SINGAPORE – Tighter rules and enforcement action have led to fewer vehicle owners being taken to task for illegal modifications or excessive noise.
In 2022, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued summonses for 1,215 cases of illegal exhaust modifications – an improvement from 1,781 cases in 2021 and 1,650 cases in 2020.
Similarly, in 2022, the National Environment Agency (NEA) received 85 cases of feedback on noisy vehicles, down from 175 cases in 2021 and 190 cases in 2020.
Enforcement action was taken against 66 vehicles in 2022, 76 in 2021, and nine vehicles in 2020 for failing to comply with noise emission standards.
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu gave the figures in a written parliamentary reply last Monday to Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio GRC).
Mr Gan, who oversees the Fernvale area in Sengkang, had asked for an update on the situation with vehicle noise, along with the effectiveness of current enforcement measures.
He told The Straits Times that many complaints have been received by MPs in different wards about loud vehicle noise.
In his ward, many residents living in Sengkang West Way, Sengkang West Road and Fernvale Street, all located near the Tampines Expressway, have reported being disturbed by loud vehicle noise late at night and in the early morning, he said.
The NEA further tightened vehicle noise emission standards from April 1, mandating noise from motor vehicles to fall within a band of between 68 decibels (cars) and 77 decibels (motorcycles) – equivalent to the level of a normal conversation.
Noise standards will also be tightened for new commercial vehicles from April 2024.
According to NEA, first-time offenders whose vehicles exceed stipulated noise emissions standards can be fined up to $2,000, while repeat offenders can be fined up to $5,000. The composition sum is not differentiated by the level of noise emissions, and recalcitrant offenders will be charged in court.
The LTA said the fine for first-time offenders who install illegal exhaust modifications to their vehicles has been doubled from $500 to $1,000 since July 2021. They can be fined up to $5,000 and jailed for up to three months. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $10,000 and jailed for up to six months.
Mr Gan lauded the authorities’ efforts in conducting regular enforcement blitzes at hot spots islandwide, but suggested that these inspections be extended to more areas. He said that without such inspections, it is difficult to catch drivers and motorcyclists who have made illegal exhaust modifications, as residents may not be able to note licence plate numbers to hand over to the authorities.
“It is important to have some enforcement when we mandate these laws. Sometimes, we have these laws but people just don’t comply,” he said.
Some motorcyclists have approached Mr Gan to appeal for leniency on the penalties they received. As their motorbikes were bought second-hand, they were “unaware of the illegal exhaust modifications installed by the previous owners”.
Mr Gan said it is important to find the responsible parties in such cases.
The LTA has been taking action against workshops for facilitating illegal modifications, although there are difficulties in getting vehicle owners to testify against these businesses.
