Noisy vehicles face new testing rules

Owners of cars with noisy exhausts may soon find their vehicles subject to an objective noise test.

Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven says regulations allowing such tests kick in in three weeks. The move has been previously flagged.

He said noise-measuring equipment was coming into the country and would soon be available at nine sites. There would also be one travelling machine.

Noisy cars could be subjected to a test if they were pulled up by police, who would "green-sticker" them. The vehicles would then have to be taken off the road until they passed a test.

At the moment cars undergo a subjective test as part of getting a warrant of fitness.

Mr Duynhoven said the Government intended amending the law so objective tests could be brought into the warrant of fitness testing regime.