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Bracebridge council considers crackdown on mufflers, squealing tires and engine revving

Mathiasville residents say they’re fed up with their noisy neighbours and they want Bracebridge mayor and council to take action.

During the most recent Bracebridge council meeting, Deborah Anderson and Ray Zylstra told council that the problems along Matthiasville Road have been progressively escalating over the past two years.

The residents claim that neighbours have been engaged in stunt driving, speeding, driving without proper mufflers, setting off fireworks at inappropriate times and generally intimidating the neighbourhood.  Anderson said the situation has become so precious that they have had to install security cameras and no longer leave the house unattended for more than a short period of time for fear of what their neighbours might do.

Anderson said both the OPP and Town bylaw have been contacted on numerous occasions, but the problems they’re facing appear to fall between the jurisdiction of the two bodies. A further problem is that no one typically shows up until long after the infractions have occurred, making it difficult for authorities to hold anyone to account.

The delegation said they have videos, photos and eyewitnesses to the violations.

They said more must be done to tighten Town bylaws, including increased restrictions on operating a vehicle without a muffler in good working order, squealing tires on a vehicle and increased penalties for repeat offenders.

Coun. Rick Maloney said the issue is broader than just Matthiasville, as he’s heard of similar situations in other parts of town. He said he would like to see a more “helpful” response from the OPP.

Coun. Don Smith said he would like to see the head of the Bracebridge OPP attend a council meeting to discuss the situation, and staff agreed to reach out to the OPP in an effort to set up the meeting.

Council considered changing the noise bylaw during the meeting, but Mayor Graydon Smith said it’s important to ensure the wording of any new bylaw is correct.

“Making up official bylaw changes on the fly is a dangerous game,” said Mayor Smith.

Town staff agreed to look at the proposed changes and return to council.

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One Comment

  1. Dinny McCraney says:

    It is time for politicians and police everywhere to see that laws and bylaws are enforced!
    Failure to do so results in the freedom of lawbreakers to flaunt authority and makes a mockery of the laws that are there to ensure peace and safety for all. Stop handling these offenders with kid gloves!