Are there noise restrictions for motorbikes in French rural areas?
Motorcycles can be extremely loud and cause a nuisance for residents
Police officers in major cities such as Paris patrol the streets, trying to catch motorcyclists breaching noise restrictions... but this is more difficult in rural areas
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Reader Question: Motorcyclists passing through my village make excessive noise, are there laws restricting how loud this can be? I believe many have tampered with their exhaust which must surely be illegal. What can I do?
Laws on motorcycle sound emissions exist, and apply equally in both rural and urban areas.
Depending on the size of a motorcycle’s engine, the sound emitted must be below a certain level, according to R318-3 of the Highway Code.
The limits apply to recordings when a motorcycle’s engine is running at 50% speed. They must be below:
71 decibels for engines up to 50 cm3
75 decibels for engines between 50cm3 and 80cm3
77 decibels for engines between 80cm3 and 175 cm3
80 decibels for engines above 175 cm3
Motorcyclists who eclipse this risk a fine of €135 (and an additional €11 fine for non-approved changes to the vehicle’s exhaust or silencer), plus the immobilisation of the motorcycle.
Of course, it is practically impossible to record this for motorcyclists passing your home, and even if you do, your readings would not be counted the same way as those from a police officer.
In more built-up areas, such as Paris, officers may be equipped with specialist equipment to make sure motorcycles are conforming with sound regulations, but this is unlikely in rural areas.
You can contact the mairie, and see if they can place signs around, but unfortunately there is little you can do as an individual.
If the noises are from the same vehicles, consistent, and you know the drivers, you may be able to lodge a complaint over the drivers breaking general noise pollution rules.
You can find out more about these – and how to lodge complaints – below
Read more: How to handle disputes with your neighbours in France
Roadworthiness tests may help with problem
New roadworthy tests for motorcycles introduced in 2024 may benefit you.
Motorcyclists are not supposed to tamper with their exhausts, as this makes them likely to fall foul of the rules that standardise the vehicles (réglementation homologation moto).
Until now, it has been difficult to see when a motorcycle has been tampered with in this way, especially, again, in rural areas with fewer police officers.
With motorcycles now needing to pass contôle technique (CT) tests, their noise levels will be recorded as part of the exam, and they will be scrutinised much more closely to see if alterations to the vehicle break any rules.
Although there are currently limitations in how data is processed, better measuring tools should be available by the end of 2024, which can be used to check that motorbikes do not exceed noise levels.
Read more: What are France's contrôle technique rules for motorbikes?
