Clamp down on illegal exhausts

Hampshire Police has vowed to clamp down on illegal motorcycle exhausts, but also reassured riders that only those who are breaking the law will be targeted.
The police response followed a joint campaign mounted by 13 parish councils in the area surrounding the A32 in Hampshire, a popular route for riders with stop-offs including Loomies Café.

Hampshire police’s Inspector Steve Wakeford said: “We do take this issue very seriously. However, motorcycles are inherently loud and the noise heard may not only be caused by exhaust. If a motorcycle is stopped then it will be checked for illegal parts. Non-road use exhaust systems are mostly marked as such, and are immediately identifiable.

“We have increased our response to these issues over recent years and this is set to continue throughout 2014 with visible enforcement. This issue is not just confined to Hampshire and is something being faced by police forces across the UK.”

Insp Wakeford added that Loomies already helps out with parking for police Bikesafe courses. He said that the force’s priority is reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on the road, and that patrols will be increased over the summer.

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