Hamilton police ticket more than 1,000 drivers for noisy mufflers, loud music, stunting in 6 week span

Officers with the Hamilton Police Service (HPS) laid a total of 1,047 charges related to a project targeting noisy vehicles and street racers.

Project TORQUE (Targeting Operators, Riders and Equipment by Uniform Enforcement) was initiated in June of 2021 after police reported an increase in the number of complaints to its Aggressive Driver’s Hotline.

“We’ve listened to residents from Stoney Creek to Waterdown that the excessive noise caused by a small number of cars, trucks and motorcycles is having a negative impact in our community,” said Superintendent Marty Schulenberg.

“While Project TORQUE is over, we will continue to crack down on poor driving behaviours and vehicles with illegal modifications. We encourage residents to keep reporting to assist us in our efforts to keep our roads safe.”

Complaints filed by residents include loud exhaust systems, illegal light packages, loud stereo systems, and what police call “associated behaviours;” including street racing, dangerous driving, and stunting.

From June 18 to Aug. 31, the breakdown of infractions is as follows:

• 40 stunt-related charges
• 40 vehicles towed
• 371 muffler infractions
• 580 other related offences