Guangzhou Proposes Ban on Phone Sound Playback in Public Transport, Fines Up to 1,000 Yuan
SingTao · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Guangzhou Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee released the "Guangzhou Noise Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Draft Revision for Comments)" on September 16, proposing to ban sound playback from phones and tablets on public transit. The draft covers not only public transport noise but also nighttime construction noise, vehicle street racing, commercial operations, public venue activities, and indoor renovations. Transport staff are empowered to warn offenders, and police can issue fines of 200 to 1,000 yuan to those who refuse to comply. The regulation is scheduled for third reading and a vote in October .
Key Points
- The proposed regulation prohibits playing sounds from phones and tablets on buses and subways, with fines of 200 to 1,000 yuan for violators .
- Transport staff must first warn offenders; if they refuse to stop, staff may report to police for enforcement action .
- Nighttime construction exceeding noise limits carries fines of 20,000 to 100,000 yuan, the highest penalty category .
- Commercial promotions using loudspeakers face fines of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan .
- Online reactions are mixed: many support the measure as "much-needed," while others question enforcement feasibility .
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong residents who frequently travel north to the mainland, this regulation signals stricter public conduct standards on mainland transit systems. The proposed fines set a precedent for addressing disruptive passenger behavior, which could influence similar measures in other mainland cities or cross-border transport .
For Hong Kong residents who frequently travel north to the mainland, this regulation signals stricter public conduct standards on mainland transit systems. The proposed fines set a precedent for addressing disruptive passenger behavior, which could influence similar measures in other mainland cities or cross-border transport .