Calgary city councillor Courtney Walcott has introduced a motion to enhance enforcement against motorists making excessive noise. .“Calgary has bylaws that prohibit excessive vehicle noise, but these have proven difficult to enforce and prosecute,” said Walcott in a Thursday blog post. .“New measures proposed through the Notice of Motion introduced at today’s Executive Committee meeting would update our laws and bylaws, review fines and penalties, and explore new enforcement methods, including the use of automated technologies, to reduce Calgarians’ exposure to vehicle noise.” .The motion said enforcing noise bylaws for moving vehicles is limited to officers who can do traffic stops. It said proposed changes would explore the costs involved in expanding this enforcement activity to community peace officers and examine the viability of automated enforcement technology being tested in other jurisdictions. .The motion went on to say it would upgrade peace officers to community peace officer level 1 in January, the first step in enabling them to perform traffic stops. It said proposed changes would mandate administration assess additional costs, training, equipment and approvals involved in having peace officers perform traffic stops to enforce vehicle noise bylaws. .Calgary police are restricted to pulling over moving vehicles through traffic stops at present. Police focus on high-priority traffic concerns related to public safety, such as speeding and unsafe driving in school and playground zones, concerns involving trucks and commercial vehicles, and pedestrian safety. .The motion said existing bylaws about excessive noise from vehicles have presented challenges with enforcement and prosecution. It said proposed changes would have these bylaws updated to expand enforcement, making Calgary’s vehicle noise requirements similar to other nearby cities. .Walcott said fines and penalties for emitting excessive vehicle noise should act as a sufficient deterrent and reflect the severity of the offence. He said proposed changes would direct administration to examine and suggest changes to fines and penalties to limit excessive noise. .Edmonton city councillor Michael Janz launched a petition to silence noisy vehicles in the city on August 4. .READ MORE: Edmonton councillor launches petition to quiet your ride."We don't need driver education, we need enforcement,” said Janz. .“We don't need warnings, we need tickets and impounding.”
