A proposal to amend Baja California’s Environmental Protection Law to specifically address noise and visual pollution was introduced by state lawmaker Michelle Medina, citing growing public health and quality-of-life concerns.
The initiative argues that excessive noise in both indoor and outdoor spaces disrupts environmental conditions and has direct physical and emotional health impacts on residents.
Under the proposal, the state’s Department of Environment and Sustainable Development would be required to carry out public education and awareness campaigns on emissions related to noise, vibrations, thermal and light energy, gases, odors, vapors, and visual pollution.
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Major Sources of Noise Pollution
According to the initiative, vehicle traffic, construction activity, and nighttime entertainment venues frequently generate noise levels exceeding 100 decibels, well above recommended limits.
In Mexicali, authorities logged more than 10,000 noise-related complaints during the first four months of 2022 through the C4 emergency system.
In Tijuana, nighttime helicopter flights known locally as “tecolotes” have raised alarms among environmental specialists. The flights often pass over densely populated neighborhoods, disrupting sleep and affecting thousands of residents.
Noise Pollution Across Baja California
Other municipalities across the state face similar challenges, each shaped by their urban layouts and development patterns.
“Noise pollution doesn’t just affect people’s well-being—it infringes on the right to rest and directly impacts quality of life,” Medina said.
Addressing Visual Pollution
The proposal also defines visual pollution as the saturation or alteration of the visual environment by artificial elements that degrade urban and natural landscapes.
Common contributors include the unregulated placement of advertising billboards, overhead electrical wiring, trash accumulation, excessive lighting, and intrusive architectural designs that disrupt city planning.
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Such conditions, the initiative states, can lead to headaches, stress, dangerous distractions for drivers, and the displacement of wildlife, contributing to ecological imbalance.
Medina emphasized that the proposal does not seek to override municipal authority, but rather to strengthen existing regulations and reinforce protections for public health and the environment.
