$1,000 tickets haven’t stopped noisy vehicles: councillor

Noisy traffic is an issue in any big city. In Edmonton, if your car is too loud it could cost you $1,000 or more after council beefed up its bylaw. But there’s concern it’s still not working.

“I’m bombarded by noisy vehicles and I hear this from my neighbours. They’re bombarded by noisy trucks, by noisy motorcycles, by noisy street racing, at all hours of the night, even up to three in the morning,” said Michael Janz, Edmonton City Councillor.

The noise is an even bigger problem when it’s hot out — Councillor Janz says — when people open their windows at night to cool down.

“If they don’t open their windows, they’re going to be overheating. If they do open their windows, they’re going to be deaf. And that’s not fair.”

It’s not hard to find people on the streets who are losing sleep because of revving engines.

“There’s like this one vehicle, motorbike near my neighbourhood, that goes really loud through my neighbourhood, and I would just like to sleep peacefully,” said Lenny Babij, an Edmontonian.

In February, Edmonton city council voted unanimously to increase excessive noise tickets from $250 to $1000. The fines double for repeat offenders.

“Have you noticed a difference? I don’t think so, honestly. Edmonton is Edmonton,” said Babij.

Danny Barlas received a noise ticket years ago for revving his Mustang. He’s also doubtful the steeper penalties are striking fear in noisy drivers.

“I have yet to know anyone that got a ticket. I have gotten a ticket for loud exhaust, but it wasn’t $1,000. It was $200, and that’s understandable,” said Barlas.

But Edmonton Police say officers are out there writing tickets. At least 343 so far this year. That number was 472 all of last year.

Janz also wants the province to approve automated enforcement for noise. Technology that’s being used in cities like New York and Paris.