Re: Prince George motorists.
Shirley Olms' letter to the editor on Aug. 18 opened up a speeding issue that not only pertains to the Hart, it pertains throughout P.G.! Speeding coincides with noisy mufflers. In order for the after market installed mufflers to achieve their most desired effect the driver must have the peddle to the metal to obtain his effective loud noise, hence, offensive noise, coupled with exceeding the speed limit. Yippee, no police in site.
Let us fast reverse. In earlier years, prior to Jake breaks on trucks, pollution was not a household word. If one had a faulty muffler (noisy) the police, with their sensitive ears would be able to seek you out and issue you a ticket for a faulty muffler.
Now lets fast forward to the present day. Industrial truckers that cater to the lumber town that we are and contribute hundreds of thousand dollars annually to our economy are being fined for applying their Jake break for a few seconds at a stop light/sign.
Now here is where it gets really stupid. The vehicles with after-market installed noisy mufflers are able to accelerate for multiple blocks creating (motorcycles the worst) excessive, extremely loud noise and breaking the speed limit in residential areas are able to do so without any violation. Does any governing authority in P.G. get the picture here?
In closing let me give you two extreme examples.
First, I was exposed to a motorcycle speeding down a multiple residential street with extreme rumbling exhaust pipes, with his radio blaring over the sound of the pipes. First prize for super-duper bozo operating his bike!
Secondly, one fall morning as I was sitting on a sundeck having coffee in the Foothills area, a motorcycle started out from the downtown area.
I very clearly, could follow his loud continuous travel all the way to Northwood Pulp.
In conclusion, Jake breaks do not even remotely compare to the noise of after-market loud mufflers, yet truck drivers/owners are subjected to a fine if their Jake breaks are applied within city limits.
Something in the City of P.G. bylaws are not in tune with 2016 and the right of residents to be afforded peace and quiet.
It will be a daunting task to correct, however, to do nothing is not the answer. Prince George is near the top of the ladder for crime. Do we also want to be at the top of the ladder for noise and speeding in our city?
P.S. I do not own a truck.
Frank Clorett
Fort McMurray
