View Full Version : Noise polution
WelshWop
02-06-05, 05:08 PM
Ive just had a friendly police officer at my house :shock: :x
My nextdoor neighbour called them because of the noise im supose to making with my bike :shock:
I asked the officer my rights as in how much noise can i make legaly. To which is replied the noise must be deemed 'unacceptable'.
Asuming my exhaust is legal :oops: , what would be deemed an unacceptable level of noise?
I know my bike is loud and always consider my neighbours (walk the bike out of the garden onto the road before starting it, in the morning).
Today at around 3pm i started my bike for the first time in a few days and let it idle at 3000rpm for 1min as my owners manual reccomends. Due to this 1min of noise the moaning old guy called the police :shock:
Anyone else had this problem?
Sid Squid
02-06-05, 05:22 PM
Just ride away as soon as you start the engine, gently of course, that'll keep the noise down a bit.
I can't understand people who complain about the sound of aftermarket pipes.
You have to pay lots of money to make it sound like that, everone else gets it for nothing. :lol:
sharriso74
02-06-05, 05:31 PM
Kill switch backfires at 2 in the morning give him a heart attack!!!!
Last place I lived at the old git next door complained to my letting agency about my gpz 500 with std can on :roll:
Had to move in the end got so fed up with the hassle...
Not sure where the law stands really, if the can is legal i'd assume he hasn't a leg to stand on if not however then who knows...
Police in your area must be REALLY bored to come out to that, normally the council for noise issues
WelshWop
02-06-05, 05:50 PM
Im moving in a few months, and after mentioning this the the officer and that it would take that long for the council to get anthing to court, he warned me that if it continued he could arrest me for 'breach of the peace' :shock: At which point i shut up and agreed with everything he said :D
more likely copper is a mate of guy next door, seriously doubt they could do you unless you were revving it up on purpose and your other neighbours are witnesses your not
What a bas***d. Wait until its a nice sunny day, just before you leave. Wait for him to open his windows...Burnout time :twisted:
Lucky i've not had any issues. Leaving at 6am with my rene. Bad luck!
Dan
fizzwheel
02-06-05, 06:03 PM
I take it that you have a naughty exhaust on your bike then..
If it was anti-social hours then fair enough, but at 3 in the afternoon no way..
Does the old guy have dodgy hearing or something, maybe he is sensitive to it, I think I'd wheel it round the corner or just start it up and ride it off on the choke, which is what I do when I have to leave early for work.
If you bike is legal I doubt very much whether the police could do anything about it, why not have a chat with your other neighbours and see what they feel about it.
I had a chat with mine before I put my can on, they were OK expect the girl that lives next door says its loud and annoying, I told her that her dog was annoying as it barks all the time when shes not in and wakes me up at weekends when I am trying to have a lie in, she didnt say anythign more about it after that
Flamin_Squirrel
02-06-05, 06:10 PM
Does the old guy have dodgy hearing or something...
When I read that I automaticaly thought of Fawty Towers.
"So you think my bike is too loud eh?"
"You'll have to speak up, my hearing isnt so good."
"I said, so you think my bike is too loud?"
"Sorry, I can't hear you."
"I said..."*VROOM*
*hilarity ensues*
fizzwheel
02-06-05, 06:19 PM
Does the old guy have dodgy hearing or something...
When I read that I automaticaly thought of Fawty Towers.
"So you think my bike is too loud eh?"
"You'll have to speak up, my hearing isnt so good."
"I said, so you think my bike is too loud?"
"Sorry, I can't hear you."
"I said..."*VROOM*
*hilarity ensues*
PMSL :lol: :lol:
Just kill the S O B. Job done
If the guy doesn't have the courtesy to speak to you before calling the police for something so minor then stuff him!
Provided you're being reasonable (and it sounds like you are, but only you know) then I'd carry on regardless. If you get another visit from the old bill then suggest to them that you feel that your neighbour is harassing you!
"I said..."*VROOM*
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Is this a piece of your brain?
I don't think it matters whether your can is road legal or not as this is actually a Health and Safety issue I think.
