Land Transport (Unauthorised Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Act 2003

Questions and answers — general public

1. What is a noisy exhaust?
An exhaust is considered to be noisy if the effectiveness of the silencer has been reduced making the exhaust system louder than the original one fitted by the manufacturer.

2. What happens if a driver is stopped by the police for driving a vehicle with a noisy exhaust?
If a vehicle's exhaust is considered to be louder than the original exhaust that was fitted by the manufacturer, the vehicle will be given a green sticker. Vehicles that are given a green sticker must apply for a new warrant of fitness from a Transport Service Delivery agent — the Automobile Association of NZ, On Road NZ, Vehicle Inspection NZ, or Vehicle Testing NZ. This means that a noisy exhaust must be replaced or re-modified to make it quieter and the vehicle must pass all warrant of fitness requirements before it can be driven on a road.

3. Can vehicles that have been given a green sticker because of noise be taken to any warrant of fitness testing agent?
No —vehicles that have been given a green sticker for noise must be taken to a Transport Service Delivery agent (the Automobile Association of NZ, On Road NZ, Vehicle Inspection NZ, or Vehicle Testing NZ) for warrant of fitness testing. This is consistent with the LTSA's policy on removing stickers.

4. What if the existing warrant hasn't run out yet?
A green sticker for noise automatically cancels your current warrant of fitness.

5. Does the amendment also apply to motorcycles?
Yes

6. What about people who have high performance cars and motorcycles, but are not ‘boy racers'?
The LTSA's advice to them is to drive responsibility so that you are not stopped and given a green sticker. However, the noise issue applies to all vehicles, so if you have a modified exhaust and the silencer is less effective that the original exhaust, you could fail your next warrant of fitness.

7. What else is covered in the Act?
Under the Act a person must not, unless authorised by law, operate a vehicle:

• in a race or an unnecessary exhibitions of speed or acceleration
• in a manner causing it to undergo sustained loss if traction ie spinning wheels without a reasonable excuse.

Under the Act a person must not, without reasonable excuse, pour or allow to spill onto the road any oil, or any other substance likely to cause a vehicle to undergo loss of traction.

For more information about these other aspects of the amendment, visit
www.transport.govt.nz
www.police.govt.nz

Last updated: 1 May 2003