Noise and the DR - Be Warned

Director PN instructs to intensify actions against noisiness; occupies 119 speakers

https://eldia.com.do/director-pn-instru … 9-bocinas/

The seizure of 119 speakers, 94 audio boxes, 62 twitters, 30 horns and 15 drivers, in addition to the warning to 10 establishments not to play music at high volume out of respect for the people around them, was the The result of an extensive operation carried out by members of the Anti-Noise Department of the National Police.

During the weekend, the interventions were carried out in various sectors of the National District and some areas of the Santo Domingo province.

This notification to businesses is for the purpose of submitting to the rules, otherwise it would be penalized as established by law No. 90-19 on Prevention, Suppression and Limitation of Noxious and Annoying Noises that Produce Noise Pollution.

Impacted places

The towns that were intervened during this weekend's operation were Villa Francisca, San Carlos, Villa Consuelo, Cristo Rey, Villa Juana, Guachupita, Simón Bolívar, Villas Agrícolas; as well as the Espaillat, La Fe and Naco extensions.

As well as the sectors Manganagua, February 27, Colonial Zone, May 30, María Auxiliadora, The Kilometers of Independencia Avenue, Los Praditos, Arroyo Hondo, La Puya, Arroyo Manzano, La Hondonada and Los Girasoles.

In the municipality of Santo Domingo Este, the tour included the places of sale of beverages located in the Ozama and Alma Rosa extensions, where an incident was reported between the acting policemen and the residents of Los Praditos, who dared to confront the authority by launching stones, bottles and even shooting.

Within the framework of respect for the law, the National Police calls on the establishments to comply with what the regulations say, and it is expected that the people who go out to have fun do so while always respecting the spaces and the integrity of the other citizens.

The new head of police has been very active since his recent appointment.

Not exacyly noise but all the urban music played here is normally very loud too so posted in this thread.

Experts warn about the impact of explicit urban music content and limitation of parents correcting their children

https://eldia.com.do/expertos-alertan-s … sus-hijos/

The presidents of the Dominican College of Psychologists, Ana Simó and Ángel Almánzar, president of the Dominican Society of Psychiatry, alerted legislators to how Dominican society is impacted by the explicit content of urban music.

They also warned about how limiting the ability of parents to correct their children will enhance the social problems that maintain a presence in the country, this in observations to paragraphs I and II of article 123 of the draft reform of the Penal Code.

In a meeting with the members of the Permanent Commissions for the Media and for Children, Adolescents and the Family of the Chamber of Deputies , Simó said that the lyrics of these songs reflect the need to generate changes that are required.

The professional of human behavior expressed concern about how the explicit content of urban music has been normalizing eroticism, violence against women, in addition to other factors that contribute to social conflicts.

"The theme is the message that is being carried (...) music has an impact on human behavior and more on our adolescents, a stage in which they develop important factors in their lives," he said.

Simó understands that the task of preserving values ​​should not be left to the State alone, so he called on parents to supervise the music that their children consume to prevent and correct possible distortions.

On his side, Ángel Almánzar, president of the Dominican Society of Psychiatry, considered that the bet of what makes up the current situation is to disintegrate society.

They also warned about how limiting the ability of parents to correct their children will enhance the social problems that maintain a presence in the country.

"If social entities, if the State, if structures such as the Chamber of Deputies do not address these issues responsibly, they will disintegrate society," he said.

He warned to act with authority in the face of the situation with respect for human rights and ethics, "because otherwise we could see ourselves in the mirror of other societies."

About article 123 of the Penal Code

In the meeting with the members of both commissions, the presidents of the medical unions expressed observations on paragraphs I and II of article 123 of the draft reform of the Penal Code.
"One issue is physical abuse, physical damage and another thing is to educate for coexistence to become citizens," said Almánzar.

He warned that limiting the ability of parents to correct their children will enhance the social problems that maintain a presence in the country.

"If we do not educate our children for citizenship, then we will have more gangs, more disorder and more social problems," he added.

The working day this Thursday was headed by the presidents of the Permanent Commissions for the Media and for Children, Adolescents and the Family of the Chamber of Deputies, Elpidio Báez and Isabel de la Cruz, respectively.

Police and music businessmen agree to remove loud sounds from residential areas

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … OE30256190

......Offering details of the meeting, Mr. García, president of the Dominican Federation of Merchants, indicated that a meeting is being coordinated with the mayors of the country to locate the so-called tolerance zones for activities.........

Great initiative but much better if they also reinforce the noise limits anywhere.

