What to do about loud garage band disturbing the peace?

[Roundabout]

I was just sitting here having to endure an EXTREMELY LOUD garage band that is across the street, three houses down, and I've gotten sick and tired of it. This band has a gazillion watt amplifier and bangs away on drums for endless hours - no exaggeration. They start up at 4 in the afternoon and don't stop until nearly 10 at night.

I tolerated it for months, and finally I called the police on them a couple of days ago. Murphy's law being what it is, they had just stopped a couple of minutes before the cops showed up. I could see the cop talking to them, and they put away their equipment shortly thereafter and stopped.

That was Thursday night. Here we are on Saturday, and they've started up again. I am really, really sick of it. They practice with the garage door open all the way, blasting their noise into the neighborhood for blocks, and I can only imagine how loud it is directly across the street from them.

I'm not against people practising, and I'm not against loud music, per se. It's the enless banging away that is fraying on my nerves, I can hear their noise inside my house with all the windows closed and the Air Conditioning turned up.

It's embarassing when friends come over and hear this noise, the usual comment is, "how do you live with it"? It's not easy. Out in the front yard, it's so loud you can't hear yourself think. And it's been going on since last year, but recently it's gotten much worse - at least every other day they are over there playing for 6 - 8 hours.

I don't know what the police told them, but apparently it wasn't enough to get the message through. If they'd just close their garage door, most of the noise would be contained. The inconsiderate ******** think the whole world wants to hear their horrible noise.

There are noise ordinances in the city, but the police tell me I'd have to file a complaint in order for them to cite them (give them a ticket, basically). I'd rather not, it's a group of 3 or 4 spoiled teenage brats and if I ruin their "party" they may decide to damage my home or do something else.

The thing I can't understand is why other neighbors haven't complained. There are several houses even closer than I am to this raucous din that goes on over there.

Anyone have any ideas what to do? I doubt that talking to them will do any good, if they don't get the message from the police warning them. It'd probably just result in a nasty confrontation. This area has almost new homes, it's not some dirtbag area or slum - but these guys ruin the peaceful atmosphere and don't care. I shudder to think what would happen if I had the house up for sale right now and prospective buyers heard it... No Sale!

[thayne]

I have a similar problem with my neighbor next doors dogs. I have put up with the barking for almost a year, since he first got them, but now it's just rediculas. They bark at everything and nothing at all at all hours of the day and night. He keeps them penned up in a 20' X 5' pen right next to my living room and when they bark it echos down my chimney and sounds like they are in the friggin house!

He also leaves town for weeks at a time leaving them there penned up alone and has the other neigbors kids come over and feed and water them. It's no wonder they bark! I feel sorry for the poor dogs.

Anyway I wrote him a letter the other day basically telling him to take care of the problem or else... If he doesnt do anything about it my next step will be to call the police, then my last resort will be to sue him.

I wrote a letter for one because he's never home and second to use as evidence if I do sue him.

[Ripper2860]

Talk to their parents.

[redwudz]

I would talk to your other neighbors and maybe they will call the police again and again and again. Usually the cops get tired of the crap and no matter what the law states, something will get done.

The city I live in went so far as to pass an ordinance about loud car stereos within city limits. If you are over so many db within a set distance, they confiscate your stereo. Being that it is attached to the car, they take that too. A little harsh, but if the SOBs would roll up their windows, they would not have a problem. (They get the car back after paying tow and storage fees, about $200US.)

[Roundabout]

I think the neighbors are afraid to say/do anything, as this has gone on for months now and nothing is done about it.

As far as the parents go, for all I know, they approve of it. They seem to be home most of the time, and it still goes on. I don't know how they don't go crazy with the insane level of noise and the length of time it goes on. I could tolerate it if they'd keep it to an hour or so, but once they start, it goes on all day and all night.

Of course, I can and will call the police again. I just wish I wasn't the only one. If I start talking to other neighbors, if one happens to be friends with them, they will know that I am the one complaining (this is a small cul-de-sac and only a few homes on it). I'd prefer that not to happen, as I sometimes go out of the country for 2 or 3 weeks and the house would be a sitting duck to anything they decide to do.

