Problem with noisy neighbors...

**Michelle68** · 09-12-2006, 08:16 PM

As the weekend approaches, I'm wanting to get some feedback on our problem. A young couple lives next door. She is 21 years old and he's 24 and they have a three year old little girl. They bought their house about a year and a half ago with help from her mom and dad. In fact, the guy told DH that they didn't really want a house yet, but her mom and dad were insistant about buying. He works nights and she is not working at the moment. (As far as we can tell.) Anyway, EVERY single weekend they party. I don't mean just having a few friends over, no, I mean getting sloppy drunk, sitting on the patio in their backyard (which is on the same side as ours and DD's bedroom windows) whooping, hollering, yelling obcenities, etc. at least until 3:30 am or so. There's no way we can sleep.

We've tried to go over there and ask them to quiet down, but when they're drunk they're also obnoxious and just smirk and say, "We'll try." or something like that. We've tried calling the police but (unbelievably) our city does not have an official noise ordinance (although it has been in the news recently regarding one city councilman trying to change that ) and beyond talking to them and telling them to quiet down, the police can't do much so they just get loud again after the officer(s) leave. Our neighborhood is 20 years old and there's not a really active neighborhood association anymore.
I'm just at loss. I'm seriously wondering where their little girl is when they party. (Grandparents live out of town) I wouldn't mind so much if they were inside and wouldn't go outside to party. We've talked to the neighbors on the other side of the, They are a middle aged African American couple who are very nice. She said that her husband doesn't hear anything because he's hard of hearing and their bedrooms are on the other side of the house. I do think that she must've said something to them a couple of weekends ago though, because DH was standing outside as one of the partiers were driving away (for more beer, they kept saying) and one of them yelled obcenities and racial slurs at the other neighbors' house. (Yep, REAL winners, huh?

)
So, sorry this is so long. Just looking for suggestions on how to deal with this is so long. Just wanting to see if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with this.

Thanks in advance.

--Michelle

**Droppedonmyhead** · 09-12-2006, 08:22 PM

I'd be inclined to get speakers and blast them out with classical music during the week a few times. Hey. . can't hurt. . there's no noise ordinance. Do it while he's trying to sleep during the day.

**cspp04** · 09-12-2006, 08:26 PM

maybe writing to the councilman that is trying to have the noise ordinance invoked might help. at least it will help his cause which will inevitably help yours in the long run.
you might ask his advice and what routes to take to help quiet down your neighbours.

**banana** · 09-12-2006, 08:34 PM

Wow I cant believe the police cant do anything, that is really a shame! Did you ever try talking to them when they are sober? I would definitely approach both of them with your husband and have a real talk with them. Maybe they get sooo drunk they forget how obnoxious and loud they were behaving.

**Michelle68** · 09-12-2006, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by Droppedonmyhead

I'd be inclined to get speakers and blast them out with classical music during the week a few times. Hey. . can't hurt. . there's no noise ordinance. Do it while he's trying to sleep during the day.

Actually, I also thought about (in the morning ,on the weekend after a party) going and knocking on their door for every little thing such as "Can we borrow a cup of sugar?" , " My son lost his ball in backyard. Can we go back and check?", etc. The classical music idea is great, but their bedrooms are on the other side near the other neighbors house. Unless the neighbors on the other side wouldn't mind us using their backyard for our nefarious purposes....Hmmm.

--Michelle

**Michelle68** · 09-12-2006, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by banana

Wow I cant believe the police cant do anything, that is really a shame! Did you ever try talking to them when they are sober? I would definitely approach both of them with your husband and have a real talk with them. Maybe they get sooo drunk they forget how obnoxious and loud they were behaving.

Unfortunately, we have tried. I even left a note on their car once about how it affects our kids being able to get sleep. Doesn't seem to work. Neither of them are exactly the brightest bulbs in the pack, if ya know what I mean, so it seems to go right over their heads. As for writing the councilman, I do think that this will be one route we will take. This councilman happens to be the one for our district and we actually voted for him in the last election.

