| Author | Message | |||
     newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 330 Registered: 8-2001 |
OK, I know there have been many threads on jerky neighbors. Need advice on this - my mother's neighbor (who is a real SOB) has been driving over a small portion of her lawn (his driveway is right next to this little patch). Her gardener just yeaterday has seeded this area and was back this morning to finish up. To make a long story short, while my mother was showing the gardener this area that has been driven over, the neighbor came out to leave his house and my mother asked him to be careful when backing out of his driveway. Wouldn't you know, he starts backing up, stops and gets out to look at the area, gets back in his car and turns to go over the area he was asked to be wary of. It is pointless to speak with this person as he doesn't listen - he goes balistic if any seeding or fertilizer or anything even remotely goes on his driveway but he has no courtesy at all for anyone. Advice? | |||
| WendyP Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3263 Registered: 12-2004  |
Charming. Forget trying to get the grass to grow and put in a bunch of BIG decorative rocks instead? | |||
| WendyP Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3264 Registered: 12-2004 |
Or bury some nice sharp spikes just below the surface of the dirt, so when he runs it over he pops his tire? I know, not nice, and I'm only just fantasizing about doing something horrible because this person sounds utterly horrible--to intentionally, blatently and specifically do what a neighbor has kindly requested you don't do is too evil for words. | |||
| Carla Citizen Username: Elbowroom Post Number: 60 Registered: 9-2005  |
Yes! Big, pointy, sharp rocks! | |||
| newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 331 Registered: 8-2001 |
 Wendy & Carla - I actually suggested both of those! Of couse, the rock would have to be very, very heavy so he wouldn't be able to move it out of the way (which I'm sure he would try do). | |||
| Crazy_quilter Citizen Username: Crazy_quilter Post Number: 219 Registered: 2-2005 |
We have a one of those railroad ties along the edge of our driveway (installed before we arrived). It helped a little when our old neighbor had a lawn mowing service and was always backing big trailers down the driveway. there is also a large rock right on the corner, Probably put in for the same purpose. | |||
| Ace789nj Citizen Username: Ace789nj Post Number: 328 Registered: 2-2005  |
SO or MPWD ? | |||
| newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 332 Registered: 8-2001 |
Maplewood. | |||
| BGS Citizen Username: Bgs Post Number: 764 Registered: 10-2003 |
My neighbors put a big tub of flowers on that very spot in their lawn and now no one runs over that spot because their car will get either dented or scratched. A thought though...about 5 inches of my lawn is actually my neighbors because of the survey lines...so, that might actually be his property. FWIW-there is a special place for people that are purposely mean...he will get his one of these days... | |||
| newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 333 Registered: 8-2001 |
BGS - the spot is about 3 feet wide and is all on my mother's property. It's a space between a telephone pole and the neighbors driveway. I wish he would get his sooner than later (or just move). This is a family where the kids don't have keys to the house and they have to wiggle through a small basement window to get into the house. (As an aside - the mother works for DYFS - enough said). | |||
| Ace789nj Citizen Username: Ace789nj Post Number: 340 Registered: 2-2005 |
You shouldn't have to go through the trouble of putting up pots or laying down ties, it's your property and the dick shouldn't be going over it. Start documanting it, take pictures. Note the dates and times that you've spoken to him, have the police come by and do a property damage report a few times. If he happens to leave the car there call the town code officer or the police there are ordinances for parking on grass. Get all you ammo in line and threaten him with legal action, if he wants to ruin your lawn then he should have to pay for it's repair. I do like the spikes thing though, If there's no danger of kids getting hurt you can get a 1x3 piece of wood, get an 8 foot length. Put nails through it about every 6 inches, make sure they protrude enough, then turn the wood upside down and lay it on the area he drives over. Wow, I'd love to see that. Or you can just save the trouble and flatten his tires yourself  | |||
| moose Citizen Username: Moose Post Number: 264 Registered: 6-2001 |
Maplewood now has a "Conflict Resolution" mediator. This program is designed for just these types of neighbor-to-neighbor conflicts. Contact Town Hall or Fred Profeta for more information. | |||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 4544 Registered: 5-2001 |
well I guess that's better than pouring five pounds of sugar into his gas tank. Or spraying obscene graffiti onto his car in the middle of the night.
