Fiacco Wants To Hear Fewer Loud Cars
Proposing strategy to fight noisy mufflers
Regina's mayor is concerned about the noise made by after-market vehicle accessories.
Pat Fiacco wants the police to look at how the city can curb noisy mufflers and other sound enhancers. He says he's heard from more local residents this year that are fed up with hearing extra-loud cars, trucks, and motorcycles, particularly when they congregate on busy stretches of road like the southern portions of Albert Street. At Wednesday's Board of Police Commissioners meeting he asked the police to draft a strategy to fight the sale and use of the noisy products.
"Enforcement is one way but that's after the fact, so what can we do to prevent it from happening period? So i think its a two-pronged approach in that regard and the Chief and the Police Service will be working on this for the next little while and come back in January with probably a strategy. They'll look at dealing with those particular after-market products, what needs to be done, if they need to be on the market period. And number two on our enforcement piece as well. I think individuals need to know there will be a focus on this."
Police Chief Troy Hagen points out that regulation will likely be the most effective means of preventing the proliferation of after-market noise-boosters. He also notes that the police service has stressed enforcement in the past, making excessively-loud after-market modifications a "traffic focus of the month" in the past year.
Fiacco acknowledges that other levels of government will need to be involved in regulating such accessories but he believes the problem exists across Canada and he expects the federal government will want to get involved.
Comments
Horray!
Thanks Pat, couldn't agree more. I'm sick of these noisy cars and trucks manned by testosterone-fueled little boys. And sick of noisy, unrepaired cars too. I also can't stand noisy Harleys, but I realize I won't be popular for saying that (as in - you don't criticize Harleys, which are trendy these days).
Can't agree more. Especially
Can't agree more. Especially the Harley thing. They would never outlaw loud harleys, because they are not driven by Kids. Those crotch rockets are loud too.
Well done Your Worship.
Well done Your Worship. Loud exhaust systems, boom-box car stereos, squeeling tires etc, infrige on our 'right to quiet' and are illegal. Disrespect seems to be a badge of honor for so many in our society, we now need strickter laws to accomplish what simple decency used to achieve. Noise pollution is a form of urban blight and is increasing in Regina. This increase in illegal noise activity not only negatively affects our collective "quality of life", but many studies have shown that noise pollution seriously affects our health.
Ya....right!
Good luck on that one!
You going to get the car manufacturers to not put duel exhaust on there vehicles from the factory as well. Not going to happen.
Mr Ward 1 could take some
Mr Ward 1 could take some cues from the mayor here - this is an apporpriate response to noise, not reducing speed limits.
Hey Todd, it doesn't matter
Hey Todd, it doesn't matter how you order your vehicle "from the factory", if it is too loud it is illegal.
Photo Noise Reduction
Here's a can of worms to open...Edmonton this past summer considered using a system that activates a video camera when a certain level of decibels has been reached thus showing the plate and vehicle for between 2 and 3 seconds. I don't believe they have implemented this, but is one option for enforcement. Any video I saw, it was quite clear which vehicles were causing the excess noise.
I think they need to pay
I think they need to pay attention to motorcycles. To me it seems there are fewer and fewer young kids driving cars with the loud mufflers.
LOL
come on people really?
I can agree with some of this but come on! There is not a chance in hell something like this would be enforced. Ok, to the kids in there honda civics with the huge mufflers that really are not doing anything, performance wise, I agree there should be something done. But what about the people who actually take pride in their car's performance? Those exhaust systems are not cheap by any means! I have had people wonder what the loud "ppssshhhtttt" sound is coming from my car when I shift and they say its "annoying" or "un-necessary". Well go get an education in turbo's and engines and then talk to me. Almost impossible to run a turbo without the blow off valve.
Another point is people think that the Harley bikes are too loud. Myself I agree, they are loud. To the bikers they say it saves lives. The fact that you can hear a harley coming from 2 miles away I would say is a little over kill....but where do you draw the line? Whats the difference between a loud harley and a loud car? I think if bikes can be as loud as they want, well cars should be able to match that.
That's my two cents....
i agree with the whole car
i agree with the whole car vs bikes thing, but remember even those highschool kids are doing it for the love. They put time and money into their cars just like any other car entuisasts
Hey sksk and anonymous it
Hey sksk and anonymous it doesn't matter how much "love" you put into making noise, the majority of the public like quiet. That is why they elected public officials who support this viewpoint and these public officials have written and implemented laws that regulate your 'lovely noise'.
