Enforcement blitz to target loud car stereos, mufflers

Torontosun.com
July 16, 2019
Antonella Artuso

Toronto Police have begun an education and enforcement blitz in an effort to turn down the volume on booming car stereos and other auto-related noises disturbing the peace of residents.

Mayor John Tory raised the issue in a letter to city officials last year.

“The City of Toronto and the Toronto Police Service hear from residents who are concerned by the noise from vehicles that have been modified, altered or used in a way that is excessively noisy,” a police statement issued Monday says.

“Examples may include a loud auto stereo or car, truck or motorcycle exhaust emitting sound to the extent it disturbs patrons at a restaurant, nearby residents or other motorists on the roadway.”

Racing cars and squealing tires also generate excessive noise, police said.

Highway Traffic Act laws prohibit “unnecessary” noise disturbances caused by vehicle horns and alarms, loud mufflers and exhausts, engine revving and squealing tires.

Provincial legislation makes it illegal, for example, to use a siren on a car or truck unless it is an official emergency response vehicle.

Horns are to be used only when necessary to notify others of a vehicle’s approach, the law says.

A general noise city bylaw can also be used to penalize motorists, police said.