I entertained the idea of sending them an anonymous letter telling them that I (without stating my name) am the one calling the police and will do it again as long as they persist. I don't know if the cops have any real power to stop it, the city ordinance is vague on this subject (I already checked). Also the cops have more important things to do, and I hate to bug them with this, but it really is affecting the quality of life around here.

I wish I had a "power disruptor" to cut off their electricity when they start up. Maybe Indy can loan me something thermonuclear.

Another idea I had was to print up a fake letter from the city code enforcement division, saying that they have been reported and if the problem persists, they will be cited. But, if they were to call the city to ask about it, they would not know anything about it. That might embolden them instead of shutting them down.

There's no easy solution, I'm not a confrontational type person (Where's Northcat when I need him?) and I just wish they'd get a clue and realize just how obnoxious their behaviour is. Like I said, I'm not unreasonable, but there's a line they have crossed repeatedly and with impunity. There has to be a way to get through to them without threats and lawsuits, but I don't know what it is, when people are this selfish and inconsiderate.

[thayne]

If you dont want to confront them, then just keep calling the police. From my experience though most people wont retaliate if you don't come off like a puss to them. I have also found that "asking" for what you want doesn't work. You have to be force full, yet polite.

I had a problem with another neigbor knocking ping pong balls into my yard and I asked them nicly several times to stop, yet they kept doing. Finally I got fed up and wrote them a nasty letter, sent it certified mail, telling them if one more ball comes into my yard I'm going to sue for damages and an injunction. And that was the end of the problem.

[pacmania_2001]

Domestic flights are cheap over in the US aren't they? Pay Northcat to fly to your place and deal with it.

Seriously, just keep ringing the cops. Our next door neighbour was having a mid-life crisis and decided to start a band and was doing something similar to what your neighbours are. After a few visits he stopped for a few months and got his garage sound-proofed.

If your local cops are any good they won't mention your name when they confront them, they'll just say some of the neighbours are complaining.

[sacajaweeda]

Ask them to hook you up with backstage passes and maybe a quick glossing over in the credits on their first album if they ever 'make it'.

[northcat_8]

For cryin out loud Grandpa, turn your belltones down and it won't be a problem

Roundabout-

writing a letter or certified letter isn't going to do anything. If it is bothering you that bad, why not simply walk over there and talk to them?

I would approach it from a different perspective than a whinney neighbor though. I would go over with a "interested" mentality and start bullshitting with them for a bit. You have to gain some degree of their interest, familiarity and respect. Ask them about their band, their music, where they play, etc. If you know a club owner tell them that and mention that you will see if your friend will give them a gig. Anything, just make shit up, you aren't wanting to be on the christmas list. But spend sometime over there, don't be in a hurry, be cool and not anal retentive (which, in their eyes you are by complaining about the noise...old timer :P ). You have to be genuine. Talk to them about their amps, etc. After some time simply say: "man you guys sound pretty good, but would you mind turning it down just a little...you guys are vibrating shit off of my shelves and cupboards all over my house...(make sure you laugh after saying this)....I like the music but glasses and plates vibrating off shelves and breaking on the floor getting distracting and making a mess."

Kids will know when you are just being an *******. Calling the cops is the quickest way to get an adverse reaction. If you do call the cops then make sure you go ahead and file the complaint and the citation gets issued. But be ready for blowback.

The easiest way though is gain some mutual respect with them and you'll be better off.

Come on...all you have to do is out smart them...you can get just about anybody to do anything you want if you approach it and talk to them right. As long as they aren't morally opposed to it.


And if that doesn't work...**** it. Break into their garage sometime when they aren't home or playing...and break their stuff up. Especially the amp, as that will be the most expensive to replace.

And if you don't want to do that then just pick up a bottle of Jack Daniels, sit at home and start drinking and when the ratio of balls to brains is right you'll go over and go at it with them.

But I'm pretty sure just being cool, developing a relationship with them, then asking them to chill it out a little bit will be the most effective, least risk of retaliation method.

I have kids in class everyday who are far less respectful than your neighbors and I get them to sit in a seat and listen to me...and they know I can't grab them by the throat and beat the hell out of them.

Remember if they are a hard rock or metal band, then their preconceived notion of typical behavior is rebellion. So work smarter, not harder.

