On Thursday, 15 June, the Saeima adopted in the third reading amendments establishing liability for legal persons for disturbing public order.

The amendments were drafted in response to the issue of disturbing public order in public entertainment venues with very loud music, such as bars, cafés and nightclubs, which has been repeatedly raised in the public domain. As noted in the explanatory note to the draft law, the Riga Municipal Police receives a large number of calls about noise violations, i.e. 10 077 times last year.

Until now, the existing legal framework provided for liability for noise nuisance for natural persons, which qualifies as petty hooliganism, while legal persons (entertainment venues) were not held liable for noise nuisance.

The amendments stipulate that legal entities may be warned or fined up to 1 000 units of fine (up to EUR 5 000) for disturbing public order by violating generally accepted norms of behaviour and disturbing the peace of a person, the work of an institution, business, other body or endangering their own safety or the safety of other persons.

The amendments also supplement the law by providing for a fine for natural persons in the event of such acts being carried out at a memorial or monument to soldiers or victims of genocide. A fine of between 56 and 280 units of fine (between EUR 280 and EUR 1 400) will be imposed on a natural person for such an offence.

The law will enter into force on the day following its promulgation.

Saeima Press Service