The Shillong Traffic police have again launched a crackdown on cars and bikers with modified silencers and seized 10 of them in the last seven days.
While police have been on a drive to reduce excessive noise, specifically targeting vehicles that have illegally modified their exhaust pipes, lawbreakers continue to emerge despite warnings and orders.
In December last year, Meghalaya police detected 320 illegally modified silencers and destroyed 181 of them with a road roller. But this seemed to leave offenders unaffected.
However, the STP in a statement said operations are still ongoing, including checks to curb the menace of overtaking and reckless driving in the city.
Shillong has recently been facing a serious problem with traffic congestion, and people prefer travelling by two-wheelers. However, the number of accidents involving two-wheelers is also increasing, police said.
According to the Motor Vehicle Act, the sound level produced by a motorcycle’s exhaust system shall not exceed 80 decibels.
It may be mentioned that the Transport Department has already banned the use of pressure horns, altered silencers and other devices beyond the permissible limit, which have the potential to cause deleterious effects on human health and psychological well being of the public.
An order to clamp down on noise-making vehicles in the district was also issued by the East Khasi Hills District Magistrate in November, 2023 and ordered vendors and workshops selling and/or fitting modified exhaust pipes to cease immediately or be liable for punishment.
