The noise meter is a mobile certified device for measuring the noise of stationary vehicles, which traffic police officers in Prague have used since 29 September 2026. The device was purchased by the Prague municipal authority and lent to the police for permanent use at a price of CZK 260,400 excluding VAT [3].
Purpose and operation
The noise meter is meant to detect cases where the exhaust systems of single-track and two-track vehicles do not match the parameters set by the manufacturer [1]. According to Jiří Tichý of the traffic police service department, these are mainly missing catalytic converters or silencers [1]. When the engine is revved to higher speeds, the device can determine whether the vehicle complies with the applicable regulations and whether it bears an illegally obtained stamp from a technical inspection station [2]. Based on the measurement results, the police can ban the vehicle from driving and have it towed at the owner's expense [2]. According to the police, owners of vehicles whose exhaust is louder but corresponds to the manufacturer's technical specification or an approved modification have no need to fear the checks [1].
According to the municipal authority, the device is the only system of its kind on the market equipped with a calibration by an accredited laboratory authorised by the Ministry of Transport, and it meets the ministry's requirements for measuring the noise of stationary vehicles [1].
Deployment and first experience
The head of the Prague police, Petr Matějček, said that officers will use the noise meter in everyday checks in Prague and above all at meets of sports and tuning vehicles [1][3]. According to Matějček, participants in such meets are surprised that the police have this device [3]. One of the first live measurements took place in mid-September 2026 at a meet of sports and tuning vehicles in Štěrboholy, where officers, together with municipal staff, checked several dozen cars and found illegal modifications of the exhaust system in nine cases, classified as a so-called dangerous defect of type C, which does not allow the vehicle to continue driving [2][3].
About twenty Prague traffic police officers were trained to operate the device, and further training is to continue with the help of the device's manufacturer and municipal experts [1][3].
Context and plans
Deputy Mayor Jaromír Beránek (Pirates) said that Prague could acquire another one or two noise meters in the future [2]. According to Matějček, the device could be used not only at tuning meets but also in regular road checks [2]. According to Deník, Prague took inspiration for acquiring the device from the Olomouc Region, where a noise meter was bought because of noisy passes by motorcyclists through the Červenohorské sedlo pass [2].
The municipal authority is also preparing to buy a roller dynamometer from the Netherlands for CZK 420,000, intended for checking the output of illegally modified e-bikes and electric scooters exceeding the permitted speed of 25 kilometres per hour. According to the municipal authority, it would be the only such device used in road checks in Czechia [1]. According to Beránek, the city could obtain the mobile roller dynamometer in October [2].
Sources
- iDNES.cz — 29 September 2026
- Blesk.cz — 29 September 2026
- Pražský deník — 29 September 2026