How rowdy is your ride?
City of Red Deer is giving drivers a chance to see how noisy their car, truck or motorcycle is at a free decibel-reading event on Saturday. From 1 to 4 p.m., city peace officers and RCMP traffic unit officers will test sound emission levels in the P9 parking lot across from the downtown RCMP detachment at 5025 47th St.
Drivers or riders can pull up, rev their engines and see if the racket falls within the city’s acceptable noise level ranges.
Owners of ear-splitting vehicles need not fear the long arm of the law will reach out and grab them at the event. The city promises no tickets will be issued at the event, which is part of a larger awareness campaign aimed to educate drivers on noise impact and understanding when noise becomes nuisance.
There will be an amnesty period given to those whose vehicles seen as being in violation of existing noise regulations.
“This event offers the opportunity for motorists to engage with us and we hope to foster understanding and cooperation for the bylaw,” city acting manager of municipal policing services Peter Puszka.
“This is a good opportunity to test your vehicle without concern of ticketing, learn more about the bylaw, and learn how we can make our streets more harmonious for everyone.”
The Community Standards Bylaw approved in May 2022 addresses excessive vehicle noise by setting acceptable decibel levels for vehicles. A vehicle at idle must not exceed 92 decibels, while a vehicle at any speed greater than idling must not exceed 96 decibels.
Since launching the traffic noise campaign, 156 tickets have been issued to offending motorists, including 68 tickets under the City’s bylaw and 88 tickets issued under the Traffic Safety Act for excessive noise, altered mufflers, and creating unnecessary noise.
For more information about the community standards bylaw, visit reddeer.ca/noise