Dept. of Pollution Control will arrest drivers with loud vehicles in BKK, beginning in May.

The Department of Pollution Control will arrest drivers of vehicles which emit loud noises in Bangkok and peripheries, beginning May 1.

Director of the Office of Air and Noise Quality Management of the Department of Pollution Control Mingkwan Wichayarangsarit (มิ่งขวัญ วิชยารังสฤษดิ์) presided over a meeting of related agencies overseeing noise pollution yesterday. The meeting deliberated measures to arrest drivers of vehicles which emit loud noises in the capital and adjacent provinces, beginning May 1. The measures will focus on motorcycles which have been modified to emit loud noises. The violators will face a fine of 1,000 baht.

The Department has also opened up a call center 1650 to receive complaints on loud vehicles and sub-standard motorcycle modifying shops, while organizing a public relations campaign on noise level survey to promote the use of standardized in Bangkok and nearby provinces. The Department will hold a public conference on the new measure on April 26.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 March 2006

Pollution Control Department to control noise pollution

The Pollution Control Department is moving forward in controlling noise emissions from vehicles starting May 1st.

Mrs. Mingkhwan Vijayarangsarit (มิ่งขวัญ วิชยารังสฤษดิ์), director of Air and Noise Quality control of the Pollution control department, announced that authorities will begin monitoring and fining vehicles not in compliance with noise emission standards in Bangkok and adjoining provinces. Fines not exceeding 1000 baht will take effect on May 1. A call center number [1650] has also been established for the purpose of reporting noise pollution.

The Pollution Control Department has conducted a public relations campaign surveying the amount of noise in each area of Bangkok, and has advocated the use of mufflers which reduce noise emissions. The department is in the process of solving the issue of teenage motorcycle racing.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 March 2006

About time.

Let's hope this includes trains too (admitteldy, this is probably unlikely!), I live near the train tracks at Phaya Thai and sometimes if a train goes past when the windows are open you have to shout to be heard above the noise. The engine is often deafening on its own, and then they couple that with a ridiculously loud blast on the horn as well.

But other than that, I've heard trucks, busses and tuk tuks that really do deserve a fine of at least 1,000 Baht. Sounds like they're just targeting motorbikes though...