UBCM delegates support Noise Camera Pilot Project

Delegates at the 2024 Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) conference have endorsed a resolution calling for the provincial government to adopt a noise camera pilot project. The resolution was submitted to UBCM by the City of Port Moody.

According to a press release issued by Saanich Councillor Teale Phelps Bondaroff, a growing body of evidence links noise pollution to adverse health outcomes, such as increased stress, cardiovascular issues, cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, and sleep disturbances. He said noise pollution also negatively impacts community connectivity and increases stress levels.

Port Moody Councillor Samantha Agtarap, a key proponent of the resolution, shares his views.

“Noise pollution isn’t just an annoyance—it’s a public health issue. Chronic exposure to excessive noise has real consequences for our residents, from sleep disturbances to stress-related health problems, and it disproportionately affects residents that live along busy roads” she said.

“Noise exposure is a major determinant of public health and the well-being of city residents. In other jurisdictions, noise exposure is actively monitored and managed. As our cities grow, we must leverage technology to protect residents and maintain quality of life,” said North Vancouver Councillor Tony Valente.

While there are many sources of noise pollution, vehicular noise pollution is a particularly acute problem in urban areas, particularly from vehicles with modified or aftermarket exhaust systems. Given the nature of vehicular noise pollution, effective enforcement of existing regulations can be challenging and resource intensive.

“Enforcing noise regulations related to vehicle exhaust systems is a challenge. Traditional enforcement methods, such as patrols and roadside inspections, are resource-intensive, can be dangerous for all parties involved, and offer only intermittent coverage,” said Saanich Councillor Teale Phelps Bondaroff, a long-time proponent of noise cameras. “When you are woken up in the middle of the night by a loud vehicle driving past your window, the vehicle is long gone before you can gather the information needed to make an actionable report to the local authorities. Noise cameras help solve this problem.”

Noise cameras, equipped with high-definition audio and visual sensors, can continuously monitor noise levels and capture violations of local noise regulations in real time. This technology has been successfully piloted in other jurisdictions across Canada and the world but has yet to be tested in British Columbia.

The resolution calls for the Province of British Columbia to explore the feasibility of using noise cameras to address vehicular noise pollution, particularly from aftermarket exhaust systems, by creating a pilot project that municipalities can opt into for more effective enforcement. The resolution will now be sent to the province.

“Excessive vehicular noise is not inevitable. Regulations exist to control the noise emitted by vehicles, however, enforcing these regulations is a huge challenge,” said Phelps Bondaroff. “Noise cameras could be an effective tool for addressing the noxious problem of noise pollution.”