Letter - Dear Mr. Mayor and Council

I thoroughly concur with the intent of JBNA's motion about noisy vehicles presented to the City of Victoria, and copied below.

Many motorcycles and some vehicles (even tour 'buses') have mufflers that shout the vehicle's arrival, passing and all associated gear changes to pedestrians for several blocks around. This noise undermines quality of life for pedestrians and for occupants of nearby buildings, and hence undermines your efforts to market urban life particularly in Victoria's centre.

The ongoing lack of appropriate regulation on this issue by Victoria City is both short sighted and morally unforgivable, given that, as I understand, appropriate measures are available to enforce reasonable bylaws!

Herewith, from James Bay Neighbourhood Association e-mail sent yesterday, re December 2011 meeting:

8. Noise Snare - or how Calgary is dealing with noisy vehicles! Gordon Tweddell.
Gordon stated that the Motor Vehicles Act specifies decibel levels. Due to a lack of vehicle inspection stations, the onus is on citizens to complain/testify. He contacted the City of Calgary; they are using the 'Noise Snare': a motion picture capturing the license plate #; the photo is taken when the noise level exceeds the law.

Gordon put forth a motion: "The James Bay Neighbourhood Association requests that the City of Victoria review the experience of the City of Calgary, consult with the JBNA, and, unless there are compelling impediments, deploy the 'Noise Snare' technology to enforce vehicle noise limits as stated in the B.C. Motor Vehicles Act." M/S/C

Marilyn Leslie Kan