Loud motorists could be issued a warning this summer after a city committee voted to try out new decibel-reading technology.

An Edmonton company offered the city free use of a device called Noise Snare, which pairs decibel readings with video, much like photo radar.

Council yesterday voted in favour of testing the device and handing out warnings over the summer months. But not everyone was pleased by the news.

“I just think they have a lot more important things to worry about in a city of over a million people than a noise bylaw when we already have one on the books,” said motorcyclist Cheryl Quaife, who argued that the loud sound of a motorcycle acts as an alert to motorists. “People don’t see bikes,” she said.

Ald. John Mar, however, is pleased that a proposed noise bylaw change will go before council in June.

“I want to have a bylaw where we can start to engage with the public (and) issue warning tickets so people can take corrective action.”