City to get tough on noise

The City of Kelowna is finished listening about noise complaints - specifically loud motorcycles, boats and car stereos. Now they are going to act.

Photo: Kelly Hayes - Castanet File Photo

RCMP Superintendent, Bill McKinnon, told Councillors Monday current rules at the provincial level concerning excessive noise are woefully inadequate.

McKinnon points to a new bylaw in Edmonton as the answer.

"I am asking council to consider drafting a new bylaw similar to one put in place in Edmonton last August," says McKinnon.

"The Edmonton bylaw means police can issue a $250 fine to anyone with a motorcycle louder than 92 decibels at idle or 96 decibels when the engine is revving. The same would apply to boats and motorists with loud stereos."

The bylaw would also work for car stereos of parked vehicles as well.

McKinnon says the RCMP receives several complaints on a daily basis about excessive noise.

He says it's time a new, more effective, bylaw were put in place.

If such a bylaw were introduced, McKinnon says police would need to purchase decibel meters and train members on their use.

He says it would be worth the cost.

Councillor Robert Hobson, who lives on Okanagan Lake, says some boats are so loud that even when a boat is on the other side of the lake and his windows are closed it's hard to carry on a conversation.

"This is something that has been on the agenda for a long time and there has been some confusion as to how this could best be tackled," added Councillor Luke Stack.

"You're bringing forward a practical solution to give it a whirl and I'm very supportive of it."

Council voted unanimously to have staff draft an amendment to the current noise bylaw to include specific decibel reading and also report back on the effectiveness of the Edmonton bylaw.