Laws on no backbox?

Daaryl · 22-02-2016 2:17pm #1

Can somebody help me out here, My E36 got seized for having no backbox on it, There was a complete exhaust system on it, But just a small bit past the rear wheels to the rear bumper was straight piped, The exhuast still have a cat and a silencer in it so it wasn't loud at bar it idling and small bit loud in 1st and 2nd and it was grand then, Is it legal to have it like that with the cat and silencer in it? Or do i need the backbox too? The car is booked in for the test for the 3rd of march, I had another e36 with the exact same exhaust straight piped from just behind the rear wheels to the rear bumper and nothing got said in the test centre just the fact it was 104dbs, So could anybody shed some light on the legal side of having a backbox or needing one if a cat and the silencer is still in it?

biko · 22-02-2016 2:25pm

Moved from Motors to Legal Discussion. Feel free to bounce back.

bear1 · 22-02-2016 2:26pm

So they outright seized the car? What did they stop you for?
The only thing that springs to mind is the possibility that it's illegal to drive with a defective exhaust.

Little CuChulainn · 22-02-2016 2:30pm

Was your NCT out of date?

Daaryl · 22-02-2016 2:35pm

bear1 wrote: »

So they outright seized the car? What did they stop you for?
The only thing that springs to mind is the possibility that it's illegal to drive with a defective exhaust.

Basically i was at a car cruise, heard about it off one of my friends so popped out for a look, Parked up next to me friend, Then just drove around for a look and the gaurd started shouting at me and telling me to stop, He then gave out about the car rubbing when it wasn't, Started giving out about the stickers on the side back windows, etc, He seized my car and a mk5 golf for a yellow reg out of about 40-50 cars there

Daaryl · 22-02-2016 2:36pm

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

Was your NCT out of date?

It's up the 3rd of march, Just out of tax since january

Little CuChulainn · 22-02-2016 2:43pm

Your car can be seized for examination if they believe it is dangerous or defective. Sounds like what was done to you. It'll be examined by a trained Garda PSV inspector and returned to you.

As to the exhaust, I think the current regulation is

65. The exhaust pipe on a vehicle shall be so fitted or shielded that no inflammable material can fall or be thrown upon it from any other part of the vehicle and that it is not likely to cause a fire through proximity to any inflammable material on the vehicle, and its outlet shall be placed on the right side of the vehicle and far enough to the rear to prevent, as far as practicable, fumes from entering the vehicle.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1963/si/190/made/en/print#zzsi190y1963a65

Gatling · 22-02-2016 2:52pm

This the 2nd car you had siezed this year

bear1 · 22-02-2016 3:37pm

Daaryl wrote: »

Basically i was at a car cruise, heard about it off one of my friends so popped out for a look, Parked up next to me friend, Then just drove around for a look and the gaurd started shouting at me and telling me to stop, He then gave out about the car rubbing when it wasn't, Started giving out about the stickers on the side back windows, etc, He seized my car and a mk5 golf for a yellow reg out of about 40-50 cars there

So your car was seized for having a uk style reg?
If there were 40/50 cars there then there must have been something that caught their attention.

bear1 · 22-02-2016 3:42pm

I mean if you sum it up its a bit more than a missing back box.

1) incorrect number plates
2) no tax
3) louder than normal
4) lowered heavily I'm guessing?
5) stickers on the windows which could be obstructive?
6) no back box

I mean when you hear it like that it paints a different type of picture.

22-02-2016 3:43pm

bear1 wrote: »

So your car was seized for having a uk style reg?
If there were 40/50 cars there then there must have been something that caught their attention.

His for the exhaust, golf for reg is how I read it.

NinjaTruncs · 22-02-2016 3:44pm

I read it that the yellow reg is the reason the other car was seized, not the op's.

colm_mcm · 22-02-2016 3:45pm

Wow, you're like a Garda magnet!

bear1 · 22-02-2016 4:16pm

I've no idea then, I thought both cars were lifted for having the yellow plates.
On top of the other items.

ohnonotgmail · 22-02-2016 4:37pm

bear1 wrote: »

I've no idea then, I thought both cars were lifted for having the yellow plates.
On top of the other items.

the OPs car doesnt have yellow plates from what i can tell. Their other issues are enough for guards to take action.

SuperS54 · 22-02-2016 4:52pm

Daaryl wrote: »

the fact it was 4 dbs over the legal limit, So could anybody shed some light on the legal side of having a backbox or needing one if a cat and the silencer is still in it?

Haven't you answered your own question here?

two wheels good · 22-02-2016 5:48pm

The Decibel scale is a logarithmic scale.
For every 10dB increase the level of noise is doubled.
4dB is a significant margin

Personally, I congratulate the Garda for his/her diligence. Loud exhausts are an anti-social nuisance.

Daaryl · 22-02-2016 7:19pm

bear1 wrote: »

I mean if you sum it up its a bit more than a missing back box.