[thayne]

Naw, I disagree with northcat_8. They don't need to like you or think you're cool. Tell them to stfu and make them be afraid of you. Fear = Respect

My neighbors don't **** with me cause they know I'm half crazy and won't take any shit. I don't care if they like me or not, cause I really don't like any of them LOL, but I don't bother them and they don't bother me and so far when I have had any problems just "telling" them to take care of it works and no one has retaliated against me, so I'm happy.

Like I said before, when I was nice and tried to be cool with them, they ignored me, but when I turned into an ******* the problems stopped....

[troyvcd1]

I agree with the there is no room for being nice. You gotta be more of an ******* then they are. I got some noisy kid neighbors in my appartment complex. Ive found that immediately I see they are having a party I call the cops. I dont wait for one minute. Sometimes I hear them outside and I yell at them. Believe me this has helped 100%. I even see the cops take some of the kids away in handcuffs and I stand out there and watch them take the kids away.

[northcat_8]

Naw, I disagree with northcat_8. They don't need to like you or think you're cool. Tell them to stfu and make them be afraid of you. Fear = Respect

My neighbors don't **** with me cause they know I'm half crazy and won't take any shit. I don't care if they like me or not, cause I really don't like any of them LOL, but I don't bother them and they don't bother me and so far when I have had any problems just "telling" them to take care of it works and no one has retaliated against me, so I'm happy.

Like I said before, when I was nice and tried to be cool with them, they ignored me, but when I turned into an ******* the problems stopped....

Obviously you don't have me for a neighbor. Fear is not going to work. When 2 neighbors are of similar mentalities...for example if we were neighbors...you would not intimidate me and I would not intimidate you...******* vs ******* = dead lock after a series of "one up manship" attempts. Your method only works if one side is willing to back down and conceed.

If they are kids, not adults, I'm telling you, that's the best way. And it may not work...if it doesn't work then yea, you do need to brush up on *******-ism but when confronting them you had better be ready to deal with ramifications.

I'm all for being an *******...I have no problem with doing that. I just thought roundabout was looking for a peaceful solution.

[thayne]

Naw, I disagree with northcat_8. They don't need to like you or think you're cool. Tell them to stfu and make them be afraid of you. Fear = Respect

My neighbors don't **** with me cause they know I'm half crazy and won't take any shit. I don't care if they like me or not, cause I really don't like any of them LOL, but I don't bother them and they don't bother me and so far when I have had any problems just "telling" them to take care of it works and no one has retaliated against me, so I'm happy.

Like I said before, when I was nice and tried to be cool with them, they ignored me, but when I turned into an ******* the problems stopped....

Obviously you don't have me for a neighbor. Fear is not going to work. When 2 neighbors are of similar mentalities...for example if we were neighbors...you would not intimidate me and I would not intimidate you...******* vs ******* = dead lock after a series of "one up manship" attempts. Your method only works if one side is willing to back down and conceed.

If they are kids, not adults, I'm telling you, that's the best way. And it may not work...if it doesn't work then yea, you do need to brush up on *******-ism but when confronting them you had better be ready to deal with ramifications.

I'm all for being an *******...I have no problem with doing that. I just thought roundabout was looking for a peaceful solution.

LOL, all my neighbors are pussies so it's not hard to make them back down, but that said I don't act like an ******* unless I need too. So far I've only had to be a prick with one neighbor because they refused to take care of the problem (the ping pong balls). I think in Roundabout's case being an ******* is the way to go. That is if he wants to confront them, but from what he's said, I think just calling the police is the way to go.

The only time I have had a problem with the neigbor kids is one night they where running around my yard, and everyone elses after dark playing hide and go seek and they were driving my dog nuts. So I just went out there and told them they were bother Max and I didn't want them playing in my yard and that was the end of it.

I had a problem with my other neighbors trash blowing out of their trash cans all over my yard and I just went over there and told them, "Your trash is blowing all over my yard, can you please take care of it?" And that was the end of that problem.

