{"id":121628,"date":"2023-11-23T17:49:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T17:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/?p=121628"},"modified":"2023-11-23T17:49:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T17:49:41","slug":"uk-firm-fitting-pop-bang-aftermarket-exhausts-fined-in-landmark-court-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/auto-news\/uk-firm-fitting-pop-bang-aftermarket-exhausts-fined-in-landmark-court-case\/","title":{"rendered":"UK firm fitting \u2018pop bang\u2019 aftermarket exhausts fined in landmark court case"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has won a crucial first court victory that will be music to the ears of anyone bothered by rowdy exhaust noises on the street.<\/p>\n
In what has been described as the first case of its kind, the DVSA says it has won an action brought against a Kirklees firm called AET Motorsport for fitting an \u201cunsuitable part to a vehicle which would make it illegal to be used on the road\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The magistrates in the case handed down a conviction and an order for fines and costs totalling \u00a37,234, after finding the firm guilty of fitting what it termed a \u201cPop and Bang Remap Software Upgrade\u201d to a vehicle belonging to a customer.<\/p>\n
According to the DVSA, an investigation by its Market Surveillance Unit into the West Yorkshire company found it had been \u201copenly advertising illegal alterations to vehicles likely to be used on the road.\u201d Specifically, it says, the firm carried out work to remove a catalytic converter on a car, and also modified its ECU software to increase the exhaust noise levels.<\/p>\n
The DVSA points out that removing the catalytic converter and replacing it with a so-called \u2018delete pipe\u2019 immediately rendered the vehicle illegal for road use. Its investigators booked a car into AET Motorsport to have the conversion work carried out, and said that at no time did anyone at the company warn that the vehicle was no longer road legal and would fail an MoT.<\/p>\n
Subsequent DVSA testing revealed the \u2018Pop and Bang Remap\u2019 had been effective, as it directly caused an increase in noise emissions that put the car over the legal limit.<\/p>\n
During sentencing, the magistrates told the company that this case was rightly brought by DVSA and it\u2019s a lesson that any business owner has an obligation to know what the law is.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The court victory is likely to be welcomed by the large numbers of UK drivers who recently told the RAC they supported new \u2018noise cameras\u2019 being trialled here by the Department for Transport. Police are currently able to issue \u00a350 on-the-spot fines for exhaust noise offences.<\/p>\n
Christopher Dormand, DVSA\u2019s Head of the Market Surveillance Unit, said: \u201cDVSA\u2019s Market Surveillance Unit ensures vehicles, vehicle parts and vehicle accessories sold in the UK meet required specifications and are safe for people to buy. This investigation shows DVSA takes this activity seriously and we will continue to take strong action on offenders,\u201d he warns.<\/p>\n
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