Our look back at earlier days of Cochrane takes us this week to the Northland Post issue of July 15th, 1976, and a judge who was cracking down on noise.
Judge Marcel Leger dealt with several cases of cars and motorcycles making too much noise.
He said he wouldn’t hesitate to impose the maximum fine of a hundred dollars for a second offence. But he held back and fined one man $78.00 or 15 days in jail.
Public library archivist Ardis Proulx-Chedore picks up the story:
“Several other charges of making unnecessary noise were also heard against Cochrane residents. All were charged for the first time under the section of the Highway Traffic Act and were fined $23.00 or five days in jail.”
The judge said he wouldn’t back down on heavy fines for second time offenders. “The law permits fines of up to $100.00 and/or a jail term. I will use the full weight of the law to ensure that those people who are causing the problems will learn that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable.”
Previous to that, the fines were nominal – in the $10.00-$20.00 range.