Town council has directed administration to investigate and collect information on creating a policing committee, then bring it to the organization meeting following the fall election

The needless nuisance of noisy vehicles needs to be addressed, Sunset resident Kevin Burns told council, and there are actions that can be taken. But he also advocates using the tools provided by the Traffic Safety Act more stringently to address issues and to create a policing committee that includes members of the public. An empathic council took his recommendations to heart.

In his presentation, Burns pointed to actions being taken by the City of Red Deer that are gaining attention. They are issuing traffic vehicle notices that require action by the owner and are doing the followup to make sure it happens. If it doesn't, a fine of $233 is issued, but even more detrimental to the owner is the four demerit points taken.

Impressed with the presentation that was accompanied by an 11-page action strategy, council wants to learn more and have directed administration to do some fact finding, discuss the idea with the RCMP and bring it back to the organizational meeting that follows the Oct. 16 municipal election.

Burns, a safety consultant by profession, was not only pleased with how quickly he made the agenda, but by the resulting action.

"I was impressed with council's willingness to make two motions tonight and get right on this," says Burns. "I'm absolutely pleased to see that happen."

The four-year Sunset resident says the level of noise from vehicles with after-factory modifications has been gradually increasing and it's a comon topic of complaint by neighbourhood residents.

"There's lots of us that talk about it. In fact, we have to stop talking about it when some of these noisy vehicles go by."

Burns stresses it's not an attack against heavy truck traffic.

"We're not complaining about the heavy truck traffic, we're talking about the people who illegally modify the exhaust systems in their vehicles in order to make noise. I'd like to think it's all about intent. The intent of a truck driver is to make a living. The intent of someone who illegal modifies their vehicle is to make noise. Those are the people we are specifically targeting."

His report details the situation, points out the municipality's responsibility as well as the financial benefits of issuing the fines. He goes on to suggest establishing checkstops and provided a list of recommended locations. He also included clips of Facebook discussions that documents the outcry and the debate that ensued with advocates of the modifications.