This is actually quite humorous!    Put up your hand if you believe colmados will abide by this? OR anyone not a member of this "association"?    Actually even the members of the "association" will balk at this!

It is the time of year when noise gets unbearable in places 24 hours a day.

But the idea of zoning would be a start. At least there are discussions going on in government about noise nuisance. I read they want more environmental noise inspectors in Santo Domingo East.

I live in Bella Vista,  upscale  neighborhood in  Santo Domingo.  In between  5  apartment  torres they opened a damn DISCO.   Blasting music   7 nights a week in a residential neighborhood. Not a barrio. Not the  area of tourists or noise.

No one can get it shut down.  The people who live near here are rich!  (not me)   And they cannot get it shut down and its been 5 months this fight. I moved because of it.  The landlady  cannot rent it and is in jeopardy of losing her place now.

I have ZERO faith that this is being taken seriously. Sorry.

That is just plain bad.

I was lucky where I lived in Bella Vista.

Unfortunately for a weak understaffed police force it is going to take time to correct the ills of this country and noise is certainly a huge public concern but lower priority.

And so one needs to choose very carefully where one lives and even then have ear plugs and all.

Anybody who thinks this country will get better should stick your head a little further in the sand.  It is what it is.  Like it or not.

Next election coming up!

I like the country just the way it is, noise and all.  I love the music and the culture.  I would stay wherever I came from if I don't like the culture where I wanted to move to.  No place on earth is probably not going to be perfect.

Not perfect no one is looking for perfect.

Imagine good working families who can never sleep because a damn colmado opened up next door, illegal and unlicensed and blasting music.  Not just about you.  Most Dominicans hate the loud music until all hours of the night too!

ajthomas23 wrote:

I like the country just the way it is, noise and all.  I love the music and the culture.  I would stay wherever I came from if I don't like the culture where I wanted to move to.  No place on earth is probably not going to be perfect.

And I'm sure you are one to kick your loud speakers out to the front porch to light up the neighborhood at 11pm. Yes the noise and music is part of the culture. What people have an issue with, Dominicans included, is some doing whatever they want with no regard for anyone else. Unfortunately there are lack of 20th century zoning ordinances to prevent operating a disco in a residential neighborhood. Does that make sense to you? Or you just don't care. The "take it or go back to where you came from" comments are just embarrassing.

Music is part of the culture but not at a zillion decibels with super woofers that burst ones ear drums in a residential setting late evening or after midnight or next to a school during daytime. Bachata and Merengue were the cultural staple music but now there is a preference for very loud bass driven urban music by younger people. Is that the culture he means?

Yes the comment take it or go back where you came from also insults the many Dominican families who complain bitterly about this anti social behaviour much more than expats trying to make potential retirees aware of a risk that could ruin their investment in DR.

May I suggest the poster travels more widely in DR and lives in places where Dominicans try to bring up families with constant extreme noise, bad lyrics and little sleep. A barrio in Santo Domingo East might be a good place to enjoy his idealism?

Looks like I struck a nerve with the Expats. People don't get upset or insulting with me because I can deal with the culture. I didn't create this culture and I'm an outsider just like you and I have not done anything in my life time that changed the culture in my own country, so I dam sure not going to waste my time trying to change another's country culture. I love it or leave it. I stay in my lane.

The issue is not you  accepting  but the  suggestion the rest of us need to go home because we choose not to accept abuse of this type!

So, if you want to "stay in your lane" then stay FULLY in your lane.

Gracias Planner.....

ajthomas23 wrote:

Looks like I struck a nerve with the Expats. People don't get upset or insulting with me because I can deal with the culture. I didn't create this culture and I'm an outsider just like you and I have not done anything in my life time that changed the culture in my own country, so I dam sure not going to waste my time trying to change another's country culture. I love it or leave it. I stay in my lane.

The point is this is not an ex-pat issue. Culturally those from more "developed" countries are more sensitive to it, but this has been a problem for the Dominican population for some time, which has intensified with the lockdown environment.  All we ex-pats can do is sit back and applaud the efforts of the current administration. The personal issue I have is observing many ex-pats come here and do stupid things they wouldn't do in their own country, because they can. One can enjoy many freedoms in the DR, but that shouldn't include stomping on someone elses personal rights. Now that is the nerve you say you struck.

Playing music so loud is relatively recent too. 17 years ago it wasnt really an issue but lax government allowed this abuse to flourish.

You cant fix the shortcomings of 16 years of the last government in 16 months but at least there is tangible change happening now.

