Politicians cannot use "disco lights" without authorization
The 911 service has received 3307 complaints for noise in 6 days
Adalberto de la Rosa
SANTO DOMINGO. The National System of Emergency and Security Attention 911, together with the Ministry of Environment and the city governments of Greater Santo Domingo will begin, starting now, to regulate the "disco lights", big speakers and other propaganda equipment that the politicians use by means of issuing permits as established by law.
In a press conference held in the Presidential Palace, Zoraima Cuello, the spokeswoman for 911, explained that they are coordinating with the city governments in order that the politicians, religious entities and other groups respect the laws that regulate the use of sound equipment.
She made it clear that until now people have not been complying with the regulations established for the control of noise allowed according to the established schedules and areas.
She recalled that although a politician or any other person might have the corresponding permit in order to promote his candidacy or promote what it is that he desires, he cannot do this with equipment such as a "disco light" with the sound very high as occurs at the present time because it affects the health of the population.
"Because of this, this press conference is important because we are letting everyone that has been thinking of buying speakers and using this type of mechanism know that until now what has been permitted, from this time forward is going to be regulated, and we do not want to have to go through this situation, as we are now doing of having to seize the speakers or have to issue summons to people and submit them to an investigation process," she said.
"We want to remind you all that sonic contamination does not have the same magnitude or priority of an emergency such as a fire, a robbery, a heart attack, a respiratory crisis, or some other critical scenario which require immediate attention," said Zoraima Cuello.
She called on the citizens not to get exasperated and call many times because this ties up the phone lines.
Statistics
Cuello, who is also a Deputy Minister of the Presidency, reported that in the first 6 days of the implementation of the anti-noise program, 911 has received 3307 complaints in Greater Santo Domingo, of which 3032 were for loud music, which was 91.68%; 7.29% were complaints of noise caused by tools and 1% for construction outside of regular work hours.
Of the 3307 complaints received and accepted, 2942 have received a notification by the Police, as the first step, with the following step being the seizure of equipment.
A total of 838 speakers have already been seized and in 37 cases fines were applied by the AMET, while 31 establishments where notified by the Department of Control of Alcoholic Beverages of the Ministry of the Interior and Police. At least 72 citations have been issued through the Justice Department.
The 911 system has received during the 6 days 147 calls of incidents that did not fulfill the criteria established, such as calls for noise made by children during recess, or because someone is speaking in a loud voice, or alarms, animals or speakers on the garbage trucks. The acceptable levels of noise are of 70 dB during the day and 50 dB at night.
Electric generators
The official made it clear that for now the regulations would not be applied on electric generators, because the Environment Ministry has to carry out work in order to prepare the spaces where they are installed and for this a deadline has to be given to the owners in order that they adjust their noise levels to that permitted by the Law.
Zoraima Cuello reiterated that the citizens can make their complaints without fear because the 911 calls are confidential.
In a press conference held in the Presidential Palace, Zoraima Cuello, the spokeswoman for 911, explained that they are coordinating with the city governments in order that the politicians, religious entities and other groups respect the laws that regulate the use of sound equipment.
She made it clear that until now people have not been complying with the regulations established for the control of noise allowed according to the established schedules and areas.
She recalled that although a politician or any other person might have the corresponding permit in order to promote his candidacy or promote what it is that he desires, he cannot do this with equipment such as a "disco light" with the sound very high as occurs at the present time because it affects the health of the population.
"Because of this, this press conference is important because we are letting everyone that has been thinking of buying speakers and using this type of mechanism know that until now what has been permitted, from this time forward is going to be regulated, and we do not want to have to go through this situation, as we are now doing of having to seize the speakers or have to issue summons to people and submit them to an investigation process," she said.
"We want to remind you all that sonic contamination does not have the same magnitude or priority of an emergency such as a fire, a robbery, a heart attack, a respiratory crisis, or some other critical scenario which require immediate attention," said Zoraima Cuello.
She called on the citizens not to get exasperated and call many times because this ties up the phone lines.
Statistics
Cuello, who is also a Deputy Minister of the Presidency, reported that in the first 6 days of the implementation of the anti-noise program, 911 has received 3307 complaints in Greater Santo Domingo, of which 3032 were for loud music, which was 91.68%; 7.29% were complaints of noise caused by tools and 1% for construction outside of regular work hours.
Of the 3307 complaints received and accepted, 2942 have received a notification by the Police, as the first step, with the following step being the seizure of equipment.
A total of 838 speakers have already been seized and in 37 cases fines were applied by the AMET, while 31 establishments where notified by the Department of Control of Alcoholic Beverages of the Ministry of the Interior and Police. At least 72 citations have been issued through the Justice Department.
The 911 system has received during the 6 days 147 calls of incidents that did not fulfill the criteria established, such as calls for noise made by children during recess, or because someone is speaking in a loud voice, or alarms, animals or speakers on the garbage trucks. The acceptable levels of noise are of 70 dB during the day and 50 dB at night.
Electric generators
The official made it clear that for now the regulations would not be applied on electric generators, because the Environment Ministry has to carry out work in order to prepare the spaces where they are installed and for this a deadline has to be given to the owners in order that they adjust their noise levels to that permitted by the Law.
Zoraima Cuello reiterated that the citizens can make their complaints without fear because the 911 calls are confidential.
Adalberto de la Rosa
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