Loud engines beware; the city council is looking at a report from a city solicitor into the potential use of Noise Snare technology.

The technology is similar to photo radar the difference is that it measures decibel levels.

The city's Executive Committee is expected to discuss the report Monday. For Saskatoon to consider using Noise Snare technology changes would need to be made to provincial legislation.

The report looks at Calgary’s use of the newly implemented technology.

Kelvin Ooms, a local motorcycle enthusiast said he believes bringing Noise Snare to Saskatoon would be a waste of money and a direct target on motorcycles.

“This just seems to be an issue that surfaces this time of year and yet they try and sugarcoat it as much as they can by saying it’s trying to encompass all vehicles,” said Ooms.

He said he understands and appreciates the goal of implementing the new technology but would rather see the current noise bylaw exercised -if he breaks the law he’d be the first to take a ticket.

There should also be some responsibility on how motorcyclists operate their bikes he said.

 “A lot of this noise is unnecessary noise. It’s forced on the bikes a lot of times. I can ride by your place and you’d hardly know I go by or I could go by and rattle your windows,” said Ooms.

The volume of motorcycles can be an issue of safety.

“Personally loud pipes have saved me from several incidents. One in fact this year already where a car did not know my presence on the side of him and they’re not going to hear my horn but when I engage my clutch and give my throttle a couple pops, they move over. They hear me,” he said.

Ooms said he believes the Noise Snare Technology would be a waste of money.

“It’s never going to be consistent. I could be going by one of these sonar things and have a truck beside me and that amplifies the decibel levels that much more,”

He questions how many of these tickets won’t be rejected in court.



SFroese@rawlco.com

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