--Michelle

**frugalfarmwife** · 09-12-2006, 09:13 PM

I'd keep calling the police time and again and again, just keep sending them there until the police get tired of getting called and DO something about it.

Or bright and early lawn mowing, music, car horn, shrieking children, etc.

I personally would be more than nasty with them by now but I don't have children so retaliation here would not effect anyone but hubby and I.

BTW, with our rowdy drunken neighbors I have fun waking up THEIR dogs bright and early, lol, they have 8 beagles kenneled on the other side of their house and I can hit just that RIGHT Note in the morning to set them all off in a full symphony, lol!

kj

**Missy** · 09-12-2006, 09:18 PM

rofl kj, i have a beagle too, she can sure raise the roof if i need her to. We have a noisy neighbor too. they fight constantly, hurling insults at each other and breaking things in their yard and house, long into the wee hours or the night and morning. the police have been called several times. they are drunks as well. so early in the morning playtime between our dogs is bright and earl;y.

**Michelle68** · 09-12-2006, 09:22 PM

I really like the dog ideas,LOL, wish our dog was a noisy barker. My DB also suggested putting a VERY bright light at the top of our son's treehouse facing their patio so when they get noisy and start partying we can turn it on and shine it right on them. Of course, if they complained we would say that we heard loud noises and turned it on for security purposes.

Haven't found one bright enough yet.

--Michelle

**Droppedonmyhead** · 09-12-2006, 09:29 PM

You could always record them when they're having their party and play it back LOUDLY. That way, you have proof of them disturbing the peace and they can get an earful of themselves. Put the speakers up in the tree and point it towards their bedroom and blast it. They'll hear it.

**kabin63** · 09-12-2006, 10:37 PM

Hey Michelle,
They make good spot lights you can get at the hardware store. If those aren't bright enough there's always search lights...LOL Just kidding. I was thinking the same thing about making them miserable, but truthfully, if they are drunk enough they won't hear you knocking at the door anyway. I am with cspp about contacting your councilman. You should be able to call him directly and talk to him about it. Our councilman is a country neighbor and we are good friends with him and his wife, so I know they are supposed to be accessible.
I also agree with kj about calling the police time and again. Somethig has to give.

**leezza** · 09-12-2006, 10:56 PM

Idea: call the police when they go out for more supplies, maybe a DUI would slow them down!!!!

Idea: FOG lamp for the tree house, like the kind you put on a car!!!

Idea: you might go to the city office and look up who ownes the house, if it is in the parents name maybe you could contact them!!!

RUDE people suck, good luck with whatever you do to get them under control.

leezza

**Michelle68** · 09-12-2006, 11:00 PM

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I'm kind of afraid that if we recorded their party noise and played it back, they'd want to come over and join us.

I had told my DH to quit calling the police because it wasn't doing any good but now that others have suggested calling everytime, I think it might be good to be able to have a record of how many times this happens to go to our city councilman with.

--Michelle

**Michelle68** · 09-12-2006, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by leezza

Idea: call the police when they go out for more supplies, maybe a DUI would slow them down!!!!

Idea: FOG lamp for the tree house, like the kind you put on a car!!!

Idea: you might go to the city office and look up who ownes the house, if it is in the parents name maybe you could contact them!!!

RUDE people suck, good luck with whatever you do to get them under control.

leezza

Funny thing about the DWI thing,according to DH, the same guys who had jumped in the car and yelled obscenities at the other neighbors' house also spent 20 minutes driving up and down our street while loudly complaining that they had to find the "f'ing Walmart" so they could get some beer. Uh...the Walmart is a mile away and it's NOT on our street. Very scary. *Sigh* If only the police would've shown up at that moment. We've gone on the appraisal district website and the house is the their name, so mom and dad must've just provided a hefty down-payment. I think we'll go looking for a very bright light this weekend.

--Michelle

**Goodwin17** · 09-12-2006, 11:15 PM

I absolutely cannot stand loud neighbors. I've lived in multiple college town apartments through the years, and I've made many a call to the police. I agree that you should write your councilman, keep calling the police, and the light is a great idea. One of those 2000 candle flashlights are superbright too. Sending you good luck vibes!