Questions and answers about noise regulation in Palma de Mallorca

# My questions to the city council of Palma de Mallorca (August 2020):

Good afternoon,

I am writing to you from our home on Av. xxxx, on the third floor.

The reason for this e-mail is to complain about the noise we have to endure in our house due to traffic.

It is to be expected that the noise in one of the busiest streets is higher than in others. That continuous noise is suffered throughout the day, which forces us to keep the windows closed and the air conditioning on.

The situation at night is often desperate, as moments of silence alternate with large, extremely noisy motorcycles or cars racing, both of which make the whole building rumble and cause serious discomfort to the neighbors.

When that happens, to give you an idea of the volume, if we have the windows open, we cannot hear the television even if it is at high volume.

1. Could you tell me what the regulations are regarding vehicle noise?
2. Is it possible to do something in this situation?
3. Could the traffic police or local police, just as they do alcohol checks, do vehicle noise checks?
4. What can be done if drivers do not respect speed limits?
5. Just as atmospheric values are measured (temperature, humidity, pollution) at various points in the city, are there environmental noise measurement stations and records that can be consulted?

# Answers:

1. The regulation that controls noise at the municipal level is the municipal ordinance regulating noise and vibration. Within this ordinance is established the way to perform measurements for the control of noise generated by motorcycles and motor vehicles. This ordinance only applies when a noise violation is detected or a possible noise violation is suspected.

2. In the case of a vehicle passing on the street little can be done. When the vehicle is known, a report can be filed for a noise control measurement. Additionally, all vehicles when they leave the dealership are approved to emit a number of decibels that comply with current legislation or if not, they emit the least possible number of decibels that current technology allows. The problem is that use and time deteriorate the vehicles making them noisier. In addition, Vehicle Inspection Centers should control the noise of vehicles every time they are serviced, but this is not done in all cases. Specifically in Palma, this is not being done. There are some Vehicle Inspection Centers in Valencia and Andalusia where they are being carried out.

3. Yes, it could be done. In fact, they have been done before. Right now these types of tests are not being done because there are no personnel to be able to do them.

4. Nothing can be done if there is no official test for exceeding the limit. This is why mobile speed control points are installed.

5. No, there are none at the moment. There is a municipal project to install a network of sensors to control environmental noise next year in the neighborhood of Santa Catalina.


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