I try to be a good neighbor and don't do things that piss people off. I don't let me dog bark all day and night, I make sure my trash is secure and I keep my yard looking nice. I don't blast my TV or stereo or make any noise outside past 10 pm. So far I have had no complaints. It's just common courtesy. People who have none deserve to get their asses chewed

[IAIHMB]

Coming from a kid's point of view, if you are going to be an ******* about it we are just going to tell you to **** off until johny law steps in. :P

[Rookie64]

The thing my neighbors usually do if someone is doing something to disturb the peace, is one will go around and have each sign something and they'll confront the person with a petition.
Can't really say that works or not.

I'm not one to complain, though I know firsthand how annoying some people can be either living near each other or even worse when sharing a place


I'll usually try to put up with it a while or try to compromise


One thing that really got on my nerves was my next door neighbor getting their roof done and adding on to their house.
It was constant pounding from morning til night - for what seemed like years. It took them several months to complete the job.

Seems like there is always some construction going on around me or near by.

Had another neighbor who kept his dog tied outside, and the dog would bark and howl all night long.
I felt sorry for the dog that it was always kept tied and neglected (especially in winter)...it broke lose a couple times then disappeared.


I also know one of my neighbors is big fan of Janis Joplin
It's funny sometimes when you hear Janis wailing at 2 AM

Oh and I got to listen to some guy and his drunk wife yelling in the AM hours
I also hear gun shots (still trying to figure that out ) every now and then


Noisy kids, noisy trucks...and damn, birds sure are noisy too


Had a neighbor that played drums often - luckily that house was a bit down the road, but you could hear it loud enough from here.

When I was younger, my family home was like the neighborhood hangout - especially that I came from a big family myself, so I'm sure there was plenty of noise coming from my place.

Only time someone called the police on us was my older brother's graduation party...for being too loud.
The cop ended up joining the party instead.

I had a few parties in my high school years - one of my classmates changed out of her cheerleader outfit in my living room...like right in front of the window so my nosey neighbor across the street could see, and I was sure he'd call the police, but surprisingly no one came knocking.

One of my other nosey neighbors had called the police on a girl that lived nextdoor to her for having a wild party - where she claimed the guys were jumping into the pool with nothing on.
The girl's dad was a cop


Long time back, my older brothers went tick tacking on Halloween, and my mom got a call from a neighbor down the street - her exact words to my mother were I'm gonna put a bullet through your goddamn son's head if he comes near my house again
I don't think that's the way you wanna go about the problem


Honestly don't know what advice to give...but it might just be a phase.
If these are high school kids, they'll soon be back to school, so it might not last for much longer.


I would think it's better to address the parents about it.

[thecoalman]

Go with northcat's suggestion but take it a little further. Suggest they record all their performances so they can here what they sound like. Also suggest they find a place where they can pick up used egg crates to soundproof the room to get the best possible recording. I would even go as far as getting the egg crates myself or some similar material. Old ceiling tiles work well too. My buddy had a band and they used to practice in their backyard. The room was lined with both ceiling tiles and crates and you could barely here them. Keep the place warm in the winter too if you live where it's cold.

Remeber there kids. They do something and there gonna get a slap on the wrist. You do something your going to jail or getting fined. You only alternative is to keep calling the cops but as stated before be ready for the repercussions.

[Capmaster]

I would try a variation of what northcat suggested. It's true that you get more flies with honey than with vinegar, so cussing and yelling won't help - just make them more determined. They know the noise laws, and provided they stop before 10pm they know they're safe.

I would go over with a few beers (if their parents aren't home) and start getting buddy buddy with them. Tell them you love the music, especially since you've been away for so long. Wait for one of them to ask you where you've been. Act embarassed when you say "prison." One of them will surely ask you what you were in for, and answer "well .....I'd rather not say". They'll ask again and you say "I was in for manslaughter. The neighbor had a garage band, and I killed them for playing too loud."

[northcat_8]

Well first of all if you lived in the country you wouldn't have this problem to begin with. I have friends who live in town...it's like staying a hotel every-freakin-day.

He had a neighbor call the police on us for working on his truck at 2:30am. We weren't even being loud, but the guy's window was on the same side as the garage and the light...THE ******* LIGHT...was keeping him awake.

