Georgia to Start Roadside Vehicle Noise Checks From September 1
Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced a new procedure for checking vehicle noise levels during road use. From September 1, 2026, authorized units will be able to measure vehicle noise with certified portable equipment.
The devices purchased by the ministry comply with the ISO 5130:2019 standard, which means roadside checks will rely on actual measurements instead of subjective assessment.
What limit applies?
In populated areas, during night hours - from 23:00 to 08:00 - vehicle noise during operation must not exceed 80 decibels.
What are the penalties?
- First violation - GEL 100 fine and 10 license points deducted;
- Repeated violation - GEL 200 fine and 20 points deducted;
- Third and every following violation - GEL 300 fine and 30 points deducted.
What does ISO 5130:2019 actually mean?
The police announcement does not publish the full roadside test sequence, but ISO 5130:2019 is not just a generic reference to a sound meter. It is a stationary road-vehicle sound-pressure measurement method for vehicles with internal-combustion engines, including category L vehicles such as motorcycles.
In that method, the microphone is placed 0.5 m from the exhaust reference point at a 45° angle, at the same height as the outlet and not lower than 0.2 m from the ground. For close outlets connected to one silencer, one measurement may be enough; separated outlets or separate silencers are measured outlet by outlet.
Is the RPM defined too?
Yes. The ISO/ECE stationary-noise method links engine speed to the speed where the engine makes its rated maximum net power, usually marked as S. For motorcycles, the reference method uses 75% of S when S is 5,000 rpm or lower, and 50% of S when S is above 5,000 rpm. During measurement, engine speed is held within about ±5%.
Example: Ducati lists the Monster 1200 at 147 hp at 9,250 rpm. Under that reference method, 50% of S is 4,625 rpm, with an approximate ±5% window of 4,394-4,856 rpm. This is why homologation documents often show a value like dB(A) at a specific rpm, not just a bare decibel number.
Important caveat: Georgia's government decree says the detailed conformity-check procedure is defined by a Minister of Internal Affairs order. Until that order is public, the safe wording is that ISO 5130 explains the technical method behind the equipment; it does not yet prove that every Georgian roadside check will follow the exact Ducati example above.
What does this mean for riders?
Riders should be especially careful if their motorcycle has a modified, sport, damaged, or unusually loud exhaust system. Because an ISO 5130:2019-type check is not just a by-ear judgement or an idle-only measurement, a loud motorcycle should be checked before September 1.
The practical advice is simple: keep the exhaust system in proper condition, do not remove noise-reducing components, and make sure any aftermarket exhaust setup is compatible with the legal limits before installing it.
