Using hand-held or power tools that disturb the peace in noise-restricted areas in Taipei City would be banned at certain times, the Taipei City Government’s Department of Environmental Protection said on Friday.
The amendment, effective immediately, states that construction workers or interior decorators would no longer be allowed to use hand-held or power tools that would create noise and disturb the peace in residences and high-rise buildings in noise-restricted areas from 10pm to 8am the following day and from noon to 2pm on weekdays, and from 6pm to 8am the next day on weekends.
Contravening the ordinance could result in a fine of NT$3,000 to NT$30,000 (US$93.97 to US$939.67) per report, it said.
Photo courtesy of the Taipei City Government’s Department of Environmental Protection
City regulations have also divided the city into four noise restriction categories: the first is absolute quiet, the second is reserved for residential areas, the third is for residential, commercial and industrial areas, and the fourth is for industrial or traffic-related areas.
The previous version of the ordinance only stated that construction workers could not use hand-held or power tools at the aforementioned times in category 1 to 3 areas and forbade the use of hand-held or power tools for interior renovation at the aforementioned times across all categories.
The department said the ban was in response to the 7,424 complaints Taipei City residents filed about noise produced by hand-held or power tools, which accounted for 35.3 percent of noise pollution complaints in the city.
Noise generated by interior renovation accounted for 80 percent of complaints about hand-held or power tools, the department added.
The ordinance was amended given the overwhelming complaints from Taipei residents, Air and Noise Pollution Prevention Division Chiu Tian-an (邱天安) said, adding that they hope to restrict noise pollution and guarantee peace and quiet.
He urged people to report any contraventions by calling the 1999 hotline.
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