After that....the noise was keeping him awake...very awake. Cops got called again and again. But then the noise was so loud right up to the time the cops told us we had to quit...midnight I think. But it was midnight every night. Impact wrenches, music, hammers, grinders, as loud as we could be. He would come out and yell at us, etc, etc. Then there was an unfortunate incident with his yard and 2 gallons of Roundup. We completely killed his backyard, every flower, vine, etc. And wrote "I'm a fag" on the bank in front of his house that faced the road. My friend has a picture of it. Next time I see him I'll get it and post it.

This friend now lives out in the country. We are at his house one evening shooting off of his deck. We have some exploding targets sitting about 250 yards away down this slope. Anyway, it gets to be about 2:30 am and here comes the sheriff. Stops and asks us if we would consider calling it a night. We started bullshitting with him, he shot a little bit with us and we stopped after that. The next day we are there about 1:00 pm shooting and his neighbor 3 houses down (about a 1/4 mile and around a curve) calls, just a bitchin. We look down to his house and here he is standing on the back deck of his house...my friend says "hey dickhead, check this out" lays his 30-06 out and shoots a flower pot off the deck of this guy's house...about 15 feet away from this guy. Of course we got a "you mother fuckers" (you could hear him without the phone ), my friend said "Now listen jackass, if I wanted to shoot your house I would, if you can't handle it maybe you should move back to the fuckin city." He called the sheriff's department. Of course we denied everything. What's the sheriff going to do...search the entire field for the bullet? Besides the flower pot didn't just break, it was powder. So this time the sheriff warned us. So it was time for the nail brigade. We threw 2 lbs of roofing nails in the guy's driveway...in the country we still have gravel driveways. My friend farms the field that stretches the length behind all of these houses, so when it came time to spread shit, my friend backed the spreader up to the fence of this guy's house and spread shit all over this guy's back yard. This story is kind of like Roundabout's issue...this guy lived 3 houses down. The neighbor across the road didn't say anything, the neighbors on either side of him didn't complain...only this guy and he was an ******* about it.

We've done many things to many neighbors for being ******** about things. Being an ******* is not the way to go unless they are really nice kids and will give in to you...if they are ******** too, the noise may be the least of your problems.

The guy down the road from my house, and you saw how far that is away from me, he was an ******* and all that did was make me a bigger *******. He sold his house by the way...the Dodge Intrepid and Honda Accord that were in the driveway have been replaced by 2 Chevy 4x4 trucks....my kind of people.

[housepig]

let me weigh in as someone who was/is on the other side (being the band in the garage).

step one - talk to the kids directly. ask them to close the door while they rehearse.

step two - talk to the parents. let them know how disturbing it is to you as a neighbor, and how disruptive, while letting them know that if they'd close the garage door while they practice, you'd be much happier.

step three - do some research. in my town (Minneapolis) there are two different noise ordinances. one of them specifies the maximum dB level at the property perimeter, so if you have something like that in your local regs, go to Radio Shack and get a dB meter (about $20). get some measurements.

we also have a ordinance that is "creating a noise disturbance" - no associated dB level, just creating a noise that is disturbing to others. if that's the case, then use it. cite it specifically. if they are blasting for hours on end with the doors open, they are not doing what they can to make it not-disturbing for you, and you should be able to expect reasonable accomodation from them.

but when it comes down to it, you need to make some choices. playing hardball with these kids might result in some problem with your property. then again, it might not. if they are the kind of kids that would do something like that, your provocation may not make a difference, they might do it anyway just for shits and giggles.

another point - look up the non-emergency number for the cops in your area. use that instead of 911 when calling it in.

but in your shoes, if steps one and two didn't cut it, I'd keep hammering the cops. if they get multiple calls for the same location, they will eventually have to do more than give a warning. maybe if mommy and daddy have to pay off a $100 ticket for noise disturbances every week, they'll close the damn door...

I've managed to avoid this shit by, first and foremost, being considerate of my neighbors. they all have my number, so they can call me first if I'm bugging them, instead of calling the cops.

[snafu099]

have kids in class everyday who are far less respectful than your neighbors and I get them to sit in a seat and listen to me...and they know I can't grab them by the throat and beat the hell out of them.

What B.S. You can not even make the verbal threat today and remain a teacher.

There are things that the offenders can do to mitigate the noise level, but they will not do it until forced to.

