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"Ley Antiruido" (Noise Law)


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Jalisco passed a new Anti-noise law, where police must respond to all complaints, can issue up to a $50,000 peso fines and 36 hours in jail and offenders face closure of their businesses and loss of licenses.

Some commentators said the law was watered down because it does not allow for the shooting of offenders.

https://theguadalajarareporter.net/index.php/news/news/regional/52238-jalisco-state-congress-approves-contentious-anti-noise-legislation

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Will this put an end to a lot of the Mexican freedom,  culture and tradition that initially attracted so many expats?

 

 

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It's being enforced in GDL and Zapopan.  Obviously not here by the recently defeated Chapala administration.  We'll see what the next one brings given the new law also makes specific requirements of municipalities around the state to enforce it.

Your skepticism, however, is certainly warranted based on past experience.  :D

 

10 minutes ago, Dostortas said:

Hahahaha, if it was April 1st I would think this was a joke.  There are no shortages of rules and laws, just very little enforcement.      

 

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In this case it is not April Fool. The state has health concerns for the hearing loss of citizens. Traditional Fiesta should not be affected and I will be among those supporting the Traditional parts of fiestas. That does not include monster speakers.

BTW there are penalties for those admins who don't enforce the law and there is a local mexican group willing to force enforcement.

 

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I see much activity during the first few months of implementation, and then a complete neglect of enforcement. Also, you'll notice that it's worded in such a way that just about everyone can get around it. First of all, churches only need prior authorization. How difficult is that going to be? Not at all. (Plus, what's the definition of "excessively noisy" when it comes to fireworks?) Second, municipalities can decide their own rules. Third, there are no noise limits set for businesses.... and who gets to decide what's the difference between a business and a restaurant?

Police won't be able to refuse to investigate noise problems... as if. And does this mean that people will be fined for honking their horns "excessively" after a football game win?

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On 8/18/2018 at 10:16 AM, ComputerGuy said:

I see much activity during the first few months of implementation, and then a complete neglect of enforcement. Also, you'll notice that it's worded in such a way that just about everyone can get around it. First of all, churches only need prior authorization. How difficult is that going to be? Not at all. (Plus, what's the definition of "excessively noisy" when it comes to fireworks?) Second, municipalities can decide their own rules. Third, there are no noise limits set for businesses.... and who gets to decide what's the difference between a business and a restaurant?

Police won't be able to refuse to investigate noise problems... as if. And does this mean that people will be fined for honking their horns "excessively" after a football game win?

Excellent points - we will have to see how this plays out.  However the mere passage of this law is a big step in the right direction and proves that there are LOTS of Mexicans who are sick of the noise, also evident in the great popularity of the Guadalajara FB page cruzadacontraelruido that now has 33,000 likes.   

https://www.facebook.com/CruzadaContraElRuido/

Since almost no one here has the skill or experience to run sound equipment and understand the basic laws of acoustics - based on what I have had BLASTED into my house for years - there will have to be efforts to create specific guidelines for the noisemakers to comply.  They will need to learn a few basic technical skills, like How To Use A Volume Control, etc.  Bar owners should be proactive and simply ask neighbors if they are being bothered by the noise so they would not have to suffer so much and endlessly complain.  Subjectively speaking (in the lack of technical experience) if the noise is bothering any neighbors, it is too loud.  The FEDERAL sound law basically states that everyone is entitled to a healthy ambiance in their own homes, free of "contaminacion acoustica."

The underlying problem with the noise in MX is that amplified sound is simply incompatible with the open-air concrete Mexican construction which simply creates echo chambers.  When bars or other noisy businesses (or people) are located adjacent to private homes with people trying to relax and sleep, the venues must enclose and soundproof their entire space.  There is no other way if they want to continue to provide loud "entertainment."

I hope the current Chapala administration is not going to have the responsibility of setting the municipality decibel level limits, which are spelled out in the FEDERAL Ley de Sonido.  It's well known that they promoted lots of noisy events simply to reap the permit $$$, caring nothing for the people, and coming in very short in the last election.  There needs to be some real expertise applied to this situation and that seems to be in short supply in MX, sadly.  

