TAOYUAN (TVBS News) — Taoyuan City will implement new administrative measures to regulate noise from traditional folk activities, starting Friday (May 9). The city government announced that events like temple processions must pause noise-making activities when passing through densely populated areas to enhance residents' quality of life.
Taoyuan Deputy Mayor Su Jun-bin (蘇俊賓) emphasized the decision to designate streets adjacent to densely populated communities as specific noise control zones under the Noise Control Act (噪音管制法). This decision, reached after discussions among various departments, aims to prohibit actions that disrupt residents' peaceful living environment. The initial phase will target 52 communities with over 12 floors and 500 households, enforcing a full-day ban on fireworks, firecrackers, and noise-generating activities during temple processions.
Taoyuan's Department of Environmental Protection (環保局) explained that the new regulations empower the city to control activities in these areas according to the Noise Control Act's authority. The department, in collaboration with Taoyuan's Department of Civil Affairs (民政局), introduced the "Guidelines for Religious Procession Activities" (宗教遶境活動作業要點), which includes a self-check and pre-application mechanism. This initiative aims to help temples comply with regulations and has received support from most temples.
Before organizing processions or folk activities, temples must complete a checklist covering route and schedule arrangements and the need for fireworks or firecrackers. District offices will initially review these checklists before forwarding them to the Department of Environmental Protection, the police department, and other relevant units for final approval.