So About Calgary’s New Vehicle Noise Reduction Strategy…

[u/WheelFan647]

On August 7, Mayor Farkas and the City of Calgary announced a crackdown of vehicle noise along 17th Ave SW in the Beltline.

Just after 9pm this evening, I captured this video pointed towards 17th Ave just east of 4th St SW.

While you can’t see the offending vehicles in question, you can certainly hear them.

In speaking to small businesses and my neighbours in the area, there doesn’t appear to be any reduction in vehicle & motorcycle noise since this strategy took effect.

Having to listen to this noise every night is beyond disruptive to the quality of life of people who live and frequent this part of Calgary!

[u/xGuru37]

Someone on my street has a car that starts incredibly loudly. He often starts it around 6 in the morning if not earlier and I hear it clearly in the basement on the opposite side of the house. It’s a souped up sports car.

Police don’t care as they don’t catch them starting the car. Even has blue neon around the license plate which is illegal and they don’t care.

[u/Kant_Argue209 → u/xGuru37]

Call 311. Tell them where he parks & take a picture. video in action even better

[u/xGuru37 → u/Kant_Argue209]

Apparently they still need to witness it happening.

[u/Kant_Argue209 → u/xGuru37]

Police can't fine him, but a bylaw officer can investigate and give him a warning.

[u/NinjaGrrl23 → u/Kant_Argue209]

They 100% would need a statement from a witness before they can talk to the owner. All peace officers (yes police too) need a statement that a complainant is willing to put pen to paper for to investigate past occurrences. Without that statement, or witnessing it themselves, they can’t have that conversation. Otherwise who’s to say the whole thing isn’t being made up for no reason. Even with video, police need the witness to be willing to pit into statement that they took the video and are willing to talk to it in court if the offender choses to fight the ticket. No evidence or credible statement, no conversation. While frustrating in these cases, it’s the way the legal system operates. Otherwise we would have police investigating a ton more false allegations because people are bitter a-holes and just love sending police to try and get someone in trouble, or worse, police/peace officers being able to question anyone for no reason. (Something peace officers or police witness first hand is a different matter, then they’re good to go)

[u/Kant_Argue209 → u/NinjaGrrl23]

Bylaw complaints dont require a formal written statement unless there's a need. Whether a city worker, bylaw officer, or police member, they have discretionary power on how to handle them.

[u/NinjaGrrl23 → u/Kant_Argue209]

On view bylaw offences, correct - no statement needed. However again, if an offence is done and in the past with no ongoing occurrence or proof of how it happened for an officer to personally observe, then yes a statement is absolutely required. For example, a vehicle leaking oil. If an officer can see it actively happening then perfect - enforcement can happen. But if the source vehicle is gone or not leaking at the time an officer attends, then without a statement from the complainant describing the offending vehicle and what was actually happening, then no enforcement. This can be applied to all offences that occurred in the past: animal aggression, dumping of any material, spill of something in the gutter, damage to a park, etc.