Merida, Yucatan — The Directorate of Urban Development is targeting 20 establishments, including bars, cantinas, gyms and shops, which use loud speakers to promote themselves.
The sites will be notified that they will be shut down if they continue to exceed lawful noise levels.
Nightclub noise has been an ongoing issue in Merida. But this sweep focuses on businesses that use blaring music or spoken promotions intended to attract customers.
The head of the city agency, Federico Sauri Molina, said inspectors will travel throughout the city to measure decibel levels.
“With the devices that were recently delivered, City Council staff will not only measures the noise within the store, but also from where the complaint was generated, to determine the degree of affectation,” he explained to Sipse.
Businesses will at first be given a warning, but could be fined up to 2 million pesos if they continue making excessive noise after 10 days. Repeat offenders also risk having their business licenses suspended or revoked.
“We are not demonizing any particular establishment,” said Sauri Molina.
In residential areas, decibels are limited to 55 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and 50 overnight. Fifty decibels is compared to a “quiet suburb, conversation at home,” according to IAC Acoustics.
In an industrial or commercial zone, 68 decibels are allowed during the day, and 65 overnight.
With information from Sipse