Facing the music for ‘booming sounds’ inside vehicles
View(s):In a recent move to mitigate community noise pollution, the city Traffic Police is to implement the law against private passenger transport buses, three wheelers and motorists emanating ear- splitting music and booming noise from vehicle stereos, sound systems, radios and loud speakers causing a disturbance to the public.
Police Headquarters has issued instructions in a circular to all police stations to take stringent action against private buses and motorists for making excessive noises harmful for to the ear, a senior city traffic police officer said.
According to the Motor Traffic Ordinance, in the event of any loud, disturbing noise, the public has the right to make complaints and the police can take necessary action to prevent sound pollution.
But the law has not been implemented effectively up to now, he said, adding that therefore passengers travelling in private buses and pedestrians are exposed to harmful noises.
A fine of not less than Rs. 3,000 and not more than Rs. 5,000 will be imposed on vehicles emanating extensive sounds through sound systems, causing disturbance to the public.
According to the law, the sound from vehicle stereos must be audible only to the passengers as the human ear cannot bear high sound with intensity more than 80-90 decibels.