I would  disagree with you on this. I remember clearly   as a tourist and moving here  18 years ago the issues with music.   Clubs etc were open 24 hours a day and the music blasted.

what has changed is access to these ridiculous  speakers, so now they are everywhere. Over the years more and more have had access to them and the problem exploded!

Technology.  You can't stop it and it will only get worse.  Prices will come down and more will buy it and then the next generation of technology will be out and everyone will want that...it never stops.

Like every generation, as we age we don't always like whats new, we sometimes prefer the older more comfortable style.  That's Human nature.  However, change is guaranteed, although maybe not the changes that you or I want...

***

I cant vouch for resort areas but agree these super loud and deep bass speakers were not the norm in the towns and campo in central DR then. As such it was much better and the bachata and merengue was enjoyed by all at tolerable volume levels in the interior.

So it was in Puerto Plata, Sosua,  La Romana,  Santo Domingo, Santiago  in the first  3 years I was here.  Just an FYI.

Yes change happens. Not talking about the TYPE of music, we are talking about the  Volume of music and how much more widespread it is!

And do not mix  covid / vaccines and politics in this thread! ANY of those comments will be deleted!

Not sure where to post this but with longer drinking hours you will get longer noisy hours:

From today, authorities make more flexible hours for the sale of alcoholic beverages

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … MB30469566

The Ministry of the Interior and Police announced the relaxation of the hours for the sale and sale of alcoholic beverages, which will govern from this Wednesday until January 6, 2022.

The relaxation will be from Sunday to Thursday until 2:00 in the morning and Friday and Saturday until 4:00 in the morning...........

The usual loosening up for Christmas. Won't be helping anything frankly!

Speaking of noise - party set up in a car cleaning company.  Massive stage and tables set for dinner. Music at 94.decibels already.   No respect for anyone here!

planner wrote:

Speaking of noise - party set up in a car cleaning company.  Massive stage and tables set for dinner. Music at 94.decibels already.   No respect for anyone here!

It's a strange concept to me, but in Sosua, the same thing has happened.  A car wash has a DJ spinning music, and there is now a BBQ place set up advertising "the best ribs".  You could always get a beer at the car wash, but busting a move and getting some ribs isn't really why I go to a car wash???

Big party hot spots the car washes.....

This is not a "car wash" it is an upscale car detailing business. Only  high end vehicle use this location.  Its unusual for them to have  parties like this and  this level of music!   Owner is a disgusting  human being in my opinion.   

The music ended at  1:03 am and they made lots of noise until well after  2 am, tearing down all the set up!   Today is a rough day with  4 hours of sleep.  Oh well.

Environment announces that it will seek a solution to noise affecting the country

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … os/1546844

The Ministry of the Environment reported this Monday that it began the coordination of an inter-institutional working group with the purpose of "addressing the points of regulation and protocols in the attention of noise pollution complaints made by citizens."

The head of the entity, Orlando Jorge Mera, called the meeting for the work.

In its AM article this Monday (see below), Diario Libre expressed concern about the situation in the city. He highlighted the damage that noise does to people's health, as well as to the environment . It was also asked if there were no authorities in the country to deal with the problem, as in the past.

Those invited to the dialogue are the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic , through the Office of the Specialized Attorney for the Defense of the Environment and Natural Resources; the Ministry of the Interior and Police ; the National Police; the National System of Attention to Emergencies and Security 9-1-1; the Mayor's Office of the National District and the Complaints and Complaints Administration system 311.

"This coordination is carried out in view of the fact that various regulations grant power to the institutions described above to act in cases of emission of noise and sounds that are annoying or harmful to the environment and health, but there is a lack of action protocols with delimitation of functions, which makes it difficult to deal with complaints, ”said Environment in a statement.

In the country, especially in Greater Santo Domingo, citizens constantly complain about the noises caused by speakers placed in vehicles, loud music in entertainment centers until late at night, heavy machinery that works in streets and buildings, as well as other annoying sounds.

People say that they cannot sleep and that the situation also bothers the sick and children. Santo Domingo has become a very noisy city, which generates discomfort.

Noise

Who is responsible for controlling the noise?

https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/ … ca/1545065

The complaints from Diario Libre readers continue to arrive about the uncontrolled problem of noise in the city. The damage to physical and mental health caused by being subjected to an excess of decibels is more than documented and understood by citizens.

The problem they now face, from Naco to Bella Vista, from Mirador Sur to San Carlos, from the Colonial City to Villa Juana or Los Alcarrizos is that there is no authority that assumes that it has the obligation to fight them. Who is called? Should citizens take up the "fight" with the noisy and confront someone who obviously has no respect for the rights of others? That, sure ... doesn't end well.