The FEDERAL LEY DE SONIDO allows for 55 DB for businesses which is the level of normal human speech.  All noisy events are way above that.  But the traditions/fiestas do have to be respected.  The famous bandas need to turn down their master volume when playing in small towns.  Another very basic sound equipment law is that you play for the size of the paying audience you actually have, not the stadium volume levels of your rock star fantasies.

The problem is aggravated by the fact that digital technology has enabled the sale of "professional" size sound equipment to people with no musical or sound experience.  They need to learn that sound equipment is not a toy, and that operating it is a job skill.  Sadly, there are portable speaker systems that can be very loud that are sold to the general public.

Ideally, the traditional Mexican politeness and consideration for others would take over this whole issue.

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Please note in the above article that it states "...churches that trigger early morning fireworks during their religious fiestas must obtain prior authorization".  Don't you think they will do this and get permission in advance?  I do.   And also note in the same article,  "...police have the authority to arrest individuals if continuous unreasonable noise ...30 minutes or longer".  Usually,  most of the fireworks and cojetes are over with in less than 30 minutes.  And, it would take 15 minutes for the police to respond. So I feel this portion will probably be useless lakeside.  Maybe not.  At least it is a start!

 

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If you follow the social media for this law in Guadalajara it is focused on bars that have continuous loud music that goes on for hours every night and into dawn.  Even then it is a study in frustration for the complainant and the police.  The places comply for a couple days and then are right back to business as usual.  This law isn't going benefit anybody who lives near an evento or has neighbors who party which are occasional occurences.  Anyone who believes this is focused and applicable toward fiesta times and parties is naïve.  

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Note this is further strengthening of a law already in effect and it HAS already been used with some good results in some places in Jalisco.  It wasn't intended to close bars for good anymore than the anti-smoking laws.  It was intended to force them to tone it down and if you follow the news where enforcement has been strong, it has achieved that result in most cases.

 

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I believe it is a strengthening of the existing laws that will continue to do nothing. However, I personally have not seen any news regarding successful implementation on more than a spot basis, and certainly not around here. We all read the report a couple of weeks ago about what a joke it is in SMdeA, where even the mayor laughed at it.

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  • 6 months later...
On 8/18/2018 at 9:47 AM, HarryB said:

In this case it is not April Fool. The state has health concerns for the hearing loss of citizens. Traditional Fiesta should not be affected and I will be among those supporting the Traditional parts of fiestas. That does not include monster speakers.

BTW there are penalties for those admins who don't enforce the law and there is a local mexican group willing to force enforcement.

 

Hello Harry, nice to meet you. I was wondering if you could tell me how to get in touch with that group. My neighbor is a gym whose philosophy is to put the volume of their music at unbearable levels, making my guests run away.

It's a shame because my wife and I put so much effort on making our guests feel at home, cook for them the best food we can, etc.; needless to say that the gym management, which I asked to at least put the glasses on their windows to soundproof a little, don't care about complaints whatsoever and clearly don't respect the constant effort we make and the fact that we invested all we had in this B&B.

The music lasts for 3 hours from 8am to 11am and another 4 from 5pm to 9pm every weekday,; we're DESPERATE!

Thank you very much for your attentions and sorry for my poor English, but my first language is Italian, arrivederci!!!

 

Giovanni

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I feel for you, Giovanni. The gym at Plaza Bugambilias has been getting away with this for 2 or 3 years now, and it has ruined the atmosphere of the entire building. The few stores that are there, the movie-goers, the fast-food customers and owners, the houses nearby, the area in front... it is constant, unwarranted noise directly as a result of lack of insulation and probably a few sheckles paid out. Normally a smart, local business family... they seem to have no remorse and should be ashamed.

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http://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle_popup.php?codigo=5324105

 

Noise equivalency  http://www.noisehelp.com/noise-level-chart.html

 

ACUERDO por el que se modifica el numeral 5.4 de la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-081-SEMARNAT-1994, Que establece los límites máximos permisibles de emisión de ruido de las fuentes fijas y su método de medición.

Al margen un sello con el Escudo Nacional, que dice: Estados Unidos Mexicanos.- Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales.

