Crackdown coming for amplified street preachers, buskers

The city is hoping to give Edmonton's noise bylaw more teeth to rein in amplified street preachers and buskers without changing the bylaw at all.

Coun. Michael Oshry said complaints to the city about amplified buskers and street "proselytizers" are second in number only to issues around infill housing.

"They say 'enough is enough'. When it's hours and hours pretty much everyday, it becomes too much," Oshry said in an interview on CBC Radio's Radio Active.

On Monday, councillors at a Community Services Committee meeting were told bylaw officers will now act as witnesses when issuing a ticket.

Until nowthe noise bylaw was seen by the city as dependent on a member of the public, not only filing a complaintbut also to attend court to testify.

"Bylaw officers were never able to give tickets because they always had to get witnesses, witness statements and people to show up in court to swear that this was an issue," Oshry said.

"Now they've come to the conclusion that they can give the tickets themselves.

"It's a reasonable outcome and hopefully there will more enforcement on those rare occasions."

Oshry said the city came to the conclusion after looking at enforcement in other cities.

The fine is set at $250.