Rural noise bylaw aims at dogs, parties

NEWS/ REGION — Rural residents could be getting a little more peace and quiet if a proposed bylaw finds favour with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, and anyone breaking the bylaw could find themselves paying up to $10,000 a day in fines or even going to jail.

The board of directors will discuss a bylaw Friday that would give them the power to regulate everything from barking dogs to loud music and possibly even noisy wedding parties.

The proposed bylaw is an attempt to deal with complaints from residents who live near an animal shelter in the Merritt area. They say barking dogs at the Angel’s Animal Rescue shelter have been disturbing their peace and quiet for months.

Since the shelter is operating within proper zoning, the board hasn’t been able to do anything about it and directed a few weeks ago that an anti-noise bylaw be drafted for consideration.

Judanna Dawn-Caros, who operates the shelter, is scheduled to appear at a regular board meeting today to answer the complaints. The bylaw will be discussed at a workshop Friday.

A report to the board from Regina Sadilkova, director of development services, says enforcement would typically begin with a friendly call or visit followed by a ticket or application for a court injunction.

Tickets would be served either by regional staff or by RCMP.

“Experience from B.C. local government has it that most complaints are settled voluntarily, some go to the next step of tickets, and very few go to the courts simply because it is more affordable to comply with the bylaw,” Sadilkova says in her report.

She says other regional districts have had success in garnering compliance with their noise bylaws. Though such things as weddings could be added to the bylaw, the report says most complaints will likely be about barking dogs and loud music.

“We anticipate that it will be enforceable,” says the report, noting that the proposed bylaw has been thoroughly reviewed by lawyers. Based on what happens in other regional districts, she said, two to four noise complaints per month could be expected.

During busy times of the year, that could affect the amount of time staff members spend enforcing regulations such as zoning, illegal dumping, watering restrictions and unsightly premises.

The board won’t make a formal decision at Friday’s workshop but may indicate to staff whether to make some adjustments to it and possibly bring it forward to a regular meeting for a vote.