Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The Jalisco State Congress Chamber of Deputies has approved a new Anti-noise Law, a state-wide ordinance that aims to cut back on the noise emitted from both businesses and private properties. Noise pollution will be regulated through municipally set schedules and decibel limitations.

This new body of laws also prohibits fireworks and pyrotechnic displays after 9 o'clock at night, unless previously authorized by a competent authority.

City inspectors (Reglamentos) will make the rounds to verify that bars or restaurants comply with the norm, and will measure the decibels with a monitoring system that, under the new law, must be installed by each business.

The law establishes sanctions of up to 50,000 pesos to businesses that fail to comply with the Official Technical Standard in decibels; and the withdrawal of business licenses if there are three offenses within a period of 1 year (currently it is 2 years).

In cases of municipal jurisdiction, when the infraction is committed in a private home or property without a commercial license, the municipal authority must go to the address and issue a warning. If the noise does not cease within a period of 30 minutes, administrative arrest may be imposed for up to 36 hours or a citation may be issued that includes a specific day and time to stand before a judge, who will determine the nature of the crime and amount of the corresponding penalty.

The law will come into force after its publication in El Periodico Oficial del Estado de Jalisco (the State of Jalisco's Official Newspaper), at which time each municipality must reconcile their city ordinances to comply with the law.