Saskatoon is considering deploying noise snares, a report from CJME says.
Noise snares, invented by an Edmonton man after a loud motorcycle woke his sleeping child, combine a camera with a decibel meter to identify loud vehicles. The devices photograph offenders, similar to a red light or speed camera; authorities can then issue tickets to offenders.
Calgary recently began deploying the technology; they’re issuing $200 tickets to anyone caught with an exhaust over 96 decibels. Motorcycles with loud, open pipes are almost certain to begin paying the price for their volume.
Apparently, Saskatoon is also considering the technology, but they’ve got a problem: provincial regulations against photo radar mean they can’t deploy noise snares either. So, city government is apparently petitioning the province to change the lawbooks, to allow them to set up the noise snares.
Of course, not only does this mean bikers with loud exhausts are likely to pay quite a bit in tickets, but it also gives photo radar another foot in the door. Saskatchewan riders would do well to keep an eye on this issue – its consequences could be very far-reaching, long-lasting, and expensive for the province’s motorcyclists.
This isn’t the first time Saskatoon has talked about fighting noisy vehicles. Back in 2010, city government looked into passing a law against loud motorcycles, but abandoned the idea because they didn’t want to single out bikers. Since noise snares don’t discriminate between cars and motorcycles, police think it’s a better solution.
So, loud motorcycles create the need to change legislation with the follow-on effect of allowing photo radar to possibly get a foothold. Thanks again, loud pipe gang.