Vehicle noise on the agenda at Port Moody council

A motion put before council looks at installing noise detector cameras, a B.C. first.

The issue of noisy vehicles in Port Moody is on the municipal government’s agenda Tuesday night, where two councillors are pushing for noise detectors to be installed in the city.

Councillors Samantha Agtarap and Diana Dilworth have tabled a motion, pushing for a new pilot project that would see the devices installed as soon as possible in order to “monitor vehicular noise pollution in strategic key corridors in our community.”

Agtarap said residents have approached her with noise complaints.

‘Excessive noise can increase peoples stress levels, so increase their blood pressure, it can cause cardiovascular issues, especially people who work shift work,” she said.

And it’s something she’s noticed herself.

“Especially in summer, when we were trying to sleep with our windows open. It can be an issue,” Agtarap told CTV News.

Two companies have already reached out to the city to offer their detectors at no charge.

But the installation of the devices is something that usually requires provincial approval.

“This memo proposes the city develop its own pilot program, in advance of any provincial action,” an addendum to the motion says.

The province does lay out decibel limits for vehicle noise – ranging from 83 to 93 depending on the type of vehicle.

However, enforcing these limits is not generally a priority and Agtarap says it wouldn’t be a good use of police resources to attempt a crackdown.

“It’s not something we would really expect police to sit at the corner with a decibel meter saying, ‘Oh, that vehicle is too noisy. This is just a way to automate it. And if the technology exists why not?” she asked.

The city would not be able to use the noise detectors to enforce limits, but the councillors say they would serve an important purpose.

“A pilot project will provide valuable data on the effectiveness of noise cameras in enforcing vehicular noise regulations,” the motion says.

“The data collected will assist in assessing current compliance with noise regulations, better understand the city’s noisescape and highlight vehicular noise in future planning decisions.”

Not everyone in Port Moody is convinced the pilot project is a good idea, or that enforcement of noise regulations is a worthy goal.

“I think it’s a misuse of resources,” said Karen Andersen, the co-owner of Kushala Yoga Wellness.

Her studio is on St. John’s Street, one of the roads where the cameras would be installed once approved.

She says the sound doesn’t affect her business.

“We’re becoming more urban all the time. And if we can’t accept that noise will come along with the pace of development that city council is so interested in, then I think it’s really a conflict of interest,” she said.

“Because of the shape and the geography, it’s almost like we’re in an amphitheater (in Port Moody),” said Andersen. “It is just a loud place to be. And it’s a bit of acceptance.”

If the pilot gets approved it would be the first of its kind in B.C., but Calgary and Edmonton already have the detectors installed.