CUAUHTÉMOC OCHOA FERNÁNDEZ, Subsecretario de Fomento y Normatividad Ambiental, con fundamento en lo dispuesto por los artículos 32 Bis de la Ley Orgánica de la Administración Pública Federal; 51, segundo párrafo, de la Ley Federal sobre Metrología y Normalización; 5o. fracciones V y XV; 15, fracciones III, XII y XVI, 36, fracción II y último párrafo, 37 TER y 155 de la Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente; 8, fracciones III y IV del Reglamento Interior de la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, y

CONSIDERANDO

Que la contaminación acústica es un problema ambiental importante con cada vez mayor presencia en la sociedad moderna, debido al desarrollo de actividades industriales, comerciales y de servicios que constituyen fuentes tanto fijas como móviles que generan diferentes tipos de ruido que, de acuerdo a su intensidad, frecuencia y tiempo de exposición, repercuten no sólo en los seres humanos sino en los seres vivos que conforman los ecosistemas en los que se encuentra inmersa la población humana.

Que el artículo 4o. de la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, establece el derecho de toda persona a un medio ambiente sano para su desarrollo y bienestar, mandato constitucional que implica la protección del conjunto de elementos naturales y artificiales o inducidos por el hombre que hacen posible la existencia y desarrollo de los seres humanos y demás organismos vivos que interactúan en un espacio y tiempo determinados.

Que el artículo 155 de la Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente, prohíbe las emisiones de ruido en cuanto se rebasen los límites máximos establecidos en las normas oficiales mexicanas expedidas por la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, considerando los valores de concentración máxima permisibles para el ser humano de contaminantes en el ambiente que determine la Secretaría de Salud.

Que el trece de enero de mil novecientos noventa y cinco, se publicó en el Diario Oficial de la Federación, la norma oficial mexicana NOM-081-SEMARNAT-1994, Que establece los límites máximos permisibles de emisión de ruido de las fuentes fijas y su método de medición, tema normativo cuya modificación se reiteró en el Programa Nacional de Normalización publicado en el mismo medio de difusión oficial el veintinueve de abril de dos mil trece.

Que no obstante la existencia de la regulación normativa señalada en el párrafo anterior, nuestro país, a nivel internacional, sigue señalándose como ejemplo de naciones en las que se han incrementado los problemas generados por la contaminación acústica. Por ejemplo, la Organización Mundial de la Salud ha estimado que, al menos, 120 millones de personas en el mundo presentan problemas auditivos a consecuencia del ruido excesivo al que están sometidos, sobre todo en las grandes urbes.

Que por su parte, la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE), ha informado que trece millones de habitantes de sus países miembros, entre ellos México, se encuentran expuestos a un nivel sonoro superior a 65 decibeles. Al respecto, recientemente, en el año dos mil doce, la Fonoteca Nacional realizó la medición de los niveles sonoros en cinco puntos diferentes de la capital de la República Mexicana, reportando que en la Ciudad de México se excede el límite superior deseable que recomienda la Organización Mundial de la Salud.

Que lo anterior, impele a adoptar medidas concretas de protección para la salud humana, en aplicación del principio precautorio de acuerdo con el cual, la falta de certeza científica no constituye un obstáculo para adoptar medidas de protección al medio ambiente y a la salud humana, sin que por ello se demerite el proceso de modificación de la regulación existente en la materia.

Que el artículo 51 de la Ley Federal sobre Metrología y Normalización establece que cuando no subsistan las causas que motivaron la expedición de una norma oficial mexicana, el Comité Consultivo Nacional de Normalización correspondiente, podrá modificar la norma de que se trate sin seguir el procedimiento para su elaboración, salvo que se pretendan crear nuevos requisitos o procedimientos o especificaciones más estrictas.

Que en el presente caso, si bien es cierto que subsisten las causas que motivaron la expedición de la norma oficial mexicana NOM-081-SEMARNAT-1994, Que establece los límites máximos permisibles de

emisión de ruido de las fuentes fijas y su método de medición, también es cierto que dichas causas han sido superadas ampliamente por la realidad actual de la incidencia perjudicial del ruido en los seres humanos, lo cual se ha descrito en párrafos anteriores.

