Vehicle noise fines start Wednesday

Starting Wednesday, drivers caught with excessively loud cars, trucks and motorcycles are facing heavy fines.

The city’s controversial noise snare, which until Tuesday gave motorists a grace period after bylaw officials rolled it out in June, carries a fine of $270.

Since the warning period began on June 20, the city’s 311 service has logged over 146 complaints of loud vehicles.

One violator caught late last week is now subject to a warning ticket.

Motorists with modified engines and tailpipes are the biggest violators, the city says.

Motorcyclists have voiced concerns they are being singled out for noise infractions.

They argue that homeowners operate lawn mowers and jackhammers longer — and louder — than it takes a motorcycle to pass a home.

“We knew going into this that only about two per cent of the vehicles on Calgary streets might be in violation of the bylaw, but this is a matter of the public’s sense of safety and security and community standards around tolerance to noise,” says Bill Bruce, director of animal and bylaw services.

“We know there are violators out there. We continue to receive complaints about vehicle noise on a regular basis. So we will continue to deploy the noise snare in areas of the city where we believe the loudest vehicles are likely to be.”

The snare will be deployed based on complaints from the public, not random traps, Bruce said.

“This is not a revenue toy, it’s to address complaints.”

Officers will only be using one noise snare throughout the city.

“One’s all we need,” said Bruce.

Last week, a pickup truck passing the noise snare registered 101.2 decibels, well over the 96-decibel threshold.

Officials say during the warning period, several vehicles came close to violating the excessive vehicle noise bylaw.

One sports car registered 95.4 decibels, and motorcycles were caught hitting 95.1 decibels and 94.5 decibels.

The city will review the future results to monitor the program.

Bruce says the noise snare will hold up in court.

“The technology itself is nothing new, we’re very confident.”

In May, two public open houses were held to let motorists test their vehicles.

Out of 469 motorists testing their vehicles against the noise snare, 47 per cent registered 96 decibels or more on their first pass by the device. Officials say the majority of those vehicles were modified and aren’t typical of average cars, trucks and motorcycles driving city streets.

Calgary’s noise snare is a first in Canada — no other municipality in the country has it.

“Ultimately, we are looking for compliance,” said Bruce. “Calgary motorists have had ample time now to adjust their vehicles or their driving behaviour to fall under the excessive vehicle noise provision of the Calgary traffic bylaw.”