| Author |
Message |
    
LilRedCorvette
Citizen
Username: Lilredcorvette
Post Number: 233
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 7:09 am: | 
|
I had to phone the police on my neighbors after being threatened with physical violence...looking for some advice on moving forward, hoping there may be some town officials who read this and have some insight on moving forward. I'm posting this for both myself and Composerjohn...he and I live on the same street and are both having difficulty with these neighbors. I'm getting the brunt of it because I'm right next door.
In short, I live beside people who are very loud and have absolutely no consideration for any of their neighbors. They put a boombox in the trunk of their car, park their car on the street, open the doors and blast the music for everyone to hear. Every weekend in the summer it is impossible to watch TV or have a conversation in my house because of their noise. They always have people over - yesterday it was about 40 people and they had their boombox on their porch blasting rap music. They allow their children to scream and play all over my property at all times and their dog is always on my property, sometimes relieving himself. When I discussed this with the father, he said 'kids will be kids' and for the dog he said, 'it's ok, he's only doing a number 1'. Seriously.
I've spoken with them about these issues before but never in a serious way, mostly I just asked that they get their kids and dog off my property. But after such an uncomfortable weekend, I decided it was time to speak with them in hopes of finding some type of resolution before it becomes completely unbearable for me.
I told her that I did not want her to stop having people over and stop enjoying her property, but to keep in mind that all of the children and dogs and noise really interfere with her neighbors' ability to experience peaceful enjoyment of their home.
Her answer to me was basically 'tough - I have a loud family and there's nothing I'm going to do about it and that it was my fault I was disturbed by the noise.
They're building a pool and I know they don't have a permit. Since they'll be needing a fence, I suggested we go halves on it, hopefully that would help with the privacy and noise issue. I figured that she had to build a fence anyway, maybe if we both paid for it we could both construct a privacy fence in such a way that it would bring more peace.
She said no and that I 'should look after my side'. It was bizarre...I realized that I just couldn't find common ground with this person no matter what I said. I kept re-iterating that I was trying to find resolution to this issue and keep the peace.
She then threatened me...I think her words were 'back off bitch before I hurt you'. Totally unbelievable.
I figured I had to document it so I phoned the police. They took my statement and instructed me to document everything - dog on my property, kids in my backyard and they also said that if the noise was unbearable to phone the police and they would start issuing summons from here on in.
Obviously, I realize I can no longer speak with this person since the last thing she said was a physical threat. I wish I could find a way to remain civil, but they are just not reasonable.
So...does anyone have any advice going forward? Has anyone experienced a neighbor-from-hell? Since I cannot speak with them, should I just go ahead and build the fence myself so I can be sure that it's a privacy fence that will cut down on some of the noise? Any advice would be appreciated.
|
Soulful Mr T
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 509
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 9:20 am: |
|
Yipes. We had neighbors like that in Jersey City and I entertained some pretty nasty fantasies about what to do to them.
They were Santeria and had large gatherings and bizarre religious rituals all the time, including animal sacrifices. I once chased a chicken out of my backyard into Kennedy Blvd.
Cops carried a live goat out of their basement at least once.
They brought a certain ghetto gestalt to a very nice neighborhood. It's part of the reason we moved here.
Not much you can do, I s'ppose, except call the police over and over again and ask sympathetic neighbors to do the same. |
Ace789nj
Citizen
Username: Ace789nj
Post Number: 33
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 10:43 am: |
|
First off, every time theey are doing something that's in violation of any law or town ordinance call the police......EVERY TIME!!
When their dog takes a dump on your yard take a picture of it happening, note if the dog is unleashed or uncollared, foward those complaints to the animal control officer at the police dept.
You can also take it upon yourself to file a complaint against them with the court for violations such as animal complaints, offensive conduct, loud noises, public drinking etc.
Also when someone threatens to do harm to you you should file a complanit, which if you called the police I'm sure they advised you on the procedure for doing so.
When those fail send me a private message, I'm a pro at revenge tactics |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 126
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:13 am: |
|
Disagree with Ace - if you call the cops for every minor offense you're going to have a neighbor from hell for as long as the two of you live here. After your encounter with this person it's more than obvious they will know that it was you who keeps calling the cops. Then your neighbor is going to look for 101 things that you're doing wrong...
I would more forward with the fence if you feel it will help with the privacy issue. In the meantime, I would not do anything until things simmer down since there was a violent threat against you (obviously unacceptable). IMO, the next move would be in a couple weeks contact this person and try to talk it out. It was a holiday weekend and possibly this person was under the influence... not quite sure.
Good Luck... hope everything works out. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 2169
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:42 am: |
|
I agree with Sheena up to a point. If your neighbor is "building" a pool - she most definately does not have a permit..Mark can correct me on this, but I believe new inground pools are not permitted in South Orange. The fact that she is putting in a pool and not considering a fence (if she was, why not take advantage of your very generous offer) is irresponsible - not to mention creating an attractive nusiance for neighborhood children. A call needs to be made to the planning board. In the meantime, errect the largest, noise-proof fence our ordinances allow. |
Mrs T
Citizen
Username: Netjack
Post Number: 136
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:46 am: |
|
Niceness is seen by people like these as a sign of weakness.
Document everything, get together with your neighbors and don't put up with this anymore. Get a restraining order if you are threatened again.
Make it HARD for them to continue to flaunt the laws of the community, they're counting on everyone just letting them make the rules.
