A judge in Ontario on Monday banned protesting truckers that are parked in the streets of Ottawa from constantly honking their horns for 10 days.
Truckers and protestors have been blocking the streets since Jan. 28 to challenge Canada's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Hugh McLean granted the 10-day injunction, saying that the loud protest is interfering with "citizens’ right to quiet."
"People have a right to protest various things in various ways," McLean said.
Although he added that, "Tooting a horn is not an expression of any great thought."
Zexi Li, a 21-year-old Ottawa resident, filed a lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court seeking $9.8 million against the truckers, according to The Toronto Star.
"The Class Members are living in daily torment caused by the incessant blasting of truck horns," the suit claims.
Li claims that the honking noise from the truckers was causing emotional distress, sleeping difficulties, and disrupted the peace of her home, among other complaints. The suit names Chris Barber, Benjamin Dichter, Tamara Lich and Patrick King as organizers of the "Freedom Convoy," based on their association with the social media accounts that are organizing the protests.
McLean clarified that the injunction is only temporary because it's expected that people would want to be heard in court on the issue.
Paul Champ, the lawyer representing Li, said that the noise from the horns had volumes of 105 to 120 decibels, similar to the sound of a sporting event or rock concert.
"Every hour this goes by, there is harm to the people of Centretown," Champ said.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has asked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford for 1,800 additional personnel to "quell the insurrection" from the "Freedom Convoy." Watson also declared a state of the emergency on Sunday in response to the "Freedom Convoy" protests.
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