City of Calgary cracks down on noisy vehicles – Calgary

The Calgary City Council says it will crack down on noisy vehicles, calling them a public health hazard that “negatively impacts the health of residents.”

The city council members unanimously approved the proposal on Monday amendments to the articles of association which include a new definition of “objective noise”: any sound from a vehicle that “irritates or disturbs a reasonable person.”

That noise could include screeching tires, modified parts, an amplified stereo, or a car alarm that lasts for more than a minute.

“I am very pleased that we can finally hold the incredibly anti-social behavior of extra-noisy vehicles and their owners to account,” said ward councilor Gian-Carlo Carra.

Ward 8 Councilor Courtney Walcott, who spearheaded the changes, said he is “overjoyed to be able to better monitor noise in this city as it relates to vehicles.”

The city will also conduct a public education campaign with locations where Calgarians can test the volume of their vehicles. The city is also in the process of setting up a traffic safety team to tackle excessive vehicle noise.

The bylaw changes would ban vehicles from emitting “any noise” exceeding 92 dB while the engine is idling, and 96 dB while the vehicle is in motion.

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The Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety says this is approximately the noise level emitted by an electric lawn mower.

The law officials would use a sound level meter to measure the noise 50cm from the exhaust or from the rear of the center of the vehicle if no exhaust is visible.

The regulation also restricts the use of retarder brakes for commercial vehicles.

More information about the changes can be found on the website City of Calgary website.

–with files from Adam MacVicar, Global News

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City wants researchers to study Calgarians’ exposure to noise

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