Check the laws in your area, in most (US) there is a way for each neighbor to sue for $5,000 in small claims court. As a neighborhood effort this has been used to "cleanup" drug areas.

Your situation may not be as severe but the method would work just as well or the if the parants are made aware of the legal aspect of pending action they may actually do some mitagating. Talk to some one at the police station, gang unit or what ever your city calls it; they may already have a printed plan of action

[thecoalman]

Well first of all if you lived in the country you wouldn't have this problem to begin with. I have friends who live in town...it's like staying a hotel every-freakin-day.
.

Not neccesarily always true... I was at a bachelor party once in the middle of nowhere on private land. We were lighting fireworks, big ones some of them used a half stick just to launch it out of the tube. The closest house was about 1/2 mile away, they called the cops.

It was actually funny becasue we had a huge fire going and the Statey even said he would never had found us if it wasnt for the fire. Anyhow he pulls up and by that time the fireworks were over. Gets out of his car and says we have a complaint about fireworks from the neighbors. He then looks around and kinda shrugs like hes sayin "i dunno"....lol, then goes "that's one hell of a fire" lol even harder. "no more fireworks tonight" as he leaves with mud covering his car from the road. ROFL. Almost felt like saying "don't worry the dancers will be here any minute"

[handyguy]

Frankly, I wonder how the whole neighborhood can take it. Have you thought of asking your neighbors? You know, there are houses right next door to them. That must be alot louder for them, don't you think? Gather them together, form a group & all go talk to the people & eventually the kids be quieter I can assure you.

Even though Im deaf, I go to their house & bang on the door (this you have to do for them to know you are there) & ask them to turn it down-- after all you don't want to make yourself deaf....

[lordsmurf]

**** 'em. Call the cops. File the reports. Again, **** 'em.

If you're afraid of the retaliating, invest in video surveillance around your house. Hell, this is a video site! I'm sure you can find some tips on doing this cheaply.

Don't be afraid.

I call the cops on loud music, car races, anything that pisses me off around my home, especially if I know I'm in the right.

Either that, or learn to use the motto "payback is hell".

I've dealt with my fair share of people like this. I always won.

[northcat_8]

have kids in class everyday who are far less respectful than your neighbors and I get them to sit in a seat and listen to me...and they know I can't grab them by the throat and beat the hell out of them.

What B.S. You can not even make the verbal threat today and remain a teacher.

That's what I said. There is no threat of physicality...behavior has to be controled through non-violent means.

Learn to read.

[Roundabout]

Well, part of the problem is the other neighbors. On one side of them, since the street slopes upwards, there is a high wall that blocks some of the noise going that direction.

The guy on the other side is cuckoo anyway, he's gone most of the time with his boats, jet skis, dirt bikes, etc. so he doesn't hear it. On top of that, he's an ******* anyway in general. Long story I won't go into now, but he's not a problem for me, though his dogs bark a lot - compared to the band noise, it's nothing.

So the idiots really only have one direct neighbor (the one with the dogs), as you can see. The guy that owns the house directly across the street from him never moved in, he bought the house on spec a year and a half ago, when these houses were new. He's waiting for the value to go up more and cash in (good luck selling it with the noise going on, though).

My direct neighbors are Arabs and don't speak English, so they wouldn't even know who to call most likely. Besides they are almost as bad with their kids. Two boys, two or three years old that destroy our plants and run around naked half the time, urinating on the lawn and in the flowers. That's a story for another day...

The other neighbors up the street that are in the line of fire of this noise are a possibility, but I notice they have a bunch of kids too, so they may not care - not sure on that one. There's only 5 or 6 houses my side of the street, it's a short cul-de-sac. On the *******'s side, there's only 3.

So there aren't a lot of possibilites for getting others to sign a petition. One reason why I don't want to go and talk to them, then they will know for sure that I was the one that called the cops (too coincidental, since it just happened). At this point, I'm fairly sure that they have no idea I am the one, they've not said anything (yet. but I don't talk to them anyway).

Yes, the town has noise ordinances, but not defined in db. It just mentions this which I copied from the city document:

Sec. 18-62. Prohibited noise generally.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or
continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise within the limits of the city.
(Code 1968, § 17-2)

Then it goes on to mention drums are specifically prohibited, but apparently only if they are used to attract business, such as at a store opening:

(12) Drums. The use of any drum or other instrument or device for the purpose
of attracting attention by creation of noise to any performance, show or
sale.