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| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4348 Registered: 1-2004  |
I agree with Wendy;put nice big rocks there. The sharper the edge, the better. After his tires go flat a couple of times, maybe he'll change his behavior. | |||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 12995 Registered: 1-2003  |
So he didn't say anything and his only response was go drive over the area? Wow. Since your mother has already tried talking to him, another possible approach is to make a claim in small claims court. If he doesn't show, she wins automatically. It could be very small and still get the point across, since the neighbor won't want recurring $50 charges. | |||
| Aok Citizen Username: Aok Post Number: 202 Registered: 6-2005 |
A tree would stop him and block your view of him -- you'd never have to "see him again" | |||
| WendyP Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3277 Registered: 12-2004 |
It'd have to be an very mature tree. Sounds like he'd just mow down a sapling. | |||
| newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 334 Registered: 8-2001 |
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. The tree idea is good but the grass is right near the road and it is only 3 x 3 or so. My mother was speaking to her landscaper about the rock. She already put up a fence years and years ago whe they first moved in as the kids would constantly be in her backyard (the neighbor on the other side did the same thing for the same reason). (I do like the sugar idea but I think he'd try to retaliate whether he thought we did something or not) | |||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8900 Registered: 4-1997  |
land mine Then take the battle to him. Torch his house. If you show weakness he'll certainly strike again. This is how to deal with lawn bullies. | |||
| Chially Citizen Username: Chially Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2005 |
Is your neighbor ajc? | |||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 14718 Registered: 10-2001  |
Ask Dick Cheney to invite him on a duck hunting adventure. | |||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 7126 Registered: 5-2001 |
How about planting a rock garden or putting in a walled raised flower bed? Either could be very attractive while serving as a landmark to improve your mother's neighbor's steering. | |||
| Mr. Big Poppa Citizen Username: Big_poppa Post Number: 511 Registered: 7-2004  |
keep leaving fresh poo (human or dog) in that spot. He'll learn soon enough. | |||
| newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 335 Registered: 8-2001 |
My mother found some good sized, jagged rocks and placed them...sure enough the neighbors were going in and out and all she heard was a loud scraping every time the car passed over the rocks. | |||
| CLK Supporter Username: Clkelley Post Number: 2025 Registered: 6-2002  |
Is there anything odd about the configuration of their driveway, making some mishaps likely? For example, I know that I am always going up on the Belgium blocks on my driveway because there is a slight bend in it. I don't go over a 3' area of the neighbors' lawn, mind. I've probably gone a few inches onto their yard a few times, but more often it's my own blocks that get knocked out of position. However I wonder if there is some reason for this. It seems so bizarre, otherwise. | |||
| newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 336 Registered: 8-2001 |
CLK - nothing weird (except for the 3 cars near the garage that haven't moved in months) - straight in and out (sounds kinky  ) | |||
| CLK Supporter Username: Clkelley Post Number: 2028 Registered: 6-2002 |
Actually, straight in and out is kind of the opposite of kinky, if you know what I mean. (after all a "kink" is a "bend" and .... oh, never mind) So are the neighbors just being malicious, then? I know there are some nuts out there, but I still find this hard to believe. Understanding their point of view might help you solve the problem. But I can't figure out why a person would drive 3' onto another person's property. I'm drawing a complete blank. | |||
| newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 337 Registered: 8-2001 |
We're also drawing blanks - the guy is just a mean pr*ck - nothing more, nothing less... | |||
| SO Ref Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 1590 Registered: 2-2005  |
Maybe the next MOL F2F should be to piss on his lawn... | |||
| steel Citizen Username: Steel Post Number: 995 Registered: 2-2002 |
