Deputy Prow said “the Committee for Home Affairs and Guernsey Police are aware of the public concern around noisy vehicles”. 

"There is a recognition that the current legislation is somewhat limited in tackling the issue. This continues to be a challenge [but] the Police [do] take action wherever possible, within the legal limitations. 

“A number of vehicles have been taken off the road through this process [the vehicle defect rectification scheme].” 

The VDRS requires the owner of a vehicle to fix an issue within 14 days of a notice being given, or else face being taken off the road. 

Deputy Gollop was then told that Guernsey Police work with Education, Sport and Culture and the island’s schools to make sure young people have the correct exhausts on their bikes. 

A supplementary question was posed to Deputy Prow by Deputy Chris Blinn, who said it was once stated, during a past meeting, that there isn’t sufficient resource within the police to stop bikes. 

Deputy Prow said: “I think...the answers that the senior police officers gave [at the time] were more around the concentration on road safety and their ability to investigate noisy vehicles in the round. 

“The question does remain that legislation does need to be reviewed,” he said, indicating that Home Affairs is currently working with the Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure “to tackle this issue”. 

Pictured: Deputy Prow.

Deputy Gollop said he had gathered from “better informed people” that it might be possible to ban or restrict changes to bikes. 

“So, could a new route of enforcement be to... prevent alteration of motorbikes...?” 

Deputy Prow said: “There is a defect retrofit rectification scheme, so defective exhausts and illegal exhausts can be dealt with under that.” 

Deputy Gollop then turned is sights on E&I and the President of the Committee, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez. 

“In conjunction with law enforcement has the Committee been able to explore Jersey and other comparable jurisdictions in finding effective means of discouraging noisy and anti-social motorcycles and their riders?” he asked. 

Deputy de Sausmarez responded by referring to the joint work being undertaken by her Committee and Home Affairs, which will involve proposals and options for bringing Guernsey in line with the UN convention on road traffic. 

“Whilst this work is ongoing. It is worth noting that there is already a legal requirement on the owner or operator of any vehicle to comply with existing legislation and the requirements of their insurer.” 

Pictured: Deputy de Sausmarez.

Deputy Gollop found out through questioning that there isn’t a specific intention to develop or continue any existing campaign to promote “quieter living streets”. 

"[I am] disappointed that there isn't within existing resources a possibility of extending the usual quality communications and educational campaigns... to improve our road experience.” 

In response, Deputy de Sausmarez said that if Deputy Gollop felt like it was a worthwhile campaign, perhaps he should pick up the baton. 

"The States does not have a monopoly on education campaigns and messages to the community. And I would suggest that this might be something that other organisations might be well placed to consider.”