1) incorrect number plates
2) no tax
3) louder than normal
4) lowered heavily I'm guessing?
5) stickers on the windows which could be obstructive?
6) no back box

I mean when you hear it like that it paints a different type of picture.

1, Plates are correct on the car and are not illegal!
2, Alot of people leave the tax run out a month..
3, Yes it is loud, But it's not stupid loud to where it annoys everybody
4, It's low but it's not rubbing every second low, Only rubs if there's somebody in the back, My old e36 was a bit lower and went through the nct with no issues.
5, Stickers aren't obstructive where they are!
6, I know there's no backbox as i thought it was fine as my last few cars went through the nct with no back boxs in them and had cats and silencers and nothing was said.

TitianGerm · 22-02-2016 7:42pm

OP the guard most likely siezed your car because the Tax was out.

If you've no tax you shouldn't be on the road. Simples.

Daaryl · 22-02-2016 7:51pm

emmetkenny wrote: »

OP the guard most likely siezed your car because the Tax was out.

If you've no tax you shouldn't be on the road. Simples.

Nope, It got took for a psv and the first thing he asked me was the diff welded, Even though if he drove it in a small circle you'd know if it was welded or not

TitianGerm · 22-02-2016 7:55pm

Daaryl wrote: »

Nope, It got took for a psv and the first thing he asked me was the diff welded, Even though if he drove it in a small circle you'd know if it was welded or not

If he took two cars out of 40/50 you two must have really stood out though.

Best advice anyone can give you is make sure everything is road legal and then you won't be singled out.

I assume you've informed your insurance company that the car is modified? If not I believe your policy is nul and void which could land you in a lot of trouble if there was ever an accident.

Little CuChulainn · 22-02-2016 7:56pm

emmetkenny wrote: »

OP the guard most likely siezed your car because the Tax was out.

If you've no tax you shouldn't be on the road. Simples.

Tax has to be out two clear months for it to be seized.

Daaryl wrote: »

Nope, It got took for a psv and the first thing he asked me was the diff welded, Even though if he drove it in a small circle you'd know if it was welded or not

He's not qualified to make that assessment

gctest50 · 22-02-2016 7:58pm

Originally Posted by Daaryl
the fact it was 4 dbs over the legal limit ,
So could anybody shed some light on the legal side of having a backbox or needing one if a cat and the silencer is still in it?

the fact it was more than twice the legal limit

the little dBs are logarithmic

Daaryl · 22-02-2016 7:59pm

gctest50 wrote: »

the fact it was more than twice the legal limit

the little dBs are logarithmic

No haha, I meant to say it was at 104dbs, My bad for that

gctest50 · 22-02-2016 8:07pm

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

.............
He's not qualified to make that assessment

https://twitter.com/gardatraffic/status/552964126595874817

Daaryl · 22-02-2016 8:33pm

gctest50 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/gardatraffic/status/552964126595874817

That's actually a psv inspector, Not a gaurd that's traffic corr

colm_mcm · 22-02-2016 8:37pm

Daaryl wrote: »

1, Plates are correct on the car and are not illegal!
2, Alot of people leave the tax run out a month..
3, Yes it is loud, But it's not stupid loud to where it annoys everybody
4, It's low but it's not rubbing every second low, Only rubs if there's somebody in the back, My old e36 was a bit lower and went through the nct with no issues.
5, Stickers aren't obstructive where they are!
6, I know there's no backbox as i thought it was fine as my last few cars went through the nct with no back boxs in them and had cats and silencers and nothing was said.

isnt the bottom of the numbers on your square-ish rear number plate obscured by a surround?

Daaryl · 22-02-2016 8:46pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

isnt the bottom of the numbers on your square-ish rear number plate obscured by a surround?

Yeah it is only a small little bit, You can still read the plate perfect, Nothing got said about it so far anyway so it must be fine!

Daaryl · 22-02-2016 8:48pm

two wheels good wrote: »

The Decibel scale is a logarithmic scale.
For every 10dB increase the level of noise is doubled.
4dB is a significant margin

Personally, I congratulate the Garda for his/her diligence. Loud exhausts are an anti-social nuisance.

That's your own opinion, Keep it yourself, I'm sure alot of people on this site hate or don't mind them!

bear1 · 22-02-2016 9:10pm

I'm confused by all this. Guard spots your car and think it deserves another look.
Finds a few things wrong.
Did the guy then get on stomach and look for something wrong?

Daaryl · 22-02-2016 9:12pm

bear1 wrote: »

I'm confused by all this. Guard spots your car and think it deserves another look.
Finds a few things wrong.
Did the guy then get on stomach and look for something wrong? How did they find out there was no back box?

He was trying his best to find something wrong with the car so he could take it, He was looking under the car and saw it had no back box!

Laws on no backbox?

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