WHEREAS scientific evidence suggests that excessive noise affects hearing long term and negatively impacts a person’s health and well-being – especially those who have issues with sensory inputs; and
WHEREAS it has been shown that excessive noise from the exhaust systems on vehicles (cars, trucks, motor cycles, ATVs and dirt bikes) can be a source of distraction for road users and a significant disruption to the peace and tranquility of residents in their homes, businesses, cafes, and parks and recreational spaces; and
WHEREAS communities throughout the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador are experiencing problems of excessively loud vehicle noise; and
WHEREAS the issue of excessive noise from vehicles with modified exhaust systems has been part of public discourse since at least 2012; and
WHEREAS a coalition of concerned neighbourhood groups and citizens of known as Pipe Down NL was formed to appeal to the provincial government to change/apply the legislation on noise pollution caused by after market installation of exhaust pipes on cars, trucks and motorcycles; and
WHEREAS this matter is governed under the jurisdiction of the Province’s Highway Traffic Act; and
WHEREAS regulations, tools and technology are readily available to aid in enforcement of the Highway Traffic Act; and
WHEREAS other jurisdictions in Canada have made amendments to regulations and legislation to deal with noise from exhaust systems and that they have sound level meters to measure noise generated from vehicles for the purposes of ticketing and fines.
BE IT SO RESOLVED THAT The City of St. John’s continue to lobby the Provincial Government of NL to request that the Highway Traffic Act and/or associated regulations be enforced to ensure prohibition of modifications to exhaust systems that increase noise and to enforcement with fines and ticketing. Further, that the City of St. John’s continue to lobby the Provincial Government of NL to ensure adequate resources (technology and staffing) are funded to allow enforcement agencies to effectively apply the legislation and regulations prohibiting excessively loud vehicles.