I was just having a few runs down the lane today, and somebody from the local parish council came and had a word.

Apparently there have been a couple of complaints about the 'racket' and the speed down the lane. He mentioned the police knew about it (I call bs on that one).

This lane is probably 150yds long and goes into a sort of cul-de-sac. This was about 20mins ago, so when most people are at work or out of their houses (I know my car isn't quiet).

Thing is, my car passed SVA on noise so technically is legal. I wasn't even going fast, it just sounds like I was! The only point where I accelerated was on a straight bit wide enough for two cars, with fields on each side (no houses).

Bah humbug! No more drives down the lane for a bit

It wouldn't stop me. If I knew my car was legal and that I wasn't speeding or driving dangerously, I'd carry on. You can only be prosecuted for BREAKING the law.

Best not to antagonise the neighbour hood too much though

If your car's road legal why not go out for a proper blat rather than toeing it up and down the lane?

There's a lad opposite me with a little pit bike in the garage. gets home from school every afternoon fires it up and sits there revving it for 10 mins before putting it away. It's not the end of the world, but it is feckin' irritating after a while.

I'm with Smart51 - you have a right to do what you're doing. It's not illegal so I would carry on doing it.

I may even do it a bit more often just to provoke the situation and get it clarified - but only if I was sure I was right

in other words, no one else has complained but that nosey busy body

you find them everywhere, I don't think I'd have been very polite with him

Last bloke that complained about mine (when I was doing nothing wrong whatsoever) got an earfull of 7000revs and 2 black lines left outside his house....

Hasnt said anything since.

Well as of yet the car isn't road legal, but has passed noise on its first SVA test. It could be argued that the lane is a public highway, but only by the very loosest sense of the word

When it is finished though, for some strange reason as soon as I go past his house, it might get a little noisier...

I wouldn't drive it down that lane again if you're not road legal yet :/

Some people really need to get a hobby, there are lots of people who are deeply deeply unhappy who make it their life to look out their curtains and look for things to moan about. I recently took my motorhome to a village for a wedding, we had permission to be where we were from the property owner. I had to reverse a few times in an austin powers way (tight yard) and this woman came out saying

"You came very close to my wall! I'd be amazed if you didn't hit it!"

Me: "If I had hit it there wouldn't be a wall and can you see that? *points up to back of truck* That's a reversing camera, I can see exactly how far I am from the wall"

Her: "oh" no appology or anything, I did pwn her hard though. I WIN.

If your car isnt road legal then it isnt taxed, and the police can crush untaxed cars cant they?!?!

But once its legal, drive past them in first.

No the DVLA can crush untaxed cars, the police would seize your vehicle for no insurance and summons you to court.
I'd just be careful and not go down there again until you're all legal. Of course when you're legal I'd make a point of driving past the fella's house daily, not taking the mick or owt, just to let him know that you're there and doing it legally and that he can't say or do nowt

As someone who suffers excessive noise from bikes with open exhausts and cars with open windows and music blaring out, I would ask why you want to annoy your neighbours just to make a point.

A "public road " is a road to which the public have access.
So if you don't have tax and insurance you're laying yourself wide open to a complaint to the police after which your car can be crushed. Why go out of your way to upset people.?

To be pedantic, you have to be 'road legal' if you're in a 'public place'. That includes car parks, grass verges, forecourts and even your own driveway if there is no 'mechanical restrictive device' fitted (closed gates).
Don't ask me how I know!!

quote:

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Originally posted by Macbeast
As someone who suffers excessive noise from bikes with open exhausts and cars with open windows and music blaring out, I would ask why you want to annoy your neighbours just to make a point.

A "public road " is a road to which the public have access.
So if you don't have tax and insurance you're laying yourself wide open to a complaint to the police after which your car can be crushed. Why go out of your way to upset people.?

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Thanks James - good decision

quote:

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Originally posted by owelly
To be pedantic, you have to be 'road legal' if you're in a 'public place'. That includes car parks, grass verges, forecourts and even your own driveway if there is no 'mechanical restrictive device' fitted (closed gates).
Don't ask me how I know!!

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Nah not fully true. A public place is defined as a place to which the public have access, implied or assumed, through payment or otherwise. Your driveway is not a public place as you wouldn't reasonably give permission for all and sundry to use it, you don't charge people to park there and there's no signs saying open between 0900-1700 hours.
So for example when Tesco closes at 2200 hours, then their car park technically reverts to being a private place. Forgetting cash machines, car washes etc. but you get the idea.

[Edited on 1/7/09 by mistergrumpy]

in an ideal world you should have just run him over

in reality. say sorry explain that you didnt realise it was so loud. it pays to keep the pain in the ass neighbours happy as they are usually the ones around in the day who stop pikeys breaking into your garage.