Toronto launching education and enforcement campaigns to crack down on noisy vehicles
The City of Toronto said Thursday that it is trying to do more to reduce excessive noise from speeding vehicles and loud motorcycles.
Vehicles with deafeningly loud engines can regularly be heard roaring down the streets of Toronto, often late into the night as thousands of people within earshot are trying to sleep.
“The city continues to receive complaints regarding excessive noise from vehicles and motorcycles, which is often a result of speeding,” the city said in its release.
City bylaws specify that the noise from a motorcycle exhaust when idle should not exceed 92 decibels.
But while the noise bylaw prohibits unnecessary noise, bylaw enforcement officers don’t have the authority to pull over moving vehicles.
“This specific authority is granted to Toronto Police under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act (HTA), who also have jurisdiction over speeding,” the city explained.
To crack down on noisy vehicles, Toronto Police and bylaw enforcement officers will be conducting joint enforcement events throughout the summer.
The “strategic locations” for the enforcement campaign will be chosen based on complaints received by 311 and in-field data, the city said.
Police will take aim at Highway Traffic Act infractions such a speeding and illegally modified exhaust systems, while bylaw officers will measure noise from idling motorcycles and hand out fines where necessary.
In a statement, Mayor John Tory said he supports targeting excessively noisy vehicles, along with other “disruptive behaviour” that puts people’s lives at risk, such as street racing and stunt driving.
“Street racing and stunt driving is continuing to rise disrupting our neighbourhoods and putting the lives of pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers in the city at risk,” Tory said in a statement. “We also know that noise from motorcycles and modified vehicles is also continuing to rise and frustrate residents across the city.”
He said the enforcement campaign will help hold those responsible “accountable” for the cringe-inducing noise on city streets.
The city is also helping drivers better understand the noise rules by holding three educational events where motorcycle riders can get their bikes tested. No tickets will be handed out at those events, the city said.
The testing events are being held once a month through September, starting today.
- Thursday, July 22, 1530 Markham Rd., 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Monday, August 30, 433 Eastern Ave., 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, September 30, Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.