States to look at how to tackle noisy vehicles

Environment leader said there were plans to produce a report into how noisy vehicles could be tackled

A report on potential measures to tackle noisy vehicles will be published in the "coming weeks", the States of Guernsey has revealed.

On Tuesday, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said the report would provide an evidence-based review around the prevention, education and enforcement of such offences.

It comes after the president of the Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure (E&I) was asked by Deputy Lester Queripel what regulations were in place to prosecute owners of "excessively noisy vehicles".

Deputy de Sausmarez said the Vehicle Noise etc. Ordinance 1986, stipulated that fines can be issued to those causing excessive noise that "could be avoided by the exercise of reasonable care".

No statutory definition

Deputy de Sausmarez also cited The Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Motor Vehicles) Ordinance 2002, explaining that the use of a vehicle on the roads was not permitted if "there is a likelihood of causing noise, raising dust or creating any other avoidable nuisance".

She added that every vehicle "must be constructed and maintained so that it does not give rise to excessive noise".

However, she admitted that, despite the legislation, there was no statutory definition for "excessive noise".

She said: "Therefore, the interpretation of the legislation can prove difficult."

She added the review would be undertaken alongside the Committee for Home Affairs to "explore this further".