Bracebridge Town council has had enough of drivers tearing up local parks and playgrounds with their vehicles, but it appears their ability to take action is limited.
During this week’s general committee meeting, councillors discussed the ongoing issue of squealing burnouts, loud vehicles and drivers doing donuts on town-owned property.
During the summer, the Town received a letter about noise from vehicles in the Matthiasville Road area. They launched into a review of their noise bylaws to see what could be done but chief bylaw officer Michael Mayer said in his report that without By-law enforcement officers having authority under the Highway Traffic Act, enforcement should continue to be conducted by the local Ontario Provincial Police detachment and no changes are required to the Town of Bracebridge Noise By-law at this time.
Coun. Andrew Struther said even during the past two weeks he’s received numerous complaints about squealing tires, unnecessary noise and damage at Peake Fields, Gostick Park and the Bracebridge Fairgrounds.
“It’s not a problem that’s dying down or going away,” said Struthers.
Coun. Chris Wilson said there are ongoing problems at the parking lot located adjacent to the Memorial Arena, and Coun. Barb McMurray said the problem even extends as far as Vankoughnet, where the Village Square has been torn up by ATVs. She added that people are often afraid to speak out publicly about the problem.
While most of the violations in question fall under the Highway Traffic Act, Mayer said tickets for noise violations can be administered even after the parties have left the scene, using eyewitnesses.
Mayer said the best solution is likely for the OPP and Bracebridge by-law departments to continue to work closely together to address these ongoing issues.
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