Absurdity: Loudspeaker announcements warn people at night to keep quiet

The management of a city decided to employ a strange method to curb night-time noise and disorder. A loudspeaker announcement is repeated every 30 minutes in the city’s busiest parts, warning people not to disturb the peace and quiet of residents. Many people disapprove of the new method, saying that it is dictatorial and violates the freedom of individuals.

WORLD AUGUST 3. 2020 13:09

The leaders of the southern French city of Nice want to curb night-time noise and disorder by warning people to refrain from activities that can disturb the peace and quiet of the neighbourhood s residents, strangely enough, through loudspeaker announcements repeated every 30 minutes between 9 pm and 2 am.

The pre-recorded and rather frequently heard announcement warns people that it is forbidden to consume alcohol in public places in the city, and it is not permitted either to gather in larger groups and listen to music loudly on beaches. The announcement also asks people not to litter in the streets and respect coronavirus containment measures and social distancing.

A similar method was employed in Nice in March when the lockdown was introduced. Then, drones armed with loudspeakers warned residents from above to comply with curfew restrictions.

The city council believes that pre-recorded loudspeaker announcements are efficient because people gathering in larger groups or causing disorder in public can be addressed directly and it is easier to stop them from violating regulations in this way, deputy mayor of Nice Anthony Borre told regional daily Nice-Matin.  

However, the somewhat futuristic method is disapproved by many. Some say that this kind of control is too dictatorial, violates personal freedom and gives people the feeling of being constantly watched. Let alone the absurdity of reminding people to keep quiet with blaring loudspeaker announcements repeated every half an hour at night.

WORLD

Tags:

alarm, france, nizza