Regina Noise Bylaw
Part III Specific Prohibitions
4. (A) Motor Vehicle Noises
(a) No person shall create loud unusual or unnecessary noise in the operation of a motor vehicle upon a public street, lane or thoroughfare within the City of Regina whether the noise is caused by the mechanical condition of the motor vehicle or the manner which the motor vehicle is operated and whether or not the vehicle is stationary or moving at the time the noise is created.
Safety Standards:
-…Vehicle must be equipped with a muffler and exhaust system that reduces noise level to national standards. Emission of any loud or unnecessary noise from a motor vehicle is prohibited. Permitted dB levels vary according to engine size. The maximum dB level allowed for any passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or truck engine is 84 dB.
Canadian Highway Traffic Act
4.1 Highway Traffic Act
Section 75 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act read as follows:
Section 75 (1)“Every motor vehicle or motor assisted bicycle shall be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and excessive smoke, and no person shall use a muffler cut-out, straight exhaust, gutted muffler, hollywood muffler, by-pass or similar device upon a motor vehicle or motor assisted bicycle.”
The Saskatchewan Highway Traffic Act
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC c. H-3.1
Excessive noise 46 No person shall create or cause the emission of any loud and unnecessary noise from a motor vehicle, a part of a motor vehicle or any thing or substance that the motor vehicle or a part of the motor vehicle comes into contact with. 1986, c.H-3.1, s.46.
Abide by the law or you will be contributing to our cities' coffers.
Loud car and motocycles
LOL
There is no different from a loud Harley and a souped up car its the noise we don't like at 2am when someone peels out from any one of the numerous stop lights on Albert.Lets not just say Harleys either a loud muffler on any motorcycle qualifies as bad!
From what I understand is
From what I understand is that as long as a vehicle meets emission controls the only way to ticket it is for a noise violation. For a noise violation to stand up in court there has to be a complainant testify in court. The issueing officer is not allowed to be the complainant. So as long as the catalytic convertor is not tampered with after market exhaust systems are perfectly legal so how can you ban the sale of a legal device?
Bob you have a serious
Bob you have a serious misunderstanding. Excessive noise from illegal exhaust systems is a violation of Regina's Bylaws, the Federal and Provincial Highway Traffic Acts and is illegal. No need to have a "complainant". Not tampering with the catalytic converter is a good thing, but no matter how you have altered your exhaust, if it is too loud it is illegal.
Sure - so rather than deal
Sure - so rather than deal with the real, tough issues like crime, the inner city gangs or the fat that the city STILL has a Hell's Angels chapter, the Mayor will choose something easy - like picking on the automotive hobby.
Y'know - the noise coming from the city's football stadium on gamedays irritates me & disturbs my peace & quiet. Perhaps any new "noise gestapo" should cover that as well?
It's not an automotive
It's not an automotive "hobby." It's attention seeking, pure and simple. People who purposely make their vehicles louder are simply saying "look at me....I don't get enough attention at home." Seems to be an overwhelming trend in our society.
Hobby
Well Corey, the FACT is hot-rodding has been part of North-American culture as a hobby since the 1940's. The primary goal of hot-rodding is to improve the performance of one's project car through the use of innovation, technology and yes, "aftermarket parts." Just the fact that there are several active & thriving car clubs in the city proves just how popular the hobby remains. Maybe you don't "get it" - and that's fine....frankly I don't "get" sitting and watching a bunch of 'roid monkeys chasing a football or hockey puck myself.
Perhaps before you discount someone elses pastimes, you might want to try attending some of the events put on by the Majestics or Collectors car clubs in the city. Then maybe you can post from the perspective of someone with an informed opinion.
Or am I to assume that you (and the Mayor) would rather those organisations & their summer events didn't exist at all?
I agree with the Mayor
Hot rodding cars and souped up motorcycles have been a problem for the 10 years I've lived on Albert Street.On summer days in August it can be so loud you can't talk in your own backyard let alone stand in the front yard.The beauty of Wascana Park and its surrounding areas make Regina a special place in Canada and the reason why we say "I Love Regina"- let's protect it!
Poor Judgement
So you had the poor judgement to buy a house on the busiest street in the city and you complain about noise?
Pretty clueless if you ask me.
Kind of like the big new residential development currently being built right next to the airport. Does nobody THINK anymore?
My family and myself live
My family and myself live close to a busy street and the noise level of many motorbikes, modified cars and stereo systems severely disrupt our lives espescially in the summer. I am very concerned about the effect this may be having on the hearing of our children.