The copper is also wrong about the level being deemed simply 'unacceptable' - again a Health and Safety issue there are actual decibel levels that have to be broken I think.
Don't quote me on that as it's only a vague recollection I have from talking to a friend who work for the council. She's taking her exams n stuff about H&S issues. I'll drop her a line and ask specifically if you want - or you could have a look on the net, there's bound to be something useful on there somewhere besides 80's TV shows and p*rn.
why dont you go talk to him? the more reasonable you are the harder it is for him to prove that you are being anti-social.
Also make a record of it if you do. Then if he does make a complaint you can show you made an effort to sort it out and again it will start to make him look unreasonable.
OK - my area of expertise :roll:
If the bike was on private property, i.e not the public highway, then the police don't have jurisdiction - the local authority do. It's Section 79(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and it's to do with Statutory Nuisance.
I doubt that the local authority in your area would consider what you're doing to amount to a Stat Nuiance; you'd have to be doing something unreasonable and the noise would have to be persistent and recurrent.
If you bike is on private property and if, as I think you are, you're in the Cardiff area then PM me and I'll give you the name and phone number of a bike-riding EHO in the noise team who will talk it through with you :wink:
One thing..............isn't 3,000rpm a little high? Can you get away with 2,000rpm?
If on the other hand, you're doing it on the road/footpath then this is a matter under police jurisdiction. If your can is legal the all they can do is consider it under the Highways Act 1980, one part of which makes prolonged/excessive idling unlawful. If you're just starting your engine then putting on your helmet/gloves before riding off then I doubt that this will be considered excessive.
If your can is illegal then you might get a producer and/or a rectification notice. Whether the coppers would know about an illegal can is a mute point, of course.
HTH - feel free to PM me as I'm intersted to know what the coppers said to you.
I know my bike is loud and always consider my neighbours (walk the bike out of the garden onto the road before starting it, in the morning).
Just re-read your post.
My advice:
Start your bike in your garden and take the police out of the equation. See my post above for the local authority point of view.
I don't think it matters whether your can is road legal or not as this is actually a Health and Safety issue I think.
Nope. Definitely not as it's not connected with any trade or occupation.
Stat nuisance (local authority) or Highways Act (police) depending upon circumstances.
my mate had a similar problem with his drum kit.
basically the police came round with noise testing kit and set up the kit in the guys bedroom, and got my mate to play drums.
he was told that he was legally allowed to make 80db of noise (80db into the neighbours room)
banging his drums away, it only made 50db next door.
so of course - he can bang his drums as loud as he wants at any hour he wishes :)
I don't think it matters whether your can is road legal or not as this is actually a Health and Safety issue I think.
Nope. Definitely not as it's not connected with any trade or occupation.
Stat nuisance (local authority) or Highways Act (police) depending upon circumstances.
Ahhh, the muddy waters of my recollection are a little clearer now. I think perhaps I'm confusing two conversations and turning them into one burbling mush. :oops: Something about decibel levels (similar to what Bikage has mentioned) floats to the surface though.
Anyway... who are you people?
Who am I?
And why does this jacket have reeeeaaaally long sleeves with buckles on the ends?
Ooooh look, a butterfly! Tee hee hee :P
Look there are two ways of dealing with this, both start with step one.
Step 1:
Go knock on his door (no, there's nothing else to it, this bit's quite simple).
But now you have a choice.
Step 2a:
Explain why you're there and then punch his face. This will lead to an immediate feeling of euphoria and victory but will sadly be somewhat short-lived as your imminent arrest and incarceration for three months might just take the edge of things. Though to be sure, if you're sent to a modern penal correction facility, you'll not have too bad a time; but do comprehend that working out when not to take a shower is paramount - making the mistake of your lavatorial visit coinciding with that of Violent Violet from E Block could prove a deep experience but possibly one you could have seriously done without.
Step 2b:
Explain why you're there and don't punch his face. Apologize. Deeply and unreservedly. Usng the same degree of earnest contrition you'd normally save up for the old beak in court whilst trying desperately to hold on to your licence on the first day of summer for doing 99.99mph in a 70 limit.
