Did I do the right thing?

[lovemyshiba]

I am positive you did the right thing.
My husband plays the drums, and his cousin guitar. Since we have a spare room where he has his drums set up, they get together and jam once in a while, never after 8pm. When we first moved in, he told the neighbors he played drums, and asked them to listen for him once while he played--they couldn't hear it.

Hopefully they appreciate the fact that you went to them first, and didn't call the police, and they will remember that when scheduling their next practice.

[KYS]

I also think you handled the situation extremely fair.
I like peace and quite.

[Cataholic]

Well, here is an update to knock your socks off...after that Friday night, things on Monday seemed a mite quiter, maybe. Then, by Wednesday, back up to LOUD!! Another Friday loud, and finally, this Monday, I called the police. They showed up, and those guys were cranking! Loud! The police talked to them, and left. Ten minutes later, LOUD!

So, tonight, I called again. And, the same officer came out..and heard it again. He was like, "I told them last time..."...then, the dad walked up the street, and the officer said, "look...we were here on Monday, what is going on?" I filled out a complaint, and we are going to try private mediation. I pushed for a citation, but, the officer said to try this first..he he he...

The officer told the dad- band is over tonight. No more noise. The dad came over later, very apologetic, as was I. He said his son would like to talk to me, and see if we can't work something out...and I said that I was agreeable to that, but, I was done listening to 6 hours of cruddy music a week, and I wasn't hopeful that the sound would be lowered enough.

One of the boys had a few choice words for me (funny how well this 18 year old knew me ). I told the dad I really didn't appreciate that kids comments, and it certainly wasn't making me receptive to working something out with the 'band'. He said that that boy was kind of trouble, and again he was very sorry.

How do you like that? I call the police on my neighbors, and they apologize to me! I like the quiet! I like the peace! At least for tonight.

[carole]

Cataholic of course you did the right thing, I myself lived next door for one year to the NEIGHBOURS FROM HELL, I own my home, the place next door is a rental to university students, most have been fine, but these ones had parties continually day and night, they never stopped, you get nowhere here with noise control, and even though I had the landlords support initially, he soon got sick of hearing from me, and then took a different attitude.

That whole year was a bad year for my family in general, and this just added to the stress, it was a year of misery, and I did not know how to get it to end, luckily they moved out and my new neighbours are just fine.

[mugsy]

I don't think I would be overly likely to "talk" to the band members if they are going be nasty about it. I would stick with what the officer said and if you have to call again, I would insist on a citation since it was the 3rd time he has had to come out.

[micki76]

You go girl! Kick some butt!

[Cataholic]

Yeah, I was thinking that too. I told the adult father that I was going to go ahead and go through with the mediation. I don't think I will get a citation issued until the mediation has happened. I thought the officer was giving me the citation referral, but, it was only a mediation referral. I intend to call them every time it happens.

[popcornbird]

*gasp* Catapault called the cops on her neighbors! Bad Catapault! JUST KIDDING! You did the right thing and I would've done the same. Actually..........I *did* do the same...........3 times 2 years ago. We have a neighborhood swimming pool behind our house, and the rules for it are *no swimmers past 9pm*. Well, 2 years ago in the summer, some neighborhood teens decided they had the right to do their 18th birthday party there, with LOUD music that ripped across the pool area, past our backyard, and into our house with the windows CLOSED mind you. We waited, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00..........that was IT. Those kids were going to leave no matter what. Grumbled, got out of bed, told my parents, and called the cops. Then went to the window to see what they would do when the cops came. The cops came, went in the pool area and said on a loud speaker.........*KIDS! Happy Birthday! Now GO HOME!* YAY! The kids left!

This happened several times and we called the police everytime, and now it doesn't happen no more. It took several police calls for them to learn their lesson, but now 2 years, and no more trouble. Thanks cops!

[captain]

Short and sweet :

YOU did the right thing
THE PARENTS need to take more responsibility!

P.S. Tell them you'll SUE!!!

[mugsy]

This is just another example of parents NOT taking responsibility for their kids AND being AFRAID of them! Geez I hate stupid people.

[shais_mom]

I think you definately did the right thing again. I also think you shouldn't give up on talking to them just b/c one is being nasty. If he is a known trouble maker and continues to be nasty like he is, then maybe the band will boot him.
I wonder if you could get the Humane Soc involved b/c they are terrorizing your cats. Would that count as animal cruelty? Would be an interesting approach.
And if the band/family/kids find out that other neighbors are bothered by it too, they might find somewhere else to pollute with their noise!

[Samantha Puppy]

You rule, Cataholic!! Very well handled. Keep us updated.

[carole]

Staci after reading your thread I had a thought I wished to pass on, re- my own experience, with my NEIGHBOURS FROM HELL, I found it was not a good idea to do too much, as they would retailiate, they once sprayed graffetti on our caravan, which yes I did ask them to clean off, and they never did, they used to throw their rubbish in my section, all these kind of things, one never knew if they would pop over in the middle of the night, and key the car or something (its in a carport).

I know this was not fair, that we had to live in fear of what they might do, but just a warning BE CAREFUL, you have actually got to catch them at it to have proof., to take matters further.

It can be a NO WIN SITUATION. so cataholic be careful you don't antagonise them too much, you never know what some awful people will do.

[shais_mom]

Wow Carole!!
That just makes me glad that my neighbors ONLY play loud music occasionally! And have several cars around, and the one I share an alley with has the biggest walnut tree in the world, and all the walnuts are falling into my driveway and yard!

But it could always be worse, tho. They really aren't bad people, and they watch out for us also.

I hope your neighbors move soon!!

[carole]

Those ones did move on thank goodness, but it was a whole year of misery, the next ones stayed for a year and they have been great, the difference being they were all employed, so they did not have time on their hands, like the other one's did, and they have been very considerate, so I am hoping they stay on.