After much community discussion and consultation, the Region of Queens new noise bylaw will remain virtually unchanged.

Region staff had proposed a long list of noises which would be subject to new regulations during daytime hours.

Mayor Darlene Norman says an ad hoc committee composed of members from all seven districts in Queens as well as the bylaw officer and CAO decided not to include that list in the new bylaw.

“The committee felt that noise throughout the day was not going to become part of this bylaw and therefore, all of those were thrown out,” said Norman.

The committee did extend quiet time in Queens by one hour, shifting the start from midnight to 11 p.m. and continuing to end at 6 a.m.

Norman says many of the noise concerns the committee hoped to address were either already covered by another level of government or were outside municipal jurisdiction.

For instance, shooting fireworks is covered under federal law and enforced by RCMP while loud mufflers and subwoofers in cars are the responsibility of the province.

“How can we enforce noisy exhausts when we are not allowed to stop vehicles?” asked Norman. “RCMP have that ability and RCMP also enforce the motor vehicle act.”

The committee did decide to up the fines for noise disturbances.

Currently, fines range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $1,000.

Under the proposed bylaw, the minimum is increased to $500 and the maximum fine jumps to $10,000.

“It was simply felt that $100 is not a significant enough deterrent for someone not to be creating a lot of noise during those quiet hours,” said Norman.

Anyone receiving the minimum fine will only be charged $350 if the fine is paid within 14 days.

Council approved first reading of the new bylaw at their last meeting.

Norman expects the noise bylaw will receive a second reading at a council session in late January.

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