May 13, 2021
At today’s Regional Council meeting, Councillor Stephen Dasko put forward a motion, that was seconded by Caledon Councillor Ian Sinclair, that Council ask the Province to enact further amendments to the Highway Traffic Act to directly target loud and modified exhaust systems.
In the motion, Dasko asked that Bill 132, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act which was passed in 2019, receive Royal Assent. The Bill includes a new section regarding the Highway Traffic Act 75.1 that would make it an offence to tamper with motor vehicles by (a) removing, bypassing, defeating or rendering inoperative all or part of a motor vehicle’s emission control system or (b) modifying a motor or motor vehicle in any way that results in increased emissions from the level to which it was originally designed or certified by the manufacturer of the motor or motor vehicle. The motion also calls on the Province to prohibit the sale of exhaust systems that exceed 80 decibels; funding to Police organizations to purchase decibel monitor devices; and include stricter penalty provisions such as a fine with a minimum of $500 and a loss of three demerit points.
“I am pleased that the motion was passed unamiously. It is clear that Councillors across the Region all agree that more needs to be done regarding excessive vehicle noise. I truly believe that this approach will help assist our law enforcement officers.” said Councillor Dasko.