Round-the-clock bylaw enforcement in Mississauga expected to reduce street racing, wild parties
Published February 6, 2023 at 10:22 am
Eight new bylaw enforcement officers added to Mississauga’s ranks will give the City round-the-clock coverage as it tries to reduce out-of-control street parties, dangerous street racing and other late-night and overnight disturbances that are going unchecked.
City of Mississauga councillors agreed last week, just prior to approving the City’s 2023 budget, to beef up Mississauga’s overnight bylaw enforcement team.
The plan will add 10 staff in total–the eight enforcement officers in addition to a supervisor and an administrative position–at a cost of $689,700 in 2023.
The notion of additional enforcement was introduced in November by Ward 5 Councillor Carolyn Parrish, who said at the time that last summer in the Malton area of the city was especially troublesome.
Terrific day. My motion adds 8 new bylaw officers for 24/7 coverage. Especially for sound infractions: car racing, raucous backyard parties and fireworks til 4:00am. Pilot project adds nothing to 2023 budget,using reserves. Good solid test to see what’s needed and how to deploy.
— Carolyn Parrish (@carolynhparrish) January 25, 2023
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“When we go into budget (discussions), I have a few little requests, one of which is to expand our bylaw enforcement staff because we don’t have overnight bylaw enforcement,” Parrish told fellow councillors and City staff at a meeting of general committee last Nov. 23. “And all the troubles that happened lately since COVID with the racing cars, and the muffler changes, and street parties, and fireworks parties labelled riots–they all happen at night.
“And if nobody’s getting hurt, the police aren’t coming out. So, I will be looking at the budget from the perspective of serving most of our people and addressing most of their problems.”
The “muffler changes” Parrish referenced have to do with the practice of altering a car’s muffler so it produces a much louder noise.
Peel Regional Police target such vehicles on a regular basis, but they can’t be everywhere all the time, the councillor noted.
“Bylaw officers, absolutely we need them round-the-clock. We’re probably the only city that doesn’t have them,” said Parrish at the time. “These are the things I’m going to be looking at because it hurts the most up in Malton because they’re so isolated. You get all these calls all the time. This last summer has been really bad for noise, car racing, all kinds of things up there.”
Responding to Parrish’s Jan. 25 Twitter post (see above), one resident said: “Better stop car racing in Westwood Mall complex. Students are making it difficult to drive in mall parking.”
Parrish replied, noting that “Six of them charged with stunt driving in one evening. Cars confiscated for a week. Insurance will go through the roof. Peel Regional Police did a great job. With City bylaw 24 hours, 7 days a week, you will see a difference.”
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