And even amplifiers:

3) Loudspeakers, amplifiers for advertising. The using, operating or
permitting to be played, used or operated of any radio receiving set,
musical instrument, phonograph, loudspeaker, sound amplifier or other
machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound which is cast
upon the public streets for the purpose of commercial advertising or
attracting the attention of the public to any building or structure.

But, again, only if used for commercial purposes. They even mention birds, for God's sake, but nothing about loud garage bands!

So it looks like I can get them on a code violation only under the "General" section of the noise ordinance. That may be what it has to come to, but in the meantime, I'm hoping that calling the cops a few times will convince them to stop. Like I said, I'm not unreasonable, but I expect some courtesy too. I would not complain if they would keep it to a reasonable time limit, instead of hours and hours. Or, if they would close the garage door. Problem with that is, it's close to 100 degrees outside and even hotter in a garage with all that equipment going - doubtful they will close the door. Of course, there's no A/C in the garage, so they think it's just fine to leave it open and let everyone suffer with the noise.

I don't want to be an ******* about it, but sometimes you have to draw the line. Being reasonable doesn't help, when the other side doesn't give a damn about how you feel about it. They've already shown that they don't care, just because of the fact they've been doing this for so long, without any attempt to mitigate the noise.

Long term, if it continues (it's already been months) something will have to be done. Thanks for all the suggestions and input. I'll think about each suggestion and weigh my possibilites.

[northcat_8]

Is that really your skyline? Beautiful.

I would still make conversation with them. You aren't going to change their behavior in a single day...it will take time.

Obviously they are a little on the ******* side or they wouldn't be so inconsiderate in the first place. Being an ******* yourself is not going to work.

Good Luck.

[thayne]

I think in this case, just keep calling the police is the way to go

[Roundabout]

Is that really your skyline? Beautiful.

Today, there's not much smog and the mountains are very clear. But no snow in the mountains, of course. It's about 100 degrees today, pretty warm. I hate hot weather.

I would still make conversation with them. You aren't going to change their behavior in a single day...it will take time.

Obviously they are a little on the ******* side or they wouldn't be so inconsiderate in the first place. Being an ******* yourself is not going to work.

Good Luck.

I think you're absolutely right. They've already started up again today, about 1 PM and they're still going now, a quarter past 3. I don't doubt they'll continue all day, unless I finally get pissed enough to call the cops again. I may approach them sometime when they aren't blasting away on the drums and see if I can get through to them, but I think it's a lost cause, since they obviously don't care. This was a nice neighborhood...

Too bad there's no way to stream audio on this site, I'd put it on here so you could hear just how awful this racket is. Hey, I like rock too (AC/DC, Deep Purple, etc), and am not adverse to playing it loud in my car, but there's a time and place for everything. Blasting it to all the neighbors is not the place to do it. Put on a pair of headphones and blow your eardrums off, for all I care.

Here it is Sunday afternoon, and no way to relax and spend the day on Videohelp, when I can't concentrate on writing... :P

Thanks again for your input, everyone. Lots of different points of view on how to handle this, hard to say what will work. I will do something, when my blood pressure finally rises enough to make me do it.

[Roundabout]

I think in this case, just keep calling the police is the way to go

Most likely, this is what I will wind up doing in the short run, there's no reason not to. They won't know who's calling. The only thing it will preclude me doing is talking to them later, because they will realize it was me calling the cops "all those times".

If they find out it was me, then I will definitely file a complaint on them, they'll be fined. They can't say they weren't warned, though.

I got a better look at one of them today when I drove home and passed their house, and they look a bit older than I thought at first. They do have cars (trucks, actually) and appear to be in their early 20's, possibly. Don't know if that would make any difference in the outcome if I confront them or not.

[stiltman]

I would video tape it with the sound and all. Then make sure the cop see it. Then find out what you can do via your city counsel person. I would also take to the board of you HMO. Show everyone the tape as proof.

I did this with a barking dog from next door. The guy was forced to train the dog not to bark or remove it. He gave the dog to his mother.