Also, take him a gift. A small bottle of Scotch would be perfect. If there's a Mrs B*stard as well chuck in a box of (yuk) Milk Tray as well. And yes I'm serious. You would be surprised that once you've made him a friend for life (and if he's an old codger he'll be pathetically grateful once he knows you're not an enemy) and you ask him what way of starting your bike would suit him best, you'll soon be able to pull up roaring like a mad thing providing you give a friendly wave and ask about his roses.
Yes I know it's morally dubious (and I'm a dreadful manipulative old cynic) but trust me (at least on this occasion) it'll work like a charm.
;)
.
my god jonboy . . . . thats the best bit of advice ive heard you give to date.
why not give it a try - it dont cost much and it could make you feel a whole lot better.
option 2a is def the one to go for :)
Step 2b:
Explain why you're there and don't punch his face. Apologize. Deeply and unreservedly. Usng the same degree of earnest contrition you'd normally save up for the old beak in court whilst trying desperately to hold on to your licence on the first day of summer for doing 99.99mph in a 70 limit.
Also, take him a gift. A small bottle of Scotch would be perfect. If there's a Mrs B*stard as well chuck in a box of (yuk) Milk Tray as well. And yes I'm serious. You would be surprised that once you've made him a friend for life (and if he's an old codger he'll be pathetically grateful once he knows you're not an enemy) and you ask him what way of starting your bike would suit him best, you'll soon be able to pull up roaring like a mad thing providing you give a friendly wave and ask about his roses.
Yes I know it's morally dubious (and I'm a dreadful manipluative old cynic) but trust me (at least on this occasion) it'll work like a charm.
;)
tbh talking to a lot of older people is the key. A lot of them are lonely and take out their frustrations as he is with you by complaining. A friendly chat, all be it hard for you to perhaps do, would probably go a lot further than a war of attrition between the two of you.
Look there are two ways of dealing with this, both start with step one.
Step 1:
Go knock on his door (no, there's nothing else to it, this bit's quite simple).
But now you have a choice.
Step 2a:
Explain why you're there and then punch his face. This will lead to an immediate feeling of euphoria and victory but will sadly be somewhat short-lived as you're imminent arrest and incarceration for three months might just take the edge of things. Though to be sure, if you're sent to a modern penal correction facility, you'll not have too bad a time; but do comprehend that working out when not to take a shower is paramount - making the mistake of your lavatorial visit coinciding with that of Violent Violet from E Block could prove a deep experience but possibly one you could have seriously done without.
Step 2b:
Explain why you're there and don't punch his face. Apologize. Deeply and unreservedly. Usng the same degree of earnest contrition you'd normally save up for the old beak in court whilst trying desperately to hold on to your licence on the first day of summer for doing 99.99mph in a 70 limit.
Also, take him a gift. A small bottle of Scotch would be perfect. If there's a Mrs B*stard as well chuck in a box of (yuk) Milk Tray as well. And yes I'm serious. You would be surprised that once you've made him a friend for life (and if he's an old codger he'll be pathetically grateful once he knows you're not an enemy) and you ask him what way of starting your bike would suit him best, you'll soon be able to pull up roaring like a mad thing providing you give a friendly wave and ask about his roses.
Yes I know it's morally dubious (and I'm a dreadful manipulative old cynic) but trust me (at least on this occasion) it'll work like a charm.
;)
.
Unless you knock on the door and it's the steptoe household. Where the response would possibly be to have the booze and chocolates snatched from your hands, the door slammed in your face with the sound of "**** off" coming through it. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Honestly though, sounds like a damn fine plan to me :)
Doesn't your neighbour ever use garden machinery ? Stuff like lawn-mowers / strimmers etc ?
Your bike useage doesn't sound unreasonable to me. I'm also amazed the police came out after this one complaint. They appear to have overstepped the mark and perhaps given you cause for complaint.
