THE streets of Lyme Regis are quieter now that police are targeting noisy oversized exhausts with new high-tech monitoring equipment.

Patrols at the weekend stopped four vehicles and found three over the limit.

PC Richard Winward said: “We get numerous calls and comments to us, complaining about cars with oversize exhausts making excessive noise.

“We are now able to prosecute offenders, and we have been doing so this week.

“This weekend we tested four vehicles. Three were over the limit permitted, and were issued with fixed penalty notices.”

PC Winward, said the Safer Neighbourhood Team wants information from residents of Lyme Regis, Charmouth and surrounding villages about any vehicle that they suspect to be excessively noisy.

He added: “Usually, these cars stand out as the exhaust tail pipe is much bigger that a standard exhaust.

“Police will also check with the driver’s insurance company to make sure they have been informed that a non-standard exhaust has been fitted.

“It may be that they invalidate the policy, and if there is no insurance, then we will seize the car.”

The weekend also saw two drivers issued with Section 59 and given written warnings after a Charmouth resident complained about bad driving in the village.

PC Winward said both vehicles involved also had excessively noisy exhaust systems, which were being changed before the cars are allowed back on the road.

A Section 59 warning lasts a year, and if any further complaint is received within the year, the vehicle can be seized by police, he added.