Update: June 13, 2010 Noise By-Law – Motorcycles (Edmonton)

Police Officer issuing a ticket to a man on a bike. The City of Windsor is posed to pass similar noise by-laws to the one passed by the City of Edmonton.

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Sick of the guttural roar of extra loud motorcycles on Windsor streets? You’re not alone.

In response to resident complaints, council will once again tackle the topic of “noise emissions” from big bad bikes and other manly motor vehicles.

A report from administration and a representative of Windsor police are due to appear before council on the matter Monday night.

The issue is hardly new. The city inconclusively debated it in 2010.

The only resolutions council reached then were that the city should look into what’s an “acceptable” decibel level for motor vehicles and how such levels might be measured.

No further action was taken.

“It went into Never Never Land, that whole thing,” said Coun. Alan Halberstadt on Friday.

Halberstadt said he’s once more hearing from constituents – specifically residents in the area of Lincoln Road north of Tecumseh Road – whose sleep is being disturbed by the sound of motorcycle engines.

Windsor Police will be making a pitch on Monday to pass by-laws that would allow them to ticket motorcycles that they believe make too much noise.

Monday’s discussion is a response to some prodding by Halberstadt earlier this year.

According to Halberstadt, the problem isn’t motorbikes in general – it’s the “souped up” exhaust pipes that some motorcycle enthusiasts are putting on their rides.

“I think there’s little doubt there are motorcyclists out there who want to draw attention to themselves,” Halberstadt said. “It’s the same as loud radios in cars – I think people just like the loudness. They get a buzz off it.

“Motorcycles with proper mufflers make enough noise. They don’t have to be ear-splitting,” he added.

The report from administration describes a bylaw in the City of Edmonton which limits motorcycles to sound levels of 92 decibels when idling and 96 decibels when revving. The city equipped itself with decibel meters to enforce the bylaw.

The report notes that the City of Edmonton has lost court cases concerning the bylaw because of complications like background noise at the time of the offence.

According to the report, Windsor police now try to curb excessive motorcycle noise by enforcing a section of the Highway Traffic Act that penalizes vehicle owners who don’t have mufflers or have specially modified noise-making mufflers.

The fine for such offences is $110.

Deputy Chief Jerome Brannagan of Windsor police (who will be attending Monday’s discussion) said he understands why council and the public is concerned about motorcycle noise – but police consider it a “subjective determination” and a “quality of life” issue.

“What may be excessive noise to you, may not excessive to me,” Brannagan said on Friday. “It’s quite a tricky topic.”

Brannagan said the first priority for Windsor police when it comes to enforcement issues on city streets must be traffic accidents.

“I appreciate that everybody has opinions on what’s really important, but we have to look at the deployment of our resources,” Brannagan said.

Told of Brannagan’s comments, Halberstadt said he agrees that “chasing after motorcycles to see if they have the right mufflers is not Priority 1 for police.

“I can understand that. But the people who have contacted me about the noise feel that if there’s a law in place, it should be enforced.”

Update:July 24, 2012 Police Crack Down on Motorcycles They Believe Make Excessive Noise

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