Considering how to control noise: bans abroad are so hard for us to imagine

In some European countries, it is not even possible to mow the lawn or connect the washing machine on Sundays, as there are heavy fines for noise.

Justice Minister Elvinas Jankevičius said on the Delfi Day program that fines for noise are small, although many people still lack clarity about exactly what time it is no longer possible to make noise.

The Minister assures that the time has come to adopt rules that are suitable for everyone and that everyone in Lithuania would like to follow.

“It just came to our attention then. The concepts of noise are contained in various laws. There is a law on noise management, there are provisions in the Code of Administrative Offenses and there is talk of noise in the law on police activities, even in the law on alcohol control. According to a law, there should be absolute silence from 10 pm

Administrative attitudes say that from the seventh, people are a bit confused and do not know what can and cannot be done, whether they can listen to music, mow the lawn, make repairs, etc. And the fines are not high, from 20 to 80 euros.

The first fine, if a person confesses, is only ten euros. According to the noise management law, which can be related not only to domestic noise, but also to production, industrial noise, the fines are somewhat higher, from 50 euros, but for an institution or company it is sure that there are not many euros ”, affirms the minister.

Ensures the need for higher fines

Meanwhile, Seimas member Mykolas Majauskas commented on the show that noise is not controlled at all in Lithuania, but in other European countries the rules are very clear.

“We need to take a closer look at what mature European countries and the European Union are doing. They follow the regulations approved by the WHO that say 65 decibels per day and 55 decibels per night is the maximum sound, countries regulate all this with a lot careful and rigorous, they impose heavy fines and have clear rules about what can and cannot be done.

In addition, the WHO, seeing noise levels as very high, like a hair dryer or a vacuum cleaner running at home, makes that noise too loud and is detrimental to human health, the immune system, emotional health, causing anxiety , insomnia and many other aspects of health. disorders, so he proposes a reduction of 65 to 55 decibels at night and 40 decibels at night.

And in Lithuania, we don’t even check the existing rules and we don’t read at all: people play music when they want, lawnmowers work from morning to night. Let’s see what France does: on a weekend in this country, you can only mow your lawn on Saturdays and on Sundays you can’t because it’s a day off. In Belgium, even the washing machines in an apartment building cannot be turned on on Sundays, as this is a moment of silence.

There are strict rules and people follow them because the consequences are serious: fine and culture. Not following such rules means damaging the health of other people, “said a member of the Seimas.

Sysas: We need to respect each other

When asked by Seimas member Algirdas Sysas how people will react to such and similar deliberations, the time constraints, he assured that it should start gradually.

“While watching this show, the public is probably throwing shoes and other things at us. But I think we should speak more broadly, and Michael speaks very specifically. We just don’t respect each other, we need more education and more programs like this.

Let’s think if we are going to go to a party on the lawn, if we are going to see the neighbors and tell each other that today is my birthday, so I’m going to make some noise. Most people don’t really warn, so let’s start with the fact that we have to respect those around us, “said a member of the Seimas.

Lack of work and police control

M. Majauskas assures that many times the police do not control people who systematically make noise.

“First of all, there must be clear rules. Second, there must be adequate fines, because a night’s sleep can now be punished from ten to thirty euros, which is not an adequate fine.

The third thing is that there must be control. Today, we see that the police are avoiding reacting seriously to such events. Let’s say if you play music every night and a person cannot sleep, a lot of diseases, disorders develop, they look at everything with their fingers, so I think that serious and responsible control should also be part of this package. The municipality, the Ministry of Health, must also get involved ”, said M. Majauskas.

The politician also says that Vilnius is the only capital in the EU where planes land at night and there is no additional charge for them.

“Another thing is the garbage truck, which arrives at six in the morning and according to the standards drawn up by the WHO, basically exceeds the standard, which is allowed in the afternoon or early morning, and in Lithuania companies keep trash very early in the morning. (…) Vilnius is the only capital of the European Union where airplanes can spend the night without additional charge ”, he says.