Miami: The judge wants evidence that the noise nuisances will harm the residents
While some neighbors along the Miami route requested the cancellation of the Grand Prix due to noise disturbances, Judge Alan Fine ordered the plaintiffs to provide concrete evidence of the injuries they would suffer from the noise.
The Miami Grand Prix is making its appearance on the calendar this season. The race in Florida is set to take place in the city, alongside the Hard Rock Stadium, which is the usual home of the Miami Dolphins American football team. But the residents of the Miami Gardens neighborhood, located near the track, oppose the holding of the Grand Prix (May 8).
According to information from the Miami Herald, Judge Alan Fine ordered the plaintiffs to provide evidence of injuries that could be caused by the noise from the Formula 1 cars. An emergency hearing could then be held to decide whether the race should take place. Another hearing was scheduled for today, and a decision could be made.
The residents rely on a report from an engineering company which predicts that noise from cars can reach up to 97 decibels (similar to that of a chainsaw) for houses located within a radius of 3.5 km. The judge wondered if the residents couldn’t simply stay home or wear earplugs, and if any inevitable damages would actually be caused.
The race organizers have already taken measures to reduce noise by installing PVC sheets along the fences in the areas of the circuit closest to residential areas in order to reduce the sound level outside the track. With just over two weeks until the race, and while the circuit is almost complete, a cancellation would be a devastating blow to the sport.