SVeeedy Gonzales
03-06-05, 07:42 AM
Both my neighbours love my bike - both used to ride and look at the bike in admiration and ask about it... never any complaints and one of the guys does go-kart stuff so is working on engines anyway...
And I'm moving house in a month :( Hope the new peeps are as friendly. Or else they'll just force me to go buy the scorpion :twisted:
tbh talking to a lot of older people is the key. A lot of them are lonely and take out their frustrations as he is with you by complaining. A friendly chat, all be it hard for you to perhaps do, would probably go a lot further than a war of attrition between the two of you.
It's a cry for help!
Seriously though, talking to them is the best way to start. Then, maybe together you can both work out the best way around the problem?
Second, starting the bike in garden maybe quieter as there is probably more 'stuff' to disperse the noise. Legally you're better off as well. I have experience with council's EHOs and a noisy neighbours and it's *very* hard to get them fined, even for persistent violations.
Anyway, jonboys idea is the best by miles. Nothing beats getting on with your neighbours.
I have experience with council's EHOs and a noisy neighbours and it's *very* hard to get them fined, even for persistent violations.
Don't blame the EHOs. Allegations of noise nuisance are a criminal (not civil) matter and they need the same standard of evidence as in any other criminal offence. The "balance of probabilities" doesn't count for a toffee.
They need corroborated, not heresay, evidence before service an Abatement Notice as the recipient has right of appeal against it. It's only when the Notice has been breached, again with the same standard of evidence, that legal procedings can be taken.
It's no secret that I work in Pollution Control and my colleagues take loads of cases each year, we get people evicted from their homes over it and we regularly seize Hi-Fis,TVs etc under Warrant from the offenders homes. We ask the Courts for a Forfeiture Order with regard to the equipment seize and then destroy it under the wheels of our landfill-site's compactor :twisted:
I know what you mean, though - it can be time-consuming and sorting the problem through the legel channels can be frustrating. But that's of the legislation's making, not the EHO's.
Or you could follow jonboys advice and just go round with a few mates and **** the git :lol:
No I wasn't having a go at the EHOs, just that the system takes a long time to solve the problem.
I used to live above a restaurant that had live music most nights. I got the EHOs out at least 10 times in 1 year and the place got fined once and had been fined previously a year before that. They had engineers round and extra doors fitted but it all boiled down to the guy playing the music. He straight didn't care and would turn the volume up to whatever he wanted. The management didn't seem able (or care) to tell him not to do it.
I got so frustrated that I switched their extractor fans off once (it was on my fire escape). After they called the fire brigade because their kitchen was full of smoke (their fault for not cleaning their vents correctly) I decided just to move ASAP. I just didn't have the time or energy to kick the noise pollution office hard enough to get the restaurant properly punished. I knew the previous tennants from 5 years ago and they had similar problems and a lot of trouble getting it sorted which I didn't want.
It was Westminster council BTW.
busasean
04-06-05, 06:38 AM
my drive from the rear of my house/garage joins the road next to a motorbike shop.the owner lives in the flat above it. i was using my sv to go to work at 6 in the morning for a few weeks. because it has a full akrapovic system etc fitted and is a little on the loud side i tend to put all my gear on and get on the bike before starting it. i dont let it warm up at all, but leave straight away, as gently as i can bearing in mind that the bike is noisy and the engine is cold. i was approached by the owner of the bike shop complaining about the noise and telling my to push it up the road before starting it (outside someone elses house!)and being quite arsey! what really got my back up was his attitude and the fact that on many saturdays if weve got the patio doors open all we hear is him reving up his customers bikes, which is his living so i tend to ignore it. i pointed out the fact that he sells race cans to people knowing full well they are used on the road. at this point he was really ****ed off and was having a major sense of humour failure.i dont tend to use sv often to work, however needless to say when i do i now spend 2 - 3 mins warming bike up (neighbours dont mind) then i rev the crap out of it as i go past his shop. hopefully we will be moving next yr when i've finished the house!
timwilky
04-06-05, 07:05 AM
Noise Pollution?
Rock and and roll ain't :wink:
Sorry I will get my coat.
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