A petition has been launched by some St. John’s residents concerned about the use of extremely bright lights in residential areas.

The petition is calling on the city of St. John’s to address the installation of powerful lights that can bathe huge areas in bright light and cast deep shadows, causing disruption and annoyance to nearby residents and which can reduce visibility because of their brightness.

The city of Mississauga has introduced by-laws against so-called nuisance lighting, with fines of up to $10,000 dollars for a first offence.

Christina Smith says two lights have been installed in the Battery neighbourhood of Signal Hill that are making things difficult for local residents.

Smith says the lights are not security lights; they are actually parking lot lights—or area flood lights—that are 20,000 lumens each, far more powerful than security lights which are about 700 lumens.