(PEMBROKE, ON) - The Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be launching Operation Decibel on August 16, 2021 due to concerns of loud, illegally modified vehicles in the detachment area.
The campaign, which will run until August 22, 2021, will address loud and unnecessary noise from motor vehicles which have been modified by removing the mufflers, or modifying the exhaust system.
Section 75 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) states:
Every motor vehicle or motor assisted bicycle shall be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and excessive smoke, and no person shall use a muffler cut-out, straight exhaust, gutted muffler, Hollywood muffler, by-pass or similar device upon a motor vehicle or assisted bicycle.
Further, section 75 (4) of the HTA includes a section that reads as follows: "…nor shall the driver at any time cause the motor vehicle to make any unnecessary noise." The fine for unnecessary noise and improper muffler violations is $110 each.
No decibel reading is required for court or a conviction as officers can determine if the noise is loud enough to issue a ticket.
Officers will also be on the lookout for other illegal vehicle modifications, unsafe vehicle conditions and aggressive driving behaviours which can often accompany unnecessary noise violations.
UOV OPP Detachment Commander Inspector Stephan Neufeld stated,
"The Upper Ottawa Valley OPP has listened to local residents and Police Service Boards regarding the excessive and unnecessary noise generated by a small minority
of car and motorcycle drivers. The issue has risen to the level where the noise is having a negative impact on residents' quality of life.
The goal of Operation Decibel is to address this situation in our community."