Are large jagged rocks more attractive than tire treads on the lawn? I would hope that the troublesome neighbor doesn't now formulate some kind of petty revenge, (from their point of view), in response. Sometimes these neighbor squabbles can escalate to no one's advantage and everyone's undue distraction. Have you considered advising mother to simply remove the sense of sanctity about 3 feet of dirt before it becomes a slippery slope? | |||
| Smarty Jones Citizen Username: Birdstone Post Number: 468 Registered: 10-2005 |
I think I agree with steel....nothing you will ever do will cause this guy (who might be me for all I know) to walk over to the front door, knock, and say "I'm sincerely sorry for the trouble I've caused you, and the placement of Jagged Rocks and Spikes causing me numerous flattires, has opened my eyes to my bothersome ways. Will you accept my appoligies and join me for a bar-b-q this evening?" Deep down, thats what we want. Unfortunately, it's never going to happen, even if Corzine himself showed up to reprimand him and remind him of Jersey property laws. Ignoring the 3' section, or putting decorative gravel down is probably the only way to keep from making this a continual distraction. | |||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13017 Registered: 1-2003 |
Smarty Jones makes a good point, except that an overt act that shows tolerance for him to use that area can, over time, be interpreted to mean that it is his land. That's why it is sometimes important to defend what's yours. I don't know what I would do in this situation. | |||
| Oldstone Citizen Username: Rogers4317 Post Number: 641 Registered: 6-2004  |
the guy doesn't care about his neighbor's property...the neighbor can and should remedy the situation in her own way (rocks, flower box, wall, whatever) without regard for how he feels. it is her property. period. he deserves NO tolerance. i can't believe smarty and steel would rather give up than stand up. | |||
| amelia Citizen Username: Amelia Post Number: 36 Registered: 12-2001  |
I have a horrible driveway, or maybe I am a horrible driver, I have flattened numerous tires in my own driveway because of an awful concrete wall...anyway, I digress... I am constantly running over about a 10 inch triangle of my neighbors grass, partly the way my driveway is and partly well.. you get the idea. I am so sorry about this dear neighbor. I have taken sod from my own yard to patch it up, I try to be careful, but that brown patch just never goes away. I will continue to be more careful. But I am grateful too that my neighbors have not been unkind to me. Thanks for the catharsis.... | |||
| WendyP Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3296 Registered: 12-2004 |
Then again, Amelia, I doubt you'd look them right in the eye and do it again on purpose if they did say something to you. Therin lies the difference! | |||
| amelia Citizen Username: Amelia Post Number: 37 Registered: 12-2001 |
Thanks Wendy, you know me too well I guess  (Here we are online on St. Patricks Day~!) | |||
| WendyP Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3297 Registered: 12-2004 |
Ahhhhhhh..........Parenthood! Nighty night. | |||
| amelia Citizen Username: Amelia Post Number: 38 Registered: 12-2001 |
 | |||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 4881 Registered: 9-2001  |
"Is your neighbor ajc?" No, I don't think so Chially! I just noticed your wise crack. What's your problem pal? This is your second recent comment about me. Listen, I protect my turf from grub worms like you................. might have in your ....! BTW, for those who so hate the word pal, or how it sounds, or what you think I mean, or what you make it mean, why not give it up and start thinking about the hate word used by so many of you on the board... | |||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 3626 Registered: 5-2001  |
Art, you bring up an interesting point. You do seem to use "pal" quite a bit, and often in negative contexts. While, on the one hand, I don't know how exactly you became aware that a number of MOLer's (myself included) have grown somewhat tired of your repetitive use of that word, and while, on the other hand, I'm certainly not laboring under any misconceptions that you'll give it up simply due to my own modest request, I do have a suggestion for you: Perhaps you might consult a thesaurus, and thereby both (A)expand your usage choices and simulteneously (2)defuse whatever hostile criticism you feel is emanating from this board based on your use of the word "pal". Perhaps the following .wav will give you an idea of just how effective such a change in your vocabulary might be:
There! that wasn't so hard, now was it? Looking forward to your new, more varied usage of such phrasiology going forward, I remain your pal, -s. |
