Mosquito youth repellent device hits Canada after success in Britain

by CBC — April 24, 2008

MONTREAL - A noise-making device that drives away rowdy youth with an irritating high-pitched squeal has quietly landed on Canadian shores after a raucous European debut.

The Mosquito emits a high-frequency screech that can be heard only by young ears, raising claims of discrimination in some European quarters while giving hundreds of business owners peace and quiet from unruly young crowds.

Bureaucrats from the City of Montreal are studying whether the device could legally be used to clear young drug dealers and bums from scary city tunnels, but the machine is already a hit among some West Coast businesses.

So far 150 Mosquitos with a starting price of $1,250 have been sold in Canada. British Columbia has the most customers so far, although test units have also been installed in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Moving Sound Technologies Inc., the Mosquito's Vancouver-based distributor, has set up sales offices in Toronto and Montreal, anticipating big demand will follow sunny spring weather.

"It's awesome," said Lisa Deacon, manager of the 57 Below Bar and Liquor Store in New Westminster, B.C. The bar was one of the first North American businesses to try the device, in 2006.

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Source:CBC