Hearing on ‘voceteo’ bill raises concerns regarding scope, penalties.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Senate Committee on Transportation, Telecommunications, Public Services, and Consumer Affairs on Thursday evaluated House Bill 911 during a public hearing that raised concerns regarding the penalties, the definition of “voceteo” (loud vehicle audio systems), and the scope of the proposed ban.

“An analysis of the statements presented today reflects that, generally speaking, the entities testifying agree on the need to evaluate amendments to the bill,” Sen. Héctor Joaquín Sánchez Álvarez said in a written statement. “For instance, the Mayors Federation raised the importance of revising the penalty structure -- an issue that this committee will be evaluating.”

He added that “[s]imilarly, the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association, as well as the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, raised the possibility of considering a broader ban -- potentially even a continuous one -- especially in tourist areas and school zones, in contrast to the specific hours established in the current measure.”

As part of testimony presented by several entities at the hearing, the Mayors Federation argued that while municipal ordinances exist to address excessive noise, persistent issues remain regarding uniformity and enforcement; consequently, they recommended strengthening the mechanisms for penalties and inter-jurisdictional coordination.

Sánchez Álvarez further noted that one of the most heavily discussed issues was the breadth of the definition of “voceteo,” which he said “requires careful analysis to ensure clarity in its application and uniformity in its enforcement.”

The Police Bureau submitted observations regarding the proposed definition and the implementation of the measure, while the Hotel and Tourism Association advocated for evaluating broader restrictions in specific zones. For its part, the Tourism Company cautioned that a balance must be struck between noise regulation and the hosting of authorized cultural and tourism activities.

The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources noted that Puerto Rico already possesses regulations regarding noise pollution; therefore, it recommended examining how the proposed measure would interact with existing standards to avoid inconsistencies in its implementation. The Department of Transportation and Public Works indicated that the proposal addresses a visible issue on public roadways and advocated for the need for a uniform framework to govern the use of vehicle sound systems.