Calling the police on your neighbors...
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive June 2006:
Calling the police on your neighbors...
Well, they aren't *really* neighbors - it is the street behind our subdivision. I don't know how to say this without coming across as politically incorrect - but it is sort of like an urban project back there.
So I came home from work yesterday exhausted because I didn't sleep the night before, and when I was driving down the street, I could hear this music in my car, over my radio. I get out, and I felt like I was being screamed at by the sound of the female vocals. OK, VERY, VERY loud, but at this point, that's the worst of it. So I go inside, put away the groceries and notice I can hear it inside my house. Which stepped up my annoyance to a whole new level. DH comes home an hour later and is furious over it. By then I was starting to get really ticked because it wasn't just LOUD, it was beginning to include a lot of rap and bass. So we eat dinner, and by then I am talking about calling the police, because the noise law does not go into effect for another 2 or 3 hours, and I am tired of hearing it. We go to put out the trash and water the garden, and OMG, my ears were totally assaulted with the longest stream of profanity I have ever heard on tape.
DH goes inside, my next-door neighbor walks over and catches me to talk about something, and the two of us stood there for about 20 minutes listening to this garbage. I can't believe these people would have the nerve to blast a whole area with stuff like that - think of the nastiest words to describe body parts, and of course the eff word, over and over. I notice several other of my neighbors standing in their yards giving dirty looks to the subdivision fence as well. So by then I have HAD it. I go inside to report it as a disturbance and the dispatcher tells me *we have been there twice already to tell them to turn it down*. She asked if I wanted to speak with an officer and I told her it wasn't necessary, I'd just appreciate it if they would go there again. She then tells me *none of your neighbors who complained already are willing to speak with an officer. In order for us to do anything, someone is going to have to go on record and speak with an officer.* Well, gee, *I* don't want to wake up with a bullet through MY window either, but I figure OK, I'll be the one to step up.
I go out to finish watering the garden, and suddenly the noise stops. Nothing. Dead, beautiful, peaceful silence! LOL In the next couple of minutes, car after car full of *undesirable characters* comes down our street (the street behind doesn't go all the way through to River Road, so they use our street), and one of them yells something out of the car. I don't know if it was directed at *me*, or just all of us outside in general. I'm waiting for the police to show up, and after 10 more minutes, decide they aren't coming. Go inside. Then comes a knock on the door, the police are here and outside is the absolute biggest man I have ever met in person. He tells me *you won't have to worry about any more noise tonight.* I thanked him, and he told me he'd given them 3 warnings, 2 more than he was legally required to do, but when I called to complain and he went back, he discovered the guy was a DJ, holding a block party without a permit, and he fined him $1000 AND took his equipment! Which I figured really ticked those people off, and figured that explained them yelling something to us as they drove by. And of course, I immediately worry that they know it was *me* who called, so I asked him, and he said no, there were 4 other complaints, and even though I was the only one to give my name, they don't give that information to the people. So he leaves, and I'm happy, even though I'm a teeny bit nervous about it.
Then, a few minutes later, the ones that were left back there cranked up their stereos in their cars with the loud bass boom. I figured they were just trying to send a message, so I didn't call the police - didn't want to antagonize them, it lasted about 30-40 minutes, and the night was quiet. So quiet, that I slept for 12 hours after that! 
I don't blame you a bit for calling the police. It's just a shame that they absolutely needed a name and someone to step-up. Surely you would think they'd understand. Also, why did the police come to your door? You think they'd at least keep you private even though you gave a name. I do sympathize with you. I had a neighbor whose son used to crank up the music to an ungodly level. They're gone, thank God.
That is crummy! And ridiculous! I don't mind people being noisy on the weekends, but there are boundaries and I especially would not want to hear profanity or have my kids hear it.
I had to call on one of my neighbors. She doesn't pay for garbage service so her garbage bags just pile up against the front of her house! Why would you not *hide* the garbage? Plus all of their gross belongings piled up under the carport. They would not take a complaint unless I gave my name and address. I was so tired of the garbage....it attracts bugs and rats....that I did it. All she had to do was drive half an hour away to get my name and adress. They will give out the info if you go in person. I worried that there would be consequences because I called, but oh well! There is no reason for someone to live in a garbage heap and make the rest of us deal with it too. SOmetimes someone has to stand up and deal with it. I am glad you did and I am glad that it was resolved. I hope they do not cause more problems because you complained! And I am glad you got some sleep!
When we were trying to sell our house, I filed a complaint with the city on the neighbors across the street who left a huge pile of brush in the front yard and an inoperable vehicle that had never been driven and had been sitting in their driveway for the past 2 years. The form was on the internet, and I printed it out, filled it out, and sent it in to the police. But I read on the website that they do not accept anonymous reports. You MUST give your name. But that the info is witheld from the individual you are reporting.
I would think that this way, if they can document who you are, it would cut down on the possibility that someone would file excessive reports on someone else in order to harass them.
Sandy, the police came to my door to talk to me. That is the way it's handled in this area. And mostly, he was coming as a courtesy to me, to let me know what he had done.
We have had problems off and on over the last 20+ years with that street behind us. It seems to go in waves.... for a while there are *fairly* decent people living back there, and by decent, I mean, they work, they don't run a crackhouse, their kids are in school, they don't shoot guns, they don't play their music excessively loud. Other times, there have been numerous drug houses back there, shootings, kids from just being old enough to walk, to high school age roaming that street at all hours of the day and night, numerous sex offenders, lots of fights in the street, boom boxes with rap music practically 24/7.
I'm painting a horrible picture, I know. My subdivision is not like that, I promise you. It is only 21 years old, that street was there before it was, and none of us realized what was behind the subdivision fence when we moved here. It never occurred to me back then to take a ride on the surrounding streets to see what was behind me, because honestly, this is a pretty decent area.
Just that one street............
Anyway, the officer assured me they do not give names out, and he understood why all of us living on my street are so hesitant to give our names. But it's quiet back there now, so I'm happy.
Yeah, we called the police on our next-door neighbor. It's a STATE law, that you can't shovel your snow, into the street. My next door neighbor seems to not like having snowbanks in front of his house and shovels all the snow, across the WHOLE street. So, it looks messy and if it gets cold during the night, it would freeze and potentially, could cause an accident, or someone could fall, while crossing the street. DH had mentioned to him once, that he shouldn't be doing it, but it fell on deaf ears. So, we called the cops and they came out to talk to him. Fortunately, when he did it this year, it was warm outside and the snow melted pretty fast, but sheesh, it's a state law!
Sec. 110-5. Depositing debris, refuse or snow on public streets.
(b) Prohibited without permission. Property owners are prohibited from moving onto public streets any debris, refuse or snow at any time or placing objects placed thereon, without permission of the department of engineering and public works, the police department or the council.
I've had to call the police on my neighbors (post regulations say music should not be heard more than 50 ft from the source, and I had a problem with my next door neighbor's son revving his LOUD engine and constantly blasting music.) and it's never fun. I'm glad the police actually took action in your situation, they tend to blow things off around here, or tell you to go talk to them. Yeah, that seems like a good idea, go confront the neighbors, get in a verbal altercation, and the police end up there anyway!! *sigh*
I have no problem calling the police. I did it several times when the neighbors had weekly karaoke partys outside and it would last until 2-3 AM. After midnight I am done. I called and the police would come handle it. There is a noise ordinance here and they were breaking it weekly. They finally moved away.
Here you get fined if you do not keep your garbage cans hidden away and you are required to use city garbage disposal.
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