There’s growing concern that parties in Guelph’s suburbs are getting out of hand. To curb the behaviour, the city wants to create a new bylaw.
But it wants something stiffer than a noise complaint but softer than a criminal offense.
It’s football season in Guelph and with it comes parties. Drinking games are in place but a proposed nuisance bylaw could have neighbours calling the cops and putting a cap on the fun.
On St. Patrick’s Day, Guelph Police responded to more than 200 calls for service, handing out tickets for noise violations and public intoxication.
But right now, there’s nothing in between and the City of Guelph wants to change that.
“We all go to parties,” says Ian Findlay, Guelph Councillor, “and parties can be fun but when parties get out of hand, that’s what the issue is.”
It isn’t just party throwers targeted in this new bylaw. Any protests lasting longer than 24 hours and any camping on public property would also fall under these new bylaw provisions.
Public nuisance tickets in other municipalities range from $450 to $25,000 but Guelph hasn’t yet set a price.
For the students, the idea that a nuisance ticket could carry extra costs doesn’t sit well.
The issue goes to committee on Monday. If approved, it could become a city bylaw within one or two council meetings.
