, and a definite cause of ongoing frustration for the majority of those consulted.

Local resident Jayne Beale fully supports the new police action. “Elderly people are too scared to walk around parts of Newton Abbot, and as a mother, I worry about my kids too. Its intimidating and dangerous. An accident waiting to happen.”

Police are taking a tough stance on the issue, stating that drivers must be aware of the impact their actions have on the local community. Sgt P Caboche from the road policing centre in Cornwall, states that repeated offenders will land anti-social drivers in court. “The new sound kits will assist officers by acting as additional and accurate support to an officer’s opinion when giving evidence. We are confident that this will help to deter certain individuals from thinking this is a clever way to behave. Going forward, we hope to create a more pleasant living environment for the town’s inhabitants.”

Vehicle noise levels should be between 82 and 89 decibels, and background noise between 50 and 60. The first fixed penalty ticket was for a recording that measured 93 decibels.