The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed an amendment to the Noise Control Act (噪音管制法) that would oblige the managing agencies of all expressways, highways, railroads and mass rapid transit systems to propose plans to reduce noise levels of vehicles traveling on the transportation systems should anyone file a complaint about excessive noise.
Any agency that fails to propose a plan to address the problem within six months would be subject to a fine of between NT$100,000 (US$3,000) and NT$500,000, the amendment said.
People can report any vehicles making excessive noise to the government, the amendment said, adding that the owners of the vehicles would be required to have their vehicle examined within a specific time limit.
Violators will be fined between NT$1,800 and NT$3,600.
Local governments will have the right to categorize certain neighborhoods as “noise control areas,” where factories, recreational facilities, businesses, construction or renovation sites and broadcasting devices would be barred from making excessive noise, the amendment said.
Factories found to make too much noise should make improvements within three months, while recreational facilities or businesses are required to do so within one month.
Construction or renovation sites should make improvements within four days while users of any broadcasting devices such as karaoke machines should make adjustments within 10 minutes of being reported to the government agency in charge of noise control.
“The amendment includes some restrictions on behaviors that may affect people’s daily life,” said Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chung Shao-ho (鍾紹和), a member of the Health, Environment and Labor Committee, which reviewed the amendment.
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