THE excessive noise made by modified motorcycles in Launceston’s city centre has not gone unnoticed by Tasmania Police. Independent MLC Kerry Finch took the issue to State Parliament on Tuesday when he asked whether noise restrictions were being adequately enforced in the area. Mr Finch questioned whether Environmental Protection Agency regulations on noise emissions from motorcycles were being controlled in the central business district. ‘‘There’s nothing more annoying than being in town, in the city, and then somebody is hooning through on a motorbike that’s making excessive noise,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t mind normal motorbike noise but when they do it for showmanship, it is quite annoying for people and it frightens a lot of people. ‘‘I think that on the open road, do the speed limit and that should give them the thrill but don’t do it in the cities.’’ The government and Tasmania Police said they were aware of community concerns regarding excessive noise and that in some circumstances, the issue could present a concern for public safety. Police said that they actively pursued a range of different enforcement measures to combat the issue, including having the power to give out defect and infringement notices and the ability to seize a noisy motorcycle. Police have also used plain clothes officers on unmarked departmental motorcycles and visited offenders at their homes. Mr Finch said that although there was still work to be done, he was pleased with what police had been able to achieve in their efforts so far. ‘‘I was really thrilled with the answer and to get some knowledge of what the police are doing,’’ he said. ‘‘If we keep working on the situation I think that we’ll just have a better environment in which to live.’’
THE excessive noise made by modified motorcycles in Launceston’s city centre has not gone unnoticed by Tasmania Police.
Independent MLC Kerry Finch took the issue to State Parliament on Tuesday when he asked whether noise restrictions were being adequately enforced in the area.
Mr Finch questioned whether Environmental Protection Agency regulations on noise emissions from motorcycles were being controlled in the central business district.
‘‘There’s nothing more annoying than being in town, in the city, and then somebody is hooning through on a motorbike that’s making excessive noise,’’ he said.
‘‘I don’t mind normal motorbike noise but when they do it for showmanship, it is quite annoying for people and it frightens a lot of people.
‘‘I think that on the open road, do the speed limit and that should give them the thrill but don’t do it in the cities.’’
The government and Tasmania Police said they were aware of community concerns regarding excessive noise and that in some circumstances, the issue could present a concern for public safety.
Police said that they actively pursued a range of different enforcement measures to combat the issue, including having the power to give out defect and infringement notices and the ability to seize a noisy motorcycle.
Police have also used plain clothes officers on unmarked departmental motorcycles and visited offenders at their homes.
Mr Finch said that although there was still work to be done, he was pleased with what police had been able to achieve in their efforts so far.
‘‘I was really thrilled with the answer and to get some knowledge of what the police are doing,’’ he said.
‘‘If we keep working on the situation I think that we’ll just have a better environment in which to live.’’
