Question: I live in Applegreen apartments in Richmond. I own a 2001 Dodge ram Diesel truck. I just got a letter complaining about my truck being too noisy. It is louder than a gasoline engine but has no modifications done to it whatsoever.
I have been trying to find the regulations for noisy vehicles applicable to my problem. Would you be able to assist me?
You don't say who the letter was from. Would it be either your strata council, the City of Richmond bylaw enforcement or just one of your neighbours?
Bylaw Regarding Noisy Vehicles
The Richmond Noise Regulation Bylaw 8856 is probably the first place to look. It has a "catch all" section:
PART THREE: PROHIBITED TYPES OF NOISE
3.1 Noise Disturbing Neighbourhood
3.1.1 Subject to other provisions of this Bylaw:
(a) a person must not make or cause a sound in a street, park, plaza or similar public place which disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of persons in the neighbourhood or vicinity;
(b) a person who is the owner or occupier of, or is in possession or control of, real property must not make, suffer, or permit any other person to make, a sound , on that real property, which can be easily heard by a person not on the same premises and which disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of persons in the neighbourhood or vicinity.
3.1.2 Subsection 3.1.1 does not apply if a sound level may practically be measured and the sound level is in compliance with Part Two of this Bylaw.
The Criminal Code
The Mischief section of the Criminal Code could also apply to noisy vehicles.
Strata Rules
As for your strata, you will find that in the strata rules that apply to your property.
What is the nature of the complaint other than too much noise? Do you start it and leave it idling for a length of time? Do you accelerate heavily? I would think that if you started it, idled as little as possible and moved off as quietly as you could there should be little merit to a complaint.
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Yes the letter i received is from the strata. The big issue is i need to leave the property ten to six in the morning. However i don't idle at all, when i start the vehicle i start to leave right away so the neighbors only hear the truck for one or two minutes.
I was wondering if there is a certain decibel limit and how would i find out what my truck is.
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I think that you have to start with the strata rules and find out what kind of authority the council has to do anything about the situation. Here is an interesting article about Noisy Neighbours. It examines the noise situation from both sides of the coin and will give you some idea of where to start.
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It's Strata