Car Alarms

The car alarm market can be split into two areas:
· Audible car alarms (which would normally include one or two integrated engine immobilisers)
· Engine immobilisers without audible functions
Nearly all car alarms are remotely controlled and offer an intrusion alarm if entry is made to the vehicle via doors, boot and bonnet. Most of the current generation of remote controls would be 'code hopping' or have random code encryption. This means that if a new and different random code is transmitted each time the remote control is optimised. This makes it difficult if not impossible for the code to be duplicated by a car thief armed with a digital scanner or code grabbing device.A car alarm will also usually be fitted with interior detectors to sense an intrusion into the vehicle without opening the doors.

These detectors can be one of several types:

· Ultrasonic detectors operate by sensing movement within the vehicle
· Piezo impact sensors trigger on impact on the exterior of the vehicle

Microwave sensors are normally used only for soft top card where movement detectors are not appropriate in the absence of a fully sealed cabin and these react to a change of mass state in the vehicle.
Air displacement sensors react to a change in air pressure inside the vehicle (window breaking, door opening etc.)
Glass break detectors are sensors tuned to the audible frequency of glass breaking and trigger the alarm when this sound is generated by a thief smashing a window.

These sensors can be fitted individually or in combination depending on the level of security required.
A car alarm works on several different levels.
     ·   If a thief forces open the door, boot or bonnet this causes the switch connected to these various points to change state and trigger the alarm system.
     ·    If a thief breaks a window to access contents of the vehicle without opening the door the internal sensors will detect the intrusion and trigger the alarm.
     ·    The integrated immobiliser (s) will prevent the vehicle from being started.
When the alarm triggers, the siren will sound and the vehicles indicator lights will flash to attract attention.
Engine immobilisers are also available without any audible alarm functions. These purely disable several points in the engine (typically electric fuel pump, starter or ignition) when armed. A requirement of Australian Standards and most insurers is the engine immobiliser's must 'passive' arm. This means that the device does not rely on the car owner to switch it on. If the system has not been turned on by the owner within 40 seconds of the ignition being turned off, the immobiliser will automatically switch itself on.
Engine immobilisers can be operated by a variety of methods.
      ·    Remote control operation is often used and many engine immobilisers using remote arming will also operate the vehicles central door locking to provide keyless entry.
      ·    Transponder operation works on proximity and a small transponder tag containing a microchip is carried on your key ring. When this tag comes within proximity of a receiver unit, usually mounted behind the ignition lock or dash, it turns the immobilisers off so the vehicle can be started.
      ·    Other immobilisers are touch key type where a small coded tag is inserted into a receptacle mounted on the dash to turn off or a coded keypad, which requires the entry of a 4 or 5 digit PIN to disarm the system.
Most car alarms also offer convenience options such as remote keyless entry, remote windup of electric windows, remote boot opening etc.
Car alarms have been part of the Australian motoring landscape for over 25 years and there are an abundance of established professional car alarm companies.

NSW State Government Latest Regulations on Noise Pollution

Under the Subordinate Legislation Act 1989, the Protection of the Environment (Noise Control) Regulation 2000 was scheduled for automatic repeal on 1 September 2008. The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC) reviewed the Regulation with the aim of updating it to provide simple, straightforward and enforceable noise controls that match community expectations.

As required by statute, DECC prepared a Regulatory Impact Statement to assess the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits associated with the revised Regulation and consider the alternatives. The Regulatory Impact Statement demonstrated the revised Regulation would provide the greatest net benefits to the community compared with possible alternatives.

In June and July 2007, DECC sought community comment on the draft Regulation and considered the submissions received before finalising the new Regulation. DECC is grateful to the many stakeholders who provided feedback.

The new Regulation commences on 1 March 2008 and controls noise from motor vehicles and marine vessels and sets community standards on acceptable noise intrusion in homes from appliances such as intruder alarms, music amplifiers, air conditioners and powered garden tools. A few provisions commence later to give the community time to make any necessary changes.