WATERLOO — Waterloo council has tightened its noise controls and given its bylaw officers more powers to help tamp down any student street party that may erupt Saturday on Ezra Avenue.

City bylaw officers now have the authority to compel people to properly identify themselves if they are being charged with an infraction.

That's a power municipalities rarely give themselves. Council approved it 5-3 Monday over concerns that bylaw officers might over-target racialized people, just as Ontario police forces are accused of doing when stopping people.

Racial profiling "is real. And I fear we're putting the cart before the horse," Coun. Jen Vasic said, joining Coun. Tenille Bonoguore and Coun. Royce Bodaly to vote against the step.

"It's about who we see and who we don't see engaging in these behaviours. Sometimes we see things that racialized folks are doing, more or worse than white people."

She pointed to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which has released new guidelines against racial profiling in law enforcement.

"I think there's people who think they can get away with things," Mayor Dave Jaworsky said, in voting to require proper identification.

Until now, bylaw officers ask for identification when laying a charge but can't compel people to produce lawful documents.

"I'm not inclined to go and hold fewer people accountable than we can," Coun. Jeff Henry said.

"I agree we need to have and hold people accountable for their actions," Coun. Sandra Hanmer said.

Provincial legislation that governs enforcement doesn't state that bylaw officers can compel identification. Waterloo will review human rights guidelines while training bylaw officers in the application of their new authority.

In a related step, council voted 8-0 to make it temporarily unlawful to blare music loud enough to be heard on the sidewalk, even in daytime and if no one complains and if no neighbours are bothered.

The idea is that loud music draws a crowd which leads to a street party which creates a public nuisance.

This temporary noise restriction will be in place only during Homecoming this weekend at Wilfrid Laurier University, and later around St. Patrick's Day in March, or on other specific dates that council may assign.

At other times normal noise rules will apply, restricting overnight noise that bothers neighbours.

Public authorities are fed up with unapproved, potentially dangerous street parties, saying it cost the public roughly $1 million to manage the two most recent parties.

But authorities have ruled out blocking streets, turning fire hoses on crowds or firing tear gas, arguing the parties may take years to wind down after becoming a "rite of passage" for students who fear missing out on a good time.

jouthit@therecord.com

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