August 14, 2006 8:20 pm
Oops I Did It Again
Posted by Will under neighborhood, rants
Those of long-suffering readers know that when an incident such as yesterday’s nearby noisemakers transpires I’m pretty much entirely incapable of not stepping to the trangressors with some sort of written response:
August 14, 2006
To: Those responsible for the noise yesterday
I can’t and won’t speak for my fellow neighbors who live even closer to you, nor do I need to. It is enough that for me two houses south of you, the excessive noise you generated throughout the afternoon and well into the evening yesterday effectively disturbed the peace and quiet I’m entitled to and had long become accustomed to before you arrived.
As I have with several past incidents of loud gatherings you’ve had, I made a strong attempt to tolerate the high-volume music and party noise for more than a fair share of time. This time it continued unabated for so long and so loudly that ultimately there was no choice but to notify the police — not just once, but twice.
While making the second call to the LAPD from my backyard apparently I was spotted for the music was immediately turned way down. Following that action I then heard agitated comments such as:
1) “We can do anything we want during the day!”
2) “They called the cops before coming over first!”Those are remarkably presumptive and ridiculous things to say. Here’s why:
• “We can do anything we want during the day!”
No you can’t. Disturbing the peace is against the law, plain and simple. You have no right to disturb it between sunrise and sunset. You have no right to disturb it at all. Period.
• “They called the cops before coming over first!”
Why is it my responsibility to be your chaperone? And do you seriously think that a frustrating confrontation with me would have had a positive result? Think about it: If I’d come over and said your music is too loud why would you respect that when you certainly had no respect after the LAPD told you the same thing.
Look, here’s the bottom line. I have little confidence that this communication will make any difference. I’ve been through this all before, and if anything this letter will make you even more obstinate and belligerent. But by submitting it I’m at least giving you the courtesy and consideration you’ve already demonstrated you’re unwilling to give me.
So here’s where we stand: you’re in charge. If you want to get pissed off at me and keep disturbing my peace, I’ll just keep calling the peace officers and documenting each incident with audio recordings until I’ve established enough of a pattern and case that criminal charges can be brought against you.
On the other hand, if you keep the volume of your parties and your music quiet and respectful of those around you then you’ll never hear from the police or me again and we’ll all get along just fine. Believe it or not, that’s all I really want.
Like I said, you’re in charge. The choice is yours.
William Campbell
August 15th, 2006 at 8:17 am
Great letter. Unfortunately, I count at least 23 words they’re not going to understand. But calling the cops, that will get their attention.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:58 am
Good for you.
My neighbors used to do some marriage counseling in their home. Pairs of couples would come for the weeked to yell obscenities at each other and unload all their unspoken gripes at the top of their lungs. My young children playing in the yard would let me know it was going on.
A group of neighbors talked with them and asked them to move the business but they said that they couldn’t find a place in town where the noise would be allowed. Duh. ‘Nice’ didn’t work. Police visits did.
August 15th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
hey, whats that shirt say that you’re wearing?
August 15th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Timothy, it’s shwag from a couple-years-old film called “Two Brothers.”
August 16th, 2006 at 9:56 am
I’ve been in the situation where we disturbed an entire neighborhood with a party before. But we did actually turn it down when a neighbor came by to complain. Not just out of fear of the cops, but because we hadn’t realized how much the sound was carrying, and/or how much we’d annoyed the neighbors who were in their homes. Going over before calling the cops *can* work if the people in question have a clue.
August 16th, 2006 at 12:02 pm
True Jillian, but in this specific case these people with their “we can do whatever we want during the day!” clearly have no clue.
August 16th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
I don’t like confrontations and prefer notes to actual face-to-face because apparently I come off as a bitch even when I think I’m being polite.
I’ve never called in a noise complaint, but if that bunker up the street has another party that bleeds into the wee hours of the morning, I think I’m going to call both parking control and the coppers.