Get a fence if you can. Do you see rodents around the house? If you do also call the Health Dept. |
Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 167
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:47 am: |
|
See if there's any helpful information at this NOLO site:
http://apartments.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=apartments&zu=htt p%3A%2F%2Fwww.nolo.com%2Fencyclopedia%2Ffaqs%2Fre%2Ffaq_noise.html
|
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1962
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:53 am: |
|
SoOrLady: I had not heard that inground pools were no longer allowed but will check on that. Clearly a fence would help with keeping the children and dog(s) off the property, but not sure it would solve the noise issue.
LilRedCorvette: Send me an email with your neighbor's address and I will make sure code enforcement follows up regarding a permit, etc. The next public safety meeting is on 06/27 at 7pm and suggest if the problems persist that you try to attend. A fence is required if there is a pool. The "nice" side of a fence is required to face the neighbors (which is why many new fences look the same on both sides). You might want to use the money you were willing to apply towards the fence for landscaping which if done right can help insure privacy.
|
LibraryLady(ncjanow)
Supporter
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 2555
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 12:26 pm: |
|
Mark, re the nice side of the fence..
Are you sure? Several years ago I was told by my neighbors as they installed a fence bad side towards me that the law had changed. Did it change again? |
LilRedCorvette
Citizen
Username: Lilredcorvette
Post Number: 236
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 12:42 pm: |
|
Sheena, the noise and tresspassing have been on-going issues for one year now. I have raised my concerns with them before - children all over my yard, dog peeing and pooing all over my property, loud parties, loud music all times of the day and night. But this time I finally decided that I needed to speak to the homeowner and address the gravity of the situ. They've always dismissed it before, this time I wanted to let them know that I was *very* concerned. The response I got was a threat of violence. Totally unacceptable and under the circumstances, very scary. The last thing I'm going to do is ever speak to this person again. The scary part is that I have no doubt that she would carry out any threats.
I'm moving ahead with the fence right now. Calling some companies, looking for estimates as I type this. |
stefano
Citizen
Username: Stefano
Post Number: 439
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 12:47 pm: |
|
a few well-placed "DANGER: LANDMINES" signs always help.
dr stefano
|
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1963
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 12:48 pm: |
|
LL: The ordinance was changed several years ago to make sure the neighbors got the "better" side of the fence. Unless I missed the vote, the ordinance has not changed. When did your neighbor put up the fence?
|
LibraryLady(ncjanow)
Supporter
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 2557
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 12:55 pm: |
|
You know, now that I think about it, they rushed to put up the fence so as to get it in place before the ordinance changed. Nevermind
} |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 127
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 1:11 pm: |
|
LilRedCorvette,
I def. understand. Didn't realize the problem persisted for so long. I can't even imagine tolerating that type of behavior. It seems to me as though it's far pass a public nuisance. Do you have a neighborhood association to address it as well? I guess diplomacy only goes so far...
|
User58
Citizen
Username: User58
Post Number: 216
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 1:33 pm: |
|
If you have exhausted all the nice ways of working with them then put on the gloves. Buy a digital camera and take photos of the dog going on your property and show them to the police. Tell them to keep the children off your property. If they come on your property call the police. If the music goes past 9:00 pm call the police. Make sure they have a permit for the pool. This can be checked by calling John Gross. If not then they must remove it. When they are playing music in the driveway loud call the police. I believe there is a noise ordinance that is for all day. Music is allowd obviously but not at a certain level.....call the police. |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 2211
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 2:07 pm: |
|
Most important thing is to report the threat and make sure the Police contact this person. |
Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 168
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 3:11 pm: |
|
Isn't a threat of physical violence assault under NJ's criminal code? |
LilRedCorvette
Citizen
Username: Lilredcorvette
Post Number: 237
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 3:18 pm: |
|
Thanks everyone. The police came today and took a statement. According to them, what she did was make a 'terrorist threat'. They spoke with her urged her not to have any communication with me now that there was an offical record of the threat.
I called the Bldg Dept and they came and put a stop work order on the pool. They are also going to write some citations for various violations.
I have three fencing companies coming this week to give estimates.
I'm prepared to begin documenting (taking pictures, etc) of every time their pets or kids come onto my property.
Thanks again to everyone. |
Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 170
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 3:22 pm: |
|
You also can buy a device that emits a high-pitched sound in response to dogs yelping, which allegedly trains them to stop yelping -- sounds a bit Pavlovian, but worth trying. |
Ace789nj
Citizen
Username: Ace789nj
Post Number: 36
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:37 pm: |
|
Sheena- people can't always be encouraged or swayed by kindness, they didn't just have one or two parties, their dog didn't just happen to wander off a couple of times. They have been, and until LilRed takes a stand, will continue to lower the quality of life for everyone around them. Repeated calls to the police ensure that cops from different shifts and tours be made aware of the problem & it's only common sense that the more an officer has to come out the more chance there is for a summons being written.
LilRed, I'm glad you've taken some steps to ensure your peaceful living but I would hold off on the fence, #1 why the heck should you have to spend your own $$ to sheild yourself from these losers? It's kinda like giving in, you're changing things around just to avoid their insolent lifestyles. #2 If they're allowed to finish that pool a fence would have to go with it
good luck |
Ace789nj
Citizen
Username: Ace789nj
Post Number: 37
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:40 pm: |
|
BTW, Mrs. T..............Niceness is seen by people like these as a sign of weakness.
I couldn't agree with you more |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 1261
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 2:11 am: |
|
Red-
If you need to borrow a digital camera I could lend you mine. Just don't ask me how to use it cuz I really don't know. |
Abner Aliger
Citizen
Username: Vichy
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 9:03 am: |
|
Just might be time to call the "movin Man"; this is exactly what happened in East Orange not that long ago! |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3320
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 9:42 am: |
|
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page