Uzbekistan to increase fines for noise violations
Fines for violating household noise regulations in Uzbekistan will increase sharply starting 11 December. Individuals could face fines of up to 3.08 million soums, while fines for officials could reach 8.8 million soums. The fine for excessively noisy vehicles will also double.
Uzbekistan is set to sharply raise fines for breaches of household noise rules. The changes are laid out in a law signed by the president on 9 September and due to come into force on 11 December.
The law introduces new quiet-hour requirements and amends the Code of Administrative Responsibility. In particular, article 192 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, which covers violations of household noise regulations, will be changed.
At present, disturbing citizens’ peace and normal rest at night is punished as follows:
- Individuals — one-third of the base calculation unit (BCU), about 146,500 soums;
- Officials — from one-third to one-half of the BCU, up to 220,000 soums.
If the same offense is repeated within one year, individuals are fined one-half of the BCU, while officials face fines from one-half to one BCU, up to 440,000 soums.
Once the amendments take effect, the penalties will rise substantially.
Individuals will be fined 3–5 BCUs, or 1.32 million to 2.2 million soums, while officials will face fines of 10–15 BCUs, or 4.4 million to 6.6 million soums.
If the same violation is repeated within one year, individuals will be fined 5–7 BCUs, up to 3.08 million soums, and officials will be fined 15–20 BCUs, up to 8.8 million soums.
For individuals, the first-offense fine will therefore rise from one-third of the BCU to 3–5 BCUs, or roughly 9–15 times. The increase will be even greater for officials.
The amendments also revise the hours during which noise restrictions apply under article 192.
Instead of the current single period from 23:00 to 06:00, the rules will differ depending on the day of the week. On working days, the restrictions will apply from 23:00 to 07:00, while on weekends and non-working public holidays they will apply from 22:00 to 09:00.
These rules apply to noise that disturbs citizens’ peace and normal rest and exceeds permissible levels.
The law also raises penalties for driving vehicles that exceed allowed noise levels.
At present, driving a vehicle whose noise level exceeds the established limits under article 125 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility is punishable by a warning or a fine of 0.5 BCU (220,000 soums). Once the law takes effect, the warning will no longer be available as a penalty, and the fine will increase to 1 BCU (440,000 soums).
The Cabinet of Ministers has been instructed to align government decisions with the new law. Central executive bodies must also review their regulations and repeal provisions that conflict with the law.