The noise not only sick. It pollutes, it swims. It is confirmed that a property that is installed next to an establishment with speakers (it does not matter if it is an "elegant" hookah den in Sarasota or a colmadón in a neighborhood), immediately loses its value. Properties with noisy “neighbors” take longer to sell and do so at a lower price.

The noise degrades, muddies human relations. It prevents the study of the young, the rest of the workers, the health of the elderly. Irritates, stresses. Despair

At one time, the Environment was operating, seizing horns. On 9 1 1 he commanded a diligent brigade. The police answered the phone, picked up the complaint, and showed up at the scene. None of these institutions prevented recidivism but the citizen felt heard.

All this, in the past tense. Someone has to take for granted. In this government no one wants to be "the bad guy" but someone has to turn off the loudspeakers.

It is effecting health in many ways.  Absolutely agree.  Dominicans are demanding action.  I sure hope they do something soon!

There is a complete lack of social responsibility exacerbated at this time of year with extended drinking hours.

We have a new colmado in amongst dwellings who use their deep bass speaker music from dawn to early morning. A drone in the distance for me and nill with ear plugs when sleeping but machete conflicts for very upset neighbours. Fights amongst family. Oh and the worst is full volume streamed pastor sermons at 6am.

A huge issue for Dominicans and needs addressing. My assessment it is largely a young male problem demanding high bass driven volume and drink/drugs/hookah rather than the culture of music and dance.

That bass I feel in my bones!  Once the volume is up I can never sleep no matter how tired I am or how late it is! 

Once people are overtired, stressed out, nerves frayed.... Now add alcohol and it's volatile! Fights break out and people end up dead here

Common retorts I've heard about this is "stop trying to change our culture", or "we love our music", "or we are just happy partying people, leave us alone". This is not an issue with music, nor an issue with foreigners trying to change culture. That's all just excuses for the behavior.

agreed. This is not expats whining. This is  created and escalated by DOMINICANS.  We have nothing to do with it.    Good hard working Dominicans do not like to have their peace disrupted. They actually like to sleep so they can get up and go to work in the morning!

This is nothing to do with changing the culture.

It is about lowering the volume especially low frequency noise to levels that don't damage ones hearing or health and respects noise limits and hours near schools, hospitals and in residential areas.

Unfortunately many expats choose to live in resort areas and music, often at high volume and into the wee hours, comes with the hospitality desires of tourists. It is harder to complain in such circumstances. One needs to research where to stay and live in those locations.

But that does not cover the excesses in urban areas which create so much strife and is the complaint of most Dominicans.

First Saturday night in D.R. Juan Dolio, all 3 of us are up ,
All night music blasting around these towers from a Colmado
across the road from us, it is 3-20 a.m and has just stopped,
All night Karaoke , l guess earplugs are on our shopping list.

It can be so frustrating.  This is a long holiday weekend here so there are many in Juan Dolio from Santo Domingo for the weekend. Bars and colmados can serve alcohol until 4 am. This will change as of Monday!

There is a noise bylaw and you can report it to 911 but nothing will happen!  I have always found ear plugs don't help because for me it's that deep bass sound that is the worst!

I hope it stops for you.  My guess is tonight will be more of the same.

It seems every day is a holiday here, a reason to celebrate.  Didn't we just have Christmas and New Years, again another holiday weekend?  Wondering where this information is noted, a list of every holiday in this country.  Can you or someone provide a link that documents all the holidays?

It is a sad reality that noise can be a problem especially in resort areas but also cities and towns until the wee hours of the morning. Choosing ones place of stay carefully is important, but in the days of airbnb it can be pot luck. In AI resorts the nightime entertainmemnet areas tend to be isolated from dwelling areas so there is less of a risk of being disturbed.

Many tourists on vacation will not worry about a few late nights and certainly Dominicans on vacation will have little regard in their inebriated state on a long weekend especially during the festive season which ends Monday on the official Kings Day public holiday.

I hope that it calms down next week so you can relax.

Here in the campo it has been surprisingly quite through the festive season and I am told the sindico had insisted the few noisier colmados restrict any loud music to weekends and public holidays such that people could sleep and go to work the land from very early morning.

https://publicholidays.do/2022-dates/

4 more to go in January starting Monday which was rearranged from 6th!

Managed to pick up some earplugs for us all tonight, if they
work great if not maybe hitting the rum…..