SGI has released new rules around vehicle noise in the province. (Submitted photo/SGI)

By Rob Mahon

New Noise Rules

Local councillor hopes new vehicle noise laws bring change to Prince Albert

Jun 5, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Drivers revving their engines are looking for attention, and they appear to have gotten it from SGI. The Crown Corporation announced there will be a new provincial policy on how loud cars are allowed to be, with a new limit of 101.3 decibels.

That could be good news for some Prince Albert residents. According to one city councillor, vehicle noise in his ward is reaching high levels.

“The noise level around the Art Hauser is extreme,” said Blake Edwards, councillor for Ward 6 in Prince Albert. “Vehicles ripping away from the Art Hauser and down Marquis Road is having a drastic impact on residents in the area, listening to the revving of the engines and the mufflers that go with that.”

Edwards’ ward includes the streets on all sides of the Art Hauser Centre, and the neighbourhood around them. He says residents have frequently complained to him about the vehicle noise coming from that parking lot at all hours of the day.

“They’re waking up grandparents on a regular basis who cannot sleep in their rooms any longer because they have to sleep with their windows open and those windows face the parking lot, forcing them to move bedrooms. That’s a real shame,” he said.

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In their release, SGI said the new policy would apply to all light vehicles, including sedans, mini-vans, pickup trucks, SUVs, and motorcycles.

“This policy introduces an objective standard, so motorists know if their vehicle is louder than what’s reasonable,” said JP Cullen, COO of the Saskatchewan Auto Fund. “It draws a line in the sand for residents, motorists and law enforcement to determine how loud is too loud for vehicles.”

According to Edwards, the city doesn’t want to close down the parking lot, as it’s a safe place for teenagers to hang out with their vehicles and it’s important the city has such a space. He hopes having a defined noise level will help with enforcement.

“Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of people coming in from out of town who don’t have any care for our residents,” Edwards said. “At least, that’s what I’m hearing. People roll in from communities nearby and they don’t have that care.”

Edwards added you can hear people revving engines in that area even during the day while school is going on, or in the early evening when baseball games are happening nearby.

The new rules around vehicle noise will come into effect over the course of a phased rollout beginning this month.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP