Noise Snare back on the roads this June

Animal & Bylaw Services advises Calgarians that the Noise Snare will be back on city streets this year starting June 20^th until October 31^st. The Noise Snare was piloted the same time last year to enforce the excessive noise vehicle provision under the Calgary Traffic Bylaw.

“We know that citizens continue to be concerned with excessive noise,” said Andrew Bissett, Operations Coordinator, Animal and Bylaw Services. “Excessive noise can diminish a person’s perception of safety and security and ultimately their quality of life.”

The broad category of Noise complaints continues to be one of the top five types of calls that Animal and Bylaw Services receives. Excessive vehicle noise is considered as one of these disturbances with 109 complaints being received from January 1^st to May 31^st of this year. In 2012, a total of 347 excessive vehicle noise complaints were received. June to November is when the highest number of noise complaints are generally reported with more than 100 being reported during the month of August alone.

“We will be focusing on transportation corridors in the areas with high numbers of vehicle noise complaints,” said Bissett. “Based on our experience last year, we feel that this will be an effective approach.”

This year there will be no warning period. Starting June 20^th, anyone caught exceeding the noise level will be ticketed on their first offense.

A $270 ticket will be given to the registered owner of any vehicle exceeding 96 decibels level or greater, in keeping with federal legislation for Transport Canada. The 96 decibels is equivalent to the sound of a power saw from one metre away.

“ABS responds to excessive vehicle noise concerns as part of its day-to-day operations,” adds Bissett. “Given the technology is available to us at no cost and we believe last year’s efforts were successful in raising awareness of the new bylaw provision and increasing sensitively towards excessive vehicle noise, we will continue to deploy the technology and further evaluate.”

The mobile device will be positioned in an unmarked vehicle with a peace officer recording video and audio of passing vehicles. The Noise Snare can technically be operated unmanned, but to properly defend the results, and to ultimately have such a device become accepted by a court of law, additional information is required and oversight must be conducted by a peace officer.

To report a noise complaint for excessive vehicle noise or otherwise, citizens are encouraged to call 311.

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Background

2012 was the first full year that citizens could register a ‘vehicle in motion’ noise complaint through 311.
The Noise Snare was deployed from June 20 to October 31 in 2012. The first year included public testing and an initial warning period to raise awareness around the Excessive Vehicle Noise provision of the Calgary Traffic Bylaw, which was added in late 2011. This also provided Calgarians the opportunity to voluntarily comply with the new regulation and several of vehicle owners through our open houses and throughout the pilot period.
In 2012, the Noise Snare was deployed on average three times a week at various locations, days and evenings, where noise concerns had been identified. This equated to close to 600 hours of deployment of this new technology.
Last year was the first time The City of Calgary utilized the Noise Snare technology. 347 complaints were received and 23,193 vehicles recorded. Of these, 15 were determined to exceed the allowable sound levels. One ticket was issued against the owner of a sports car which measured 102 decibels.
The technology is not source selective, meaning that no single vehicle type (i.e. Motorcycles) was targeted for measurement or enforcement by The City. This approach supports a fair and sustainable approach to enforcement.