In Taiwan, the ear-splitting sound from speeding scooters and modified motorbikes is the bane of many peoples’ lives, disrupting sleep and shattering the peace.
At a press conference on July 1, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) announced new measures, aimed specifically at tackling the problem of noise pollution from aftermarket exhausts retrofitted to scooters. The measures include providing guidance to vehicle manufacturers to encourage on-the-spot inspections of exhausts, a multi-law enforcement agency clamp down on offending scooter riders at noise hot spots and use of noise detection cameras. The EPA hopes the combined measures will help to improve the quality of peoples’ lives, particularly as we move into the summer months when joyriding is more frequent.
First, local government-level environmental protection bureaus, local police and regulatory bodies have combined forces to enforce the law on noise pollution. In a break from the past practice of carrying out random checks, since July 1 enforcement of the law has become more centralized and coordinated, fusing together the individual efforts of municipal cities and counties. Authorities say they will crack down particularly harshly on offending vehicles within known hot spot areas.
照片：中央社／環保署提供
Photo: CNA, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Administration
Second, at the news conference the EPA said the crackdown by local agencies and the police will be complimented by an integrated technological approach which uses noise-measuring equipment together with the vehicle license plate recognition system. Equipment will be placed in hot spot areas and will single out vehicles that exceed statutory noise restrictions. Offenders will be fined a minimum of NT$1,800 and a maximum of NT$3,600.
Third, the EPA will provide training and guidance to manufacturers and importers of vehicles so that they take the initiative to check and certify retrofitted exhausts. Under the proposed scheme, a “certified” label would be affixed to exhausts that pass testing. The EPA believes this will help to reduce the number of scooter owners opting to attach aftermarket exhausts to their vehicles and will also reduce the number of vehicles on the road that are either uncertified or have not been checked by the local environment protection bureau.
The EPA reminded the public that any scooter riders who refuse inspection by the authorities and are found to be using uncertified or unverified retrofitted exhausts, can be fined a minimum of NT$3,000 up to a maximum of NT$30,000. Offenders will also be made to reinstate the original exhaust and obtain a “verified” label. Further, if while undergoing testing a vehicle is found to exceed noise restriction levels, the owner will be fined between NT$1,800 and NT$3,600.
Photo: Wei Chin-yun, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者魏瑾筠
(Translated by Edward Jones, Taipei Times)
高噪音車輛呼嘯而過擾人安寧，環保署七月一日表示，即日起除輔導相關廠商主動查驗排氣管，也將聯合各單位在高噪音熱區加強執法，同步啟用「聲音照相」技術，強力取締噪音超標。
行政院環境保護署七月一日召開「改管噪音要認證聲音照相大執法維護安寧好生活」記者會。環保署指出暑假飆車問題較嚴重，針對噪音擾民問題，七月一日起祭出三個新作為，改善民眾生活品質。
Photo: CNA, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Administration
照片：中央社／環保署提供
首先是環（地方政府環保局）、警（警政機關）、監（監理機關）聯合大執法，對照過去執法較是常態隨機模式，七月一日起，環警監將集中執法，甚至進行跨縣市聯合執法，在高噪音熱區加強取締。
其次，環保署表示，搭配環警監聯合執法，整合噪音測量儀器及車牌辨識等系統的「聲音照相」技術也同步啟用，將在熱區擺放設備，篩選高噪音車輛進行查證取締，超過機動車輛噪音管制標準，將開罰新台幣一千八百元以上、三千六百元以下罰鍰。
再者，環保署將輔導車商或進口商主動進行改裝排氣管源頭噪音認證，通過的產品會貼上合格標籤，藉此減少車主改裝排氣管時，使用未認證或未經環保局查驗合格的排氣管。
Photo: Wei Chin-yun, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者魏瑾筠
環保署提醒，萬一車主改裝使用到未認證或未經查驗合格的排氣管，可能會被攔檢發現，若拒檢可依噪音管制法規定處三千元以上、三萬元以下罰鍰，並改回合格產品、貼上合格標籤；檢驗時若噪音超標，將處一千八百元以上、三千六百元以下罰鍰。
(中央社)
Follow up
讀後練習
Questions
1. The government last week launched a new campaign to tackle summertime drunk driving. (True/false)
2. Noise detection equipment used by officials is able to take an image of vehicles’ license plates. (True/false)
3. Police carrying out road-side checks will issue a minimum fine of NT$30,000 for scooter owners found to have installed non-certified aftermarket exhausts. (True/false)
4. The Environmental Protection Administration is encouraging scooter and motorbike manufacturers to carry out in-house checks of exhausts to ensure they comply with regulations. (True/false)
5. Are you or your family affected by noisy scooters or any other form of noise pollution? Discuss.
6. Should the government do more to clamp down on noisy scooters, such as banning the sale of certain exhaust systems? What more could be done to improve the situation? Discuss.
(Edward Jones, Taipei Times)
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