I think I'm about to find out. The first nice weather of the year has brought out the neighborhood's worst offender. My neighbor has a VERY good stereo, and he plays it loudly. I can sometimes hear it inside my house when we both have all doors and windows closed -- especially when he has a party. But when he opens the windows and we get the full effect blasting in the neighborhood . . . I mean, I like rock and roll too, but please. All last summer I did my best to ignore the loud stereo, hoping some other neighbor would complain and save me the trouble.
But this morning, my peaceful Sunday, inside my own quiet house, is shattered by thump-thump-thump-thump, thump-a-thump-thump-thump. That's right, I'm treated to just the bass and drums while he gets the full sounds. The reason for this is physics -- lower frequencies can penetrate more easily through the walls. Doesn't this guy have an I-Pod?
He's outside working today, and has his stereo cranked up so he can hear it out there. Yes, we can all hear it. And judging from last summer's experience, this is going to be the rule not the exception all summer long.
So how to handle it. Go over and talk nicely to him? Not sure about that. The guy is a macho-man kind of a guy with big truck, chopper motorcycle, guns he has shown in his yard. I doubt he will be receptive to a friendly request from the nice little old lady next door. And although we became acquainted when he first moved in, I've decided I don't want to be friends since seeing his guns.
So, call the city and complain? Only if I can do so anonymously. I know sometimes these macho guys have a personal philosophy of don't get mad, get even. And, of course, I need to find out if the city does have a noise ordinance.
But I don't want to put up with another summer like the last one. Something must be done.
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Oh, I feel your pain! I live among college students who insist on having those several thousand dollar bass boosts on their super expensive stereo systems - in their "boom cars", which is what we call them, because as they cruise down the street on warm days, bass booming and thumping, it has been known to literally rattle my windows. Those kids will be stone deaf in a few years from riding around in their loud boom cars and they'll wonder where their hearing went so early.
They also have them at parties up and down the street on warm nights, but we do have noise ordinances in place, so they've learned to keep it to a dull roar lest the entire Kent Police Department show up with the intent of knocking some heads in, a favorite pastime of our local law enforcement. So instead, they limit the window rattling bass boost to their cars which they drive up and down the streets on warm days, rattling doors and windows wherever they go.
Charming.
Oh yeah, don't get me started on the boom cars. It's pretty bad when you can actually 'feel' the beat reverberating in your own body.
Do you have nay other neighbors who are bothered by the sound? If so you might be able to have someone (another man preferably) politely let him know that his "music" is bothersome to many of his neighbors and invite him to turn it down (or get an iPod).
Good luck, I'm glad my current neighborhood does not have anyone like that.
I do have other neighbors who are bothered by this. I always hope they will confront the problem.
I have the same problem with a neighbor, a young man with loud car speakers. He lives 2 houses away and I can hear and feel his music inside my house even with my windows and doors shut! This goes on all weekend, all day long. I have called the police on him twice and still he doesn't learn. What else can be done? How about my right to peace and quiet??
Anonymous,
When you call the police, do they issue a citation? I guess if all they do is ask him to turn it down, he's not very motivated to keep it low. My neighbor, too, has been at it all three days of this long weekend. Friday night it ran late into the night as he had a party. I am getting very weary of sitting in my house and feeling that driving thump thump thump for hours on end.
I'm going through a very similar situation. I "used" to live in a very peaceful neighborhood. A new neighbor bought the house behind me a few months ago and his son plays the drums! I just cannot stand it. There is nothing pleasing about hearing someone's obnoxious drum practice. My backyard used to be my sanctuary, now I don't even want to go back there. It is so loud I can hear it inside of my house with all of the doors and windows shut. I dont want to hear other people's music and I expect they dont want to hear mine, so I always keep the volume low. One of my greatest simple pleasures of sitting in the backyard with a glass of wine while listening to the birds has been taken away.
I spoke to the neighbor about it in a very friendly and kind manner. At no time was I ever hostile, exhibiting anger, or threatening. The feeling I got from him is that he thought I was overreacting and should just live with it.
The next time I heard the drums I sent him a very nice letter and once again expressed my concerns and asked him to make arrangements so that I do not hear the drums on my property.
Still no improvement.
I tried to talk to him again and this time he was very hostile towards me and told me he did not want to speak to me anymore.
My neighborhood has an HOA and I called them 3 times. They have sent him several letters.
The next step is that I have to call the Sheriff. My county has a noise ordinance that states any musical instruments (and specifically lists drums) that can be heard at a distance of 50 ft anytime of day at a plainly audible level (meaning person of normal unaided hearing) is illegal. I'm probably 100 ft away or more and it sounds like a construction zone.
I spoke with the Sheriff Dept and they encouraged me to call them the next time I hear it and said they would take care of the issue.
The first visit from the Sheriff is a warning, then there are fines and citations for additional visits.
I wish I had never spoken to this neighbor in person and had just gone to the Sheriff anonymously. Even though I know I did the right thing, I never imagined he would become so hostile and unreasonable towards me. He has the attitude of "my son can do anything he wants and you will just have to live with it"
I know eventually the situation is going to be stopped by the Sheriff, but in the meantime I have this awful uneasy feeling every time I go into my backyard. I keep thinking at anytime a "Motley Crue" concert is going to start up or the neighbor is going to spew some revenge against me.
I would encourage you to look up your City or County Noise Ordinance. You can do it here:
http://www.municode.com/Resources/OnlineLibrary.asp
Also, call the Sheriff's Non-Emergency # anonymously and ask them about your options with getting their assistance.
If you want to play drums or be in a rock back either:
1) Rent a music studio.
or
2) Buy a 40 acre farm.
Anon,
That's a tough situation. I think you have convinced me that anonymous is the way to go. A direct confrontation just causes discomfort for you in your own home and property. So many people have told me similar stories. Why are people so inconsiderate? Seems almost every neighborhood has one.
I am still in shock that it has come to this. The thing is, I was not confrontation at all. I was as sweet as could be when I spoke to him about the noise and the letter I wrote was practically a Hallmark Card.
I have another neighbor whose son was playing the electric guitar in the backyard. I asked the teenage son to turn it down and he just gave me the teenage death stare. So, I called his Dad / My next door neighbor. He said "I'll take care of it"...and I never heard the guitar ever again. That to me is how a neighbor is supposed to act, but you never know.
I know if any of my neighbors ever came to me about a noise issue I would instantly remediate the issue.
I am so thankful that our County has a very defined noise ordinance. That is going to ultimately be my solution.
I highly encourage you to research your local noise ordinance and call the Sheriff anonymously to ask about your options.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
OH, i feel your pain. how about if your neighbors(15 ft from bedroom window) have their only tv in the back yard? how about if they like company and have 2-5 nights a week of people over in the back yard(and in key west they are out there all year).
AND to make it worse she is our city commissioner and her partner likes to make the whole block listen to the city commission meetings every other week. people on the next block with a building between can hear it. so if yous have a law abiding properly licensed home business you are still afraid to complain because there could be repercussions.
I had to laugh at how up in arms people were against short=term rentals. now you have to rent for a minimum of a month. I always wondered how those people who voted against short term renatls would feel if they had a year round neighbor in that same place that was ALWAYS obnoxious. they would wish the seasonal, 'not always bad' short termers were back.
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