The Jalisco State Congress Thursday gave a thumbs up to the “Ley Antiruido” (Anti-noise Law), an initiative that will see establishments and individuals that fail to keep noise levels within permitted levels slapped with severe sanctions.
The new statues regarding anti-social noise form part of the state’s environment law, known as the Ley Estatal del Equilibrio Ecologico y Proteccion del Ambiente.
The bill’s sponsor, Congressman Augusto Valencia Lopez of the Movimento Ciudadano (Citizens Movement), said the legislation was created after lengthy discussions with multiple sectors of society, including representatives of residents’ associations, academics, business people and public officials.
Bars, night clubs and restaurants that run afoul of the new law, Valencia noted, will be hit with fines upward of 50,000 pesos and face closure and the revocation of licenses after “three strikes” within a 12-month period.
The law also prohibits setting off “excessively noisy” fireworks outside of a 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. time frame. Churches that traditionally trigger early morning fireworks during their religious fiestas must obtain prior authorization. Municipal governments will have the power to fine institutions or individuals that violate the regulations.
Under the new law, municipal police have the authority to arrest individuals if continuous unreasonable noise is detected coming from a private house or property for 30 minutes or longer. If the transgressor/s refuse to heed an initial warning, they can be detained for a period of up to 36 hours, as well as face economic sanctions.
To help them in their task, municipal police officers will be equipped with sound level meters, Valencia said.
Valencia rejected an accusation that the law has been “watered down” to appease the private sector. Most contentiously, the legislation does not set any noise limits for business establishments; each municipality is directed to decide on their own ceilings for what is acceptable.
The new legislation also requires state and municipal authorities to attend to complaints about noise on a round-the-clock basis. No longer will police be able to refuse to investigate complaints about noise.
The new anti-noise law also covers the excessive use of car horns. Transgressors may face fines of between 80 and 400 pesos.