St. Catharines wants loud cars silenced
Residents complain about vehicles with modified or no mufflers
Loud noises from vehicles with modified or removed mufflers are driving St. Catharines city councillors to call on Niagara Regional Police for a crackdown.
Police recently conducted Operation Loud and Clear in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-theLake, handing out 52 tickets to drivers whose vehicles were modified to increase exhaust noise to what’s considered unacceptable levels.
St. Catharines city council voted Monday night to ask the NRP to expand its Loud and Clear operation to the Garden City because of increasing complaints from residents about the same issue.
Port Dalhousie Coun. Bruce Williamson said the modified
muffler vehicles are the bane of many people’s existence right now.
“This is a really detrimental issue in terms of affecting people’s quality of life,” Williamson said.
“The change has been very noticeable and we’re all getting
calls. This is not something people should have to tolerate. It’s just wrong.”
Fellow ward Coun. Carlos Garcia echoed the sentiment.
“Coun. Williamson and I get lots of complaints about noise, particularly on Main Street in Port Dalhousie, but I’m sure it happens everywhere.”
St. Patrick’s Coun. Karrie Porter raised the issue and made the motion to ask police to expand their operation, saying modified vehicles are becoming an increasing concern.
She also asked that council request Ontario’s premier and transportation minister consider a steep increase in provincial fines under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act for excessive noise, street racing and modified mufflers.
The current fine for offenders with noisy mufflers is $85.
“People are going out and spending a lot of money to modify their cars so what’s an $85 fine?” Porter asked.
“I actually think, given the increase in complaints, we really need to not just enforce but increase the fines as well.”
Police said Tuesday that Operation Loud and Clear has concluded, but officers will continue to inspect vehicles causing excessive noise and lay charges.
The operation, which was announced Sept. 25, stepped up enforcement with police being extra vigilant in stopping noisy vehicles, inspecting them and charging drivers under Section 75 of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
Under that section, every motor vehicle, including motor-assisted bicycles, must be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and excessive smoke. No one can use a muffler cut-out, straight exhaust, gutted muffler, Hollywood muffler, bypass or similar device.
Police issued 33 tickets to drivers for no mufflers, 15 tickets for improper mufflers and four tickets for unnecessary noise during the operation.