Pipe down this weekend, Waterloo tells students as nuisance bylaw amended
Councillors raise concerns about requiring ID from students being fined under bylaw
Waterloo city council is telling university students they need to quiet down, they're being too loud during homecoming weekend.
Councillors voted in favour of amending the city's public nuisance bylaw to include Wilfrid Laurier University's homecoming weekend. It means, causing "nuisance noise" such as playing music too loud is a violation at any time of the day. This year it will be in effect this upcoming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
In past few years, homecoming parties have grown to thousands of students taking over Ezra Avenue in Waterloo, similarly to the unsanctioned St. Patrick's Day street party.
Coun. Royce Bodaly raised concerns about shutting down house parties that are too loud, which could lead to students moving the party outside to Ezra Avenue.
Shayne Turner, director of municipal enforcement services for the city, said officials would go to the house party to tell them they're being too loud, but the goal isn't necessarily to shut down the party.
"That would start with a typical enforcement of our noise control bylaw; however, if the situation were to change and we had to go back we could always change the tool that we use" to bring the party under control, Turner said.
The bylaw allows for the inclusion dates to change, depending when Laurier's homecoming football game is held. The bylaw already applies on March 16, 17 and 18 when students have celebrated St. Patrick's Day by taking over Ezra Avenue.
Concerns about ID
There was also some debate by councillors over a change to the bylaw to ask people to properly identify themselves when being issued a ticket.
Councillors questioned if that could lead to racial profiling and raise privacy issues.
Coun. Jen Vasic said few municipalities have the authority to demand ID from people.
"I'm not sure I want to be ahead of the curve on that," she said. "I want to be extra cautious."
Mayor Dave Jawrosky noted any time a person is formally charged, they're asked for ID.
"It's just whether or not they are compelled to be accountable for their actions and provide that identification so that we can actually proceed," he said. "There's people who think they can get away with things."
He said it will help assist with accountability, ensure the right people are being fined and summoned to court and it may also help the city in collecting fines.
Coun. Diane Freeman said residents are fed up and want the parties to stop.
"I think we've heard loud and clear from the community that they want council to use the tools available to them to help stem … some violence that's happening in conjunction with this and holding people accountable and this will help move that along," she said.
Councillors ultimately voted 5-3 in favour of amending the bylaw to require proper identification when a ticket is issued.