Number of noisy drivers ticketed on Saskatoon roads climbing

It's getting a little louder on Saskatoon streets.

The number of tickets police have issued for noisy vehicles in Saskatoon jumped by 67 per cent year-over-year, with police recording 162 tickets in 2018compared to 97 the year prior.This is the third year police recorded a jump, as officers handed out only 75 such tickets in 2016.

"We can't deny that every year there are more cars on our streets," said Staff Sgt. Patrick Barbar with the service's traffic unit of the increase. "But also more increased awareness of this being an issue."

Under the city's noise bylaw, which council voted to amend in 2014, motorcycles producing noise that exceeds 92 decibels are prohibited in Saskatoon. Barbar said tickets they've handed were spread across a variety of vehicles.

Despite all motor vehicles being covered by the city's noise bylaw and prohibited from making excessive noise under provincial legislation, motorcycles are the only type in Saskatoon with a decibel level attached.

With warmer weather, city police are looking to educate and inform drivers who may have motorcycles with maxed-out mufflers. The service has already hosted two noise-monitoring events where riders can check their decibel levels, with a mandatory check on June 1 and a voluntary noise clinic on Thursday.

The events allow police to have an ongoing dialogue with motorcycle enthusiasts in the city. No tickets will be issued at the voluntary events.

"We're just going to measure the sound and let them know," he said. "We're not going to make any notes. We're not going to take down names or license plates or anything like that."

Wayne Watson, a general manager at Discovery Motorsports, said he feels the voluntary clinics are "an excellent idea," as it gives riders a chance to check their levels and provides police with information about what people are riding.

"There's a multitude of different bikes out there all making different pitches and different sounds, and I think it educates them as well to what's legal and what's not legal," he said.

Some people in the city are actually taking steps to make their vehicles louder. One car stopped by the Saskatoon police had a modified muffler that had essentially been hollowed out to produce more sound.

Watson said those making these types of modifications on any vehicleshould think twice as they can cause significant damage.

"There's a reason that those pipes are built a certain way," he said. "You start modifying them on your own, you're just asking for trouble down the road."