WHEREAS The City of Kamloops receives numerous complaints from its residents who live adjacent to provincially designated highways and municipally designated truck routes, regarding noise emitted from truck engine retarders; AND WHEREAS a review of those concerns with representatives of trucking organizations and other interest groups concluded that improperly maintained andor modified exhaust systems are a likely cause of those noise problems; AND WHEREAS the measures available to the City in dealing with this issue such as erecting advisory signs, working with the RCMP and increasing awareness within the trucking industry on the proper use of engine retarders have met with limited success: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that mandatory truck exhaust system inspections be part of the biannual inspection program conducted by the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Division, to ensure that exhaust systems have been properly maintained and have not been modified.
Ministry of Transportation Vehicle exhaust systems are part of the mandatory semi-annual inspection for all commercial vehicles required by the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations and are subject to further inspection at any roadside vehicle safety checks. The Ministry is aware of the concerns over excessive exhaust noise emitted from commercial vehicles around Kamloops and in other urban areas. In March 2005, a letter was sent to remind all designated inspection facilities and authorized inspectors that the exhaust system, including the muffler, is part of the truck and power unit inspection criteria, as outlined in the Inspection Standards Safety and Repair Regulation. Authorized Inspectors were reminded to ensure that vehicles inspected meet the applicable inspection criteria, which includes a properly functioning exhaust system, before issuing a certificate of approval. In response to local concerns, the Ministrys Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement staff has increased mobile enforcement patrols on the routes noted by the City of Kamloops, notably Highway 5A.