Just Got Epa'd

[Iconic Bionic]

Well finally got off my ass and its a fine day in Melbourne(cant be done in the rain), so got my exhaust checked... Suprise, suprise, I passed hehee...I scored 84dB@3938rpm out of a max permitted 90dB. Oh and $37.50 out of pocket.

Found a good way to 'pass' if you do have a loud exhaust.. The guy sets the mic up on a stand, bout 30-40cm from the exhaust tips, then sits in the car and begins to rev the car etc... Meanwhile im outside watching, and could have easily put a leg between the exhaust and mic, therefore passing... Worth a try IMO if you know your gonna have to go back to stock anyway hehehe...

The right result with a little inconveinence. Is $37.50 such a big deal, though the revenue raising bandits wont be too far away.

I.B.

[trevs]

$37.50 is f*ck all but you should only have to pay if you fail I reckon

the way things are going with fines and stuff these days maybe the goverment can get our local servo station to hand a parking ticket to everyone on their 10th tank of fuel I mean most ppl would have parked illegally once or twice in that time frame

Edited 02/01/09 07:06 AM by trevs

[Iconic Bionic]

$37.50 is f*ck all but you should only have to pay if you fail I reckon

That I certainly second. If your found at court to not have broken the law, then no penalty applies, why is this any different. They instigate the action and if cleared, then in my opinon they should wear the cost.

I.B.

Edited 02/01/09 08:22 AM by Iconic Bionic

[Craig.]

The right result with a little inconveinence. Is $37.50 such a big deal,

To some, any amount of $$ could be a big deal. Besides, consider the money lost if you need to take half a day from work to get to an approved testing station. The actual cost to the 'guilty party' is likely to be in the hundreds and in the case of some, even thousands depending on time needed, distance travelled to get to this approved test centre. Not everyone lives in Melbourne or Sydney.

Personally, its the whole principle of the thing that gets up my goat.

The system is wrong! Guilt is assumed until you prove otherwise in this case!

If the these goverment agencies have nothing better to do than run around pinging law abiding tax payers for crap like this (via a letter in the mail FFS!) , the least thay could do is actually pull the 'guilty' party over and provide an on the spot testing facility to settle the matter there and then. If your car was found to be too loud, then fair enough, you should be required to get repairs done and then present yourself for a re-test to satisfy the requirements at your expense.

In this case the onus (and any expenses incurred)are placed onto you to prove your innocence, or you are assumed to be guilty and fined, de-registered, etc.

Noise is a quantitive thing that can be easily measured ( just like speed or blood alcohol content). Hand held decibel meters are easily obtained. Why not perform this kind of thing like a random breath test or a speeding infringement? Because the government knows that it would cost millions to equip every cop/EPA car with a decibel meter and the majority of vehicles on the roads would pass. In other words, no return for the money outlayed. So instead they move the onus to prove innocence onto their 'victims'. Just send out what basically amounts to an infringement notice based on someones opinion without any actual evidence and then make the victim prove otherwise!

The fact that in this case the car passed shows what a joke the whole thing is IMO!

I wonder if anyone ( perhaps a contractor in the building game or some barrister) has ever sent them an invoice for costs and time incurred for being put through this sh*t.

[Iconic Bionic]

There will always be a price on our freedom and liberty, regardless of how you proportion the blame.

I.B.

[Craig.]

There will always be a price on our freedom and liberty

I.B.

True!

Ironically that's the very thing which is being erroded with silly laws like these. We are the most over governed society in the world. Real freedom and libery went out the window decades ago!

While there needs to be some enforcement of laws revolving around all forms of pollution (of which noise is one), I dont believe doing it by mailing out infringement notices and then making people prove there innocence is appropriate. And where is the liberty or freedom in that!

Edited 02/01/09 09:40 AM by craiginmackay

[XRSics]

may sound stupee but,

wots to say the letter has actually made it to you...

ive used this excuse b4 and it worked (in qld)

[Iconic Bionic]

True!

While there needs to be some enforcement of laws revolving around all forms of pollution (of which noise is one), I dont believe doing it by mailing out infringement notices and then making people prove there innocence is appropriate. And where is the liberty or freedom in that!

You have to prove to the respective States that you can safely drive a vehicle by passing there licenseing regimes and then pay for it. Most States you have to prove your car is safe and roadworthy and pay for that too. Is it really that different or should they just turn a blind eye to it all on the misguided premise that its solely a source of revenue or violation of ones rights.

I.B.

[Craig.]

You have to prove to the respective States that you can safely drive a vehicle by passing there licenseing regimes and then pay for it.

When has the ability to actually drive been assessed? Car control doesn't really come into our licencing system except at a basic level, IE clutch control and basic steering and braking. I wish it was more thorough than that but last time I checked it wasn't!

I thought the road test was to see whether or not you could park a car and follow the road rules!

Most States you have to prove your car is safe and roadworthy and pay for that too. Is it really that different or should they just turn a blind eye to it all on the misguided premise that its solely a source of revenue or violation of ones rights.

I.B.

I see a big difference actually.

I'm all for yearly road worthies in all states ( like you have in NSW). It ensures that all cars on the road are able to stop, steer and perform as intended at the time of the inspection. that's a great safety initiative that protects other road users.

A random letter telling you to front up to an inspection station to prove that the decibel level of your exhaust is legal or face a big fine and de-registration of that vehicle is a different thing all together.

[PHANTMXR6]

You've got my vote craiginmackay.

I couldn't have said it any better and couldn't agree more.