Police are calling for stronger enforcement of Antigua and Barbuda’s noise-pollution laws amid continuing complaints about motorists playing excessively loud music near schools, churches and government buildings.

Superintendent Elson Quammie, head of the Traffic Department, said legislation addressing excessive noise already exists but has not been enforced consistently.

“We have the Noise Abatement Act, but what I would say is that there is just a lack of enforcement,” Quammie said during the Browne and Browne Show.

He said offenders should be taken before the court rather than being allowed to continue disturbing residents and people using sensitive public spaces.

Quammie expressed particular concern about motorists playing loud music while driving near churches and the Government House roundabout.

“You can’t be disturbing Government House,” he said, adding that schools and other designated quiet areas should also be protected.

The discussion followed a complaint about a motorist who reportedly played music containing offensive language at a high volume while dropping off a relative in a supermarket parking lot.

Panel members argued that the problem was not limited to residential communities and could disrupt official functions at Government House.

They said traffic has sometimes had to be diverted from the roundabout during events because of motorists playing loud music in the area.

No new penalties or enforcement campaign were announced, but Quammie’s comments indicate that police could make greater use of the existing law and bring more offenders before the court.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Police Call for Stronger Enforcement of Noise-Pollution Laws.