Que del análisis de la regulación vigente, se deduce que los niveles máximos permisibles del nivel sonoro en ponderación "A", contenidos en la Tabla 1 de la citada norma oficial mexicana, conllevan a que todas las fuentes emisoras de ruido deben cumplir con los mismos valores, lo cual no es un criterio adecuado; dado que las diversas actividades humanas que se desarrollan dentro de cualquier instalación, no se pueden equiparar, por lo que en opinión de la Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios de la Secretaría de Salud y de la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, es conveniente establecer los niveles de ruido y la zonificación que recomienda la Organización Mundial de la Salud.

Que existen diferencias sustanciales entre los niveles de ruido de una zona residencial, industrial, comercial o de servicios, por lo que la determinación de los niveles máximos permisibles de ruido para cada una de ellas, no genera obligaciones innecesarias a aquellas zonas en las cuales se desarrollan actividades menos ruidosas, ello sin perjuicio de que dicha zonificación represente mayores beneficios en la salud de las personas que se encuentran expuestas a altos niveles de emisión de ruido.

Que en este sentido, la Dirección General de Industria, previa valoración técnica, sometió a mi consideración el presente instrumento, mismo que tiene como finalidad precisar los límites máximos permisibles del nivel sonoro en ponderación "A" emitidos por las fuentes fijas, atendiendo a la actividad generadora del mismo, las zonas en las cuales puede producirse y los horarios en los cuales puede generarse; modificaciones que no crean nuevos requisitos o procedimientos, sino que únicamente precisa e individualiza aspectos técnicos importantes para la determinación de niveles aceptables de ruido y, por lo que he tenido a bien expedir el siguiente:

"ACUERDO POR EL QUE SE MODIFICA EL NUMERAL 5.4 DE LA NORMA OFICIAL MEXICANA NOM-

081-SEMARNAT-1994, QUE ESTABLECE LOS LÍMITES MÁXIMOS PERMISIBLES DE EMISIÓN DE

RUIDO DE LAS FUENTES FIJAS Y SU MÉTODO DE MEDICIÓN"

ARTICULO ÚNICO. Se modifica el numeral 5.4 de la norma oficial mexicana NOM-081-SEMARNAT-1994, Que establece los límites máximos permisibles de emisión de ruido de las fuentes fijas y su método de medición, para establecer lo siguiente:

"5.4 Los límites máximos permisibles del nivel sonoro en ponderación "A" emitidos por fuentes fijas, son los establecidos en la Tabla 1.

TABLA 1. LÍMITES MÁXIMOS PERMISIBLES.

ZONA

HORARIO

LÍMITE MÁXIMO

PERMISIBLE dB (A)

Residencial1 (exteriores)

6:00 a 22:00

22:00 a 6:00

55

50

Industriales y comerciales

6:00 a 22:00

22:00 a 6:00

68

65

Escuelas (áreas exteriores de juego)

Durante el juego

55

Ceremonias, festivales y eventos de entretenimiento.

4 horas

100

 

1 Entendida por: vivienda habitacional unifamiliar y plurifamiliar; vivienda habitacional con comercio en planta baja; vivienda habitacional mixta; vivienda habitacional con oficinas; centros de barrio y zonas de servicios educativos.

TRANSITORIO

ÚNICO. El presente Acuerdo entrará en vigor al día siguiente de su publicación en el Diario Oficial de la Federación.

México, Distrito Federal, a los seis días del mes de noviembre de dos mil trece.- El Subsecretario de Fomento y Normatividad Ambiental, Cuauhtémoc Ochoa Fernández.- Rúbrica.

 This Federal law my husband presented to the mayor's lawyer in San Miguel and the noise from the fair stopped immediately.

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Big article about enforcement in last weeks GDL Reporter.

As noted, enforcement is the problem.  If this changes locally there will be a number of local bars that will have to tone it down.  We have one in particular that needs handling and are watching closely to see if the latest changes actually work.

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It would pay to copy the above chart. Jalisco copied the federal standards, I believe. Free noise meters are available for all smart phones. Noise measurements can be taken at the offenders property line.

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