Alicante Local Police issued 53 fines for noise violations in one month

Alicante Council’s Local Police conducted 457 interventions and issued 53 sanction reports during the first month of the special monitoring operation for violations of the municipal legislation on Noise Pollution Protection, in which fifty officers participated. Of the 53 reports issued, 21 were for significant infractions, while the others were minor. This special operation will run till September 30.

Julio Calero, Councillor for Security, feels the program “is having a direct effect on reducing noise in the municipality.” Alicante, according to him, “is not a particularly noisy city, but it does have some hot spots of particular incidence, which have been emphasised by this initiative.” In this regard, Calero argues, “the campaign is meeting its objectives of raising awareness among citizens and businesses about the importance of respecting noise limits, acting proactively and dissuasively in the areas identified as the most problematic and ensuring the effective enforcement of the ordinance’s sanctioning regime.”

Types of intervention and sanctions

Of the total number of interventions performed, 295 were on the night shift, 148 on the afternoon shift, and 14 on the morning shift. The majority of interventions (204 in total) were for noise in private houses, followed by interventions in public places (126), premises/establishments (92), cars (22), and authorised neighbourhood gatherings (13).

The Noise Pollution Protection Ordinance categorises infractions as minor, serious, or extremely serious. Very significant infractions result in fines ranging from €12,001 to €300,000 and the permanent revocation of the appropriate licenses or authorisations. Serious infractions result in fines ranging from €601 to €12,000. There is also the possibility of suspending the environmental licence for one month and one day to one year. Minor infractions might result in fines of up to €600.

Scope of Action

In terms of police actions, they prioritise responding quickly to citizen complaints about noise disturbances, conducting sound level measurements with calibrated equipment to effectively enforce sanctions in accordance with the ordinance, and intervening on public streets against individuals or groups who shout, chant, speed, or use loud vehicle stereos that disturb the peace. In addition, premises are inspected to ensure compliance with licensing, closing times, music playing, and noise levels.

In this regard, the police effort involves surveillance of restaurants, outdoor sitting and terraces, noise control on beaches, and alcohol consumption in public areas. It also includes verifying closing times, crowd noise, dragged furniture, live or broadcast music, outdoor seating arrangements, insulation inspection, and sound barrier testing.

Also contemplated are controls on construction activities outside of permitted hours, the use of so-called “free exhaust” in vehicles or driving with loud music and car windows open, the use of loud devices on public roads or that affect the outside environment without authorisation, and loud noise at private parties during established hours, except on Fridays, Saturdays, and the eve of public holidays, when restrictions will be placed on the noise level from midnight

The scope of this special operation will be centred on leisure zones, streets with a high concentration of hospitality facilities, parks, squares, and residential areas with a history of noise complaints.

All of these actions are supported by sound level meters that have been approved by the Urban Planning Discipline Unit as essential. The Local Police enforce compliance with the ordinance and, if required, vocally request the stop of any activity that interferes with residents’ rest, and may even disperse or evict inhabitants in suitable circumstances based on proportionality criteria.

Author: Derek Appleton