DISCLAIMER: The following article is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and does not reflect the opinions of the Richmond Sentinel. In the last edition of our series, we took a look at the quirky laws and bylaws found in the Province of Prince Edward Island, as part of our 13-part series. In this edition, we head to the province known for its rich Acadian and British heritage, natural landscapes, and a world-famous hill that pulls your car up, to see what quirky laws and bylaws were or still are enforced today. 

1. The phonograph, later named the gramophone was a machine invented in 1877 used to play music using a tiny needle, this early form would soon be recognized as a record player in the 1940s. As part of the Town of Sussex’s Nuisance Bylaw 750-12, the town enacted a bylaw in 2015 that “prohibited the use of radio, television, public address, phonograph or musical instruments with ‘such degree in loudness so as to disturb the peace’”. The bylaw is still enforced today and may result in a $100-$200 fine if caught violating the bylaw. 

2. Traditional football, also known as soccer, and hockey are two of the most popular sports in New Brunswick based off of participation and player registration. Sports in general is bound to produce some rowdy fans in public, at bars, and even in the comfort of one’s own home. In 2007, the Municipality of Saint John enacted the Noise By-law M-22, section 2 prohibiting “yelling, shouting, hooting, or unreasonably loud whistling or singing” in a manner that disturbs others in public or nearby homes. The goal of the bylaw is to protect residents from excessive noise, violators will be issued a fine of $50 to $200 depending on the severity and whether it is a repeat offence. The bylaw is still enforced today and a hotline to report your neighbours is available, hopefully no one abuses the availability of this helpline by continuously calling to report their neighbour for the slightest inconvenience. 

3. Saturday mornings during the spring and summer months are regarded as the most ideal times for having garage sales. From selling knick knacks to vintage items, the possibilities are endless. However, garage sales continue to face obstacles, as the traffic for online sites like amazon, Temu, Alibaba and more continue to rise, taking potential customers away from local garage sales. In the Town of Edmunston, that isn’t the only difficulty, according to a Bylaw No. 13R2014, a household is only permitted to host exactly two garage sales per calendar year. The bylaw, enacted in 2014, was enacted to prevent commercial garage sales that would potentially cause traffic congestion and parking issues in residential neighbourhoods. Violators of this bylaw were subject to a $250 fine, as the bylaw continues to be enforced today. 

4. Billiards is a game that a lot of people can enjoy and has become a popular casual activity for friends to make conversation and enjoy each other’s company. Shockingly, this is not an activity that can be readily enjoyed everywhere in St. George, New Brunswick. According to the New Brunswick Local Governance Act, St. George’s Bylaw No.11 that was enacted in 1974, the operation of a public pool, billiard, bagatelle, or pigeonhole table without a proper license is prohibited. The bylaw is still currently enforced and requires anyone who wishes to host any of those activities, to have a valid municipal license. Violators of the bylaw could result in a monetary fine. 

5. TRICK OR TREAT! The annual tradition where kids make the journey out to their local neighbourhood after attending school, dressed as their favourite cartoon characters or celebrity, going from door to door to ask for candy is one that everyone loves. This tradition is so great that sometimes even young adults or adults partake in the tradition, often using their siblings as an excuse to score more treats. Except for those in Bathurst, New Brunswick, in 2005, the municipality of Bathurst enacted a bylaw that set a curfew on the trick or treaters and prohibited people over the age of 14 from engaging in door-to-door trick-or-treating. The curfew, prohibited the wearing of face disguises after 7 p.m. but was later extended to 8 p.m. Today, the bylaw banning adults from engaging in trick-or-treating is still enforced with the curfew still at 8 p.m. and the age limit raised to 16. 

6. Living in British Columbia, we’re no stranger to rain, having to deal with it almost 75 per cent of the calendar year, it is possible to get caught in the splash zone of buses or passing by vehicles. In Moncton, New Brunswick, it is actually against the law to splash a pedestrian while driving. According to the municipality’s Use of Streets Bylaw, under Section 2(h), no person shall drive a motor vehicle on any street so as to splash water, mud or snow on a pedestrian. The bylaw was enacted to maintain public safety and courtesy and was introduced in the 2000s due to a rise in complaints about drivers soaking people. Till this day, the bylaw is still enforced and violators can be fined up to $175 per incident. 

7. The province of New Brunswick is very unique compared to the other provinces and territories. New Brunswick is the only province that is officially bilingual, recognizing both English and French as equal languages in law, government, and public services. Provincially this was made official in 1969, mandating that all government services, communications, court proceedings, and education be equally accessible in both languages. It was recognized nationally in Section 16.1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. You’d think if any province was officially bilingual it would be Quebec, not New Brunswick. 

8. Our final interesting law or bylaw is not your traditional law. In fact, one can argue that it breaks some laws of science, or does it? Discovered in the 1930s and recognized as a local attraction in the 1950s, Moncton, New Brunswick is home to the infamous Gravity Hill. Upon reaching a certain point on the hill, drivers are able to shift their vehicle into neutral, as the vehicle begins to roll backward, almost as if it was rolling uphill. The reality of it is the car is rolling downhill visual cues create an illusion convincing the brain that they are being pulled uphill.

If you think we missed any quirky laws in the province, feel free to email us at newsroom@richmondsentinel.ca or comment under the post on one of our social media accounts. In the next edition we look at what we think are the most interesting or quirky laws and bylaws across the country.