VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As the weather clears up, you may find your quiet, sunny afternoons are being shattered by unnecessary noise from cars or motorcycles.

Excessive car or motorcycle noise can come from things like a loud muffler, stereo systems, and even squealing tires, but how loud is too loud?

According to police, the key term you need to keep in mind is “unnecessary” if you’re looking to do something about it, so not by accident or inability.

“The best thing to do is notify your local police traffic enforcement unit,” Deas Island Traffic Service RCMP Sg.t Lorne Lecker explains. “If we do lay a charge for this, the person who gave the information would have to go to court and they would have to be able to explain to the court why they feel this is unusually loud, unnecessarily loud.”

And while a loud car or motorcycle may be just unpleasant to listen to, it could, in some cases, pose as a threat to those around it.

“It can be a bit of a safety issue, as well, if it’s so loud, and also issues for pedestrians or infants — you can’t hear other horns, you can’t hear other things on the roadway that could help you if you’re a pedestrian or a cyclist, or another motorist, as well,” Sgt. Jason Robillard with the Vancouver Police Department says.

Robillard says you can always complain to the VPD’s traffic section, by going online, but adds there are some other options you can consider, too.

“You can also call the non-emergency line, but if you think it’s an emergency — a noisy muffler sometimes is not, but if it’s very, very loud and continuing on, that’s your judgement call to call,” he explains.

Officers can also use their judgement when it comes to stopping a noisy vehicle, and don’t have to measure the actual decibels.

The fine if you’re caught and convicted, by the way, is $109 and three points off your license.

-With files from Denise Wong and Hana Mae Nassar