Citizens of St. John's have no protection against light trespass. If someone inadvertently or purposely shines bright lights in your windows or on your property the City can do nothing about it. Since January 2022, there have been more than twenty complaints about bright lights in St. John's and most have been answered the same way ours was - "no action required."  Most other modern cities already have by-laws that cover this. Mississauga's nuisance lighting by-law levies a fine of up to $10,000 for a first offence. 

Exposure to bright light is known to disrupt the human circadian rhythm, which in turn can cause insomnia, disease and can also accelerate tumour growth.  Bright lights can cause retinal damage.  Bright lights cast deep shadows which actually decreases security in a neighbourhood.

St. John's City Council needs to give City Staff the tools to deal with this issue when it arises, as soon as possible.  Please consider signing our petition, and if you have time, call 311, email access@stjohns.ca, or contact your councillor via telephone or email - https://www.stjohns.ca/en/city-hall/mayor-and-council.aspx

Learn more about the health and environmental costs of exposure to bright lights here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2627884/