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how do you deal with noise complaints

#21
cheezewiz said:
Or maybe look at the other side of things. What if the guy works midnights and you wake him up when you practice? I KNOW that would piss me off, REGARDLESS if you're playing "technically proficient metal".

How about turning down? Everyone in the neighborhood wins. Neighbor is happy, you still get to practice.
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What about when teh neighbor is deliberately calling the cops as an act of revenge?
True story - I live right next door to a house full of off-campus college renters. Parties galore...they use our driveway to cut through, they party loudly until 4 am, etc etc. I called the cops on them one time since asking nicely wasn't helping..now whenever my kids practice guitar and bass in the garage, they call the cops on them for revenge. Calling the cops on a 10 and 14 year old for revenge for us calling on them for a 4 am wild party. Nice huh.
 
#22
Really now, there's been a whole bunch of good pranks for these types of neighbors. But really, I'd probably just butter his front step and fill his tractor's (since I'm guessing he's the same sort of old man that wears one of those driving caps indicative that he's not worthy to have a license at his age) gas tank with sugar. He'll learn talking can get him into trouble.
 
#23
Relic said:
What about when teh neighbor is deliberately calling the cops as an act of revenge?
True story - I live right next door to a house full of off-campus college renters. Parties galore...they use our driveway to cut through, they party loudly until 4 am, etc etc. I called the cops on them one time since asking nicely wasn't helping..now whenever my kids practice guitar and bass in the garage, they call the cops on them for revenge. Calling the cops on a 10 and 14 year old for revenge for us calling on them for a 4 am wild party. Nice huh.
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nonsense, college kids are so smart, helpful, nice.. and experts on politics as well, i refuse to believe this
 
#24
D Rokk said:
nonsense, college kids are so smart, helpful, nice.. and experts on politics as well, i refuse to believe this
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actually, these particular neighbors were very nice at first. All cute gals. This was until the parties started..I would walk over at 3 am and ask that they keep it down a little..3:15 I hear a drunken guy yelling "f-you, you bunch of $(%%^&'s, come out here and make us turn it down!!", then someone doing the "shhhh!" then hear something hitting the side of my house, then their door slams, then the music, talking and shouting slowly pick up again in volume..
apparently I'm the bad guy for calling the cops.. and they have the nerve to call the cops on my kids when they're practicing 2:00 on a Saturday afternoon. Dorks. I'll get my revenge :ninja:
 
#25
Relic said:
actually, these particular neighbors were very nice at first. All cute gals. This was until the parties started..I would walk over at 3 am and ask that they keep it down a little..3:15 I hear a drunken guy yelling "f-you, you bunch of $(%%^&'s, come out here and make us turn it down!!", then someone doing the "shhhh!" then hear something hitting the side of my house, then their door slams, then the music, talking and shouting slowly pick up again in volume..
apparently I'm the bad guy for calling the cops.. and they have the nerve to call the cops on my kids when they're practicing 2:00 on a Saturday afternoon. Dorks. I'll get my revenge :ninja:
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well 2 IS kind of early........I remember when I was in college my weekend nights were spent up till 6AM and sleeping lasted until at LEAST 5PM.....
 
#28
Relic said:
What about when teh neighbor is deliberately calling the cops as an act of revenge?
True story - I live right next door to a house full of off-campus college renters. Parties galore...they use our driveway to cut through, they party loudly until 4 am, etc etc. I called the cops on them one time since asking nicely wasn't helping..now whenever my kids practice guitar and bass in the garage, they call the cops on them for revenge. Calling the cops on a 10 and 14 year old for revenge for us calling on them for a 4 am wild party. Nice huh.
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See my previous post about revenge games/calls. The cops will soon figure out what you're both doing, and neither one of you will get any sort of assistance, especially them, if the scenario is as you say.

I also sympathize completely. I live in a neighborhood very near a college.
 
#29
If the cops or the neighborhood association show up, make sure you get a very good understanding of what you are and aren't allowed to do by law or based on the neighborhood association laws so that you know you are within your rights to play when and at the volumes you do.

But more importantly, I agree with others who have said the easiest thing is to talk to the guy and work out a schedule. See if you can't find a time that works for everyone.

Outside of that, you can either turn down or just put up with his complaining.
 
#30
cheezewiz said:
See my previous post about revenge games/calls. The cops will soon figure out what you're both doing, and neither one of you will get any sort of assistance, especially them, if the scenario is as you say.

I also sympathize completely. I live in a neighborhood very near a college.
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The cops here in my town are very very aware of the neighborhood complaints regarding the "college houses". There have been some interesting legal ramblings vs the landlords and such being held accountable. Basically the township moneyholders asked that the the landlords be cut some slack and not be held to a higher standard while the police countered by stating that they should be called any time something goes down that disturbs the peace.
When I did call them, they came with a show of force that would have scared the crap out of a platoon of marines.. they know the deal. While I would not abuse my right to call them over every little thing, they certainly know what residents here often have to put up with.
 
#31
Make sure you know the letter of the law, both in SPL and hours. Keep your volume below the SPL, don't play before and after legal hours, and nothing can be done or said beyond your neighbor being a PITA - to both yourself and law enforