The police seized 65 vehicles and showed 165 “Auto-Poser” – most of the time there was a bus – Canton (Solothurn) – Solothurn

This year, the Solothurn canton police took action against so-called “auto-posers”. That’s why car buffs who make a lot of noise in their vehicles to get attention. And at the same time breaking the law. The canton police have so far filed 165 criminal complaints, as they write in a press release. 65 vehicles were seized.

“In 90 cases, the suspects caused unnecessary noise with their vehicles, for example by revving the engine or driving at high revs in low gears,” the statement said.

75 of the 165 criminal charges were issued for driving inappropriate vehicles, continues the Kapo. Most of the time the exhaust system or engine control has been modified. In recent years, the Solothurn canton police have received more and more complaints about deliberately caused car noise. In order to better take action against the phenomenon, the police specifically trained employees in all regions in 2019 and purchased special measuring devices in early 2020 to determine the sound level.

Dominik Jakob, Kapo’s Head of Traffic Technology, cannot accurately quantify how many campaigns Kapo has run this year against the “Auto Poser.” “We do not keep statistics of individual phenomena,” he explains. There are cases especially in the cities of Solothurn and Olten and their surroundings, but also in Gäu, in the Grenchen region and in Wasseramt. There are few or no cases in the Bucheggberg or Schwarzbubenland district.

Among other things, due to the spring closure, the police had more capacity to carry out more checks in this area. Buses are distributed more frequently, says Jakob. There is a bus when a car makes unnecessary noise. It does not matter if a vehicle is legal or not.

There is also a bus for vehicles that are really legal, but have a driving mode that is not allowed in Switzerland. A car is retired if it has been changed “of another type”, explains Jakob. For example, if a center silencer has been removed.

Rarely aggression

Most of the time, the controls work without a hitch, emphasizes Jakob. “We rarely encounter assaults,” said Kapo’s chief of traffic engineering. “Most of those affected know that they are breaking the law. Even if they sometimes pretend to be ignorant. Cars are their hobby and they are very familiar with this area. ”99 percent of buses are distributed by noise, not risky driving maneuvers.

When the police stop a car, they are checked by experts from the motor vehicle inspection department (mfk). Illegal changes will be reversed if possible. Only when vehicles are back within legal range can owners pick them up again.

Prevention also plays a role in the fight against “auto-posers”: among other things, Kapo takes up the theme in courses on prevention of traffic accidents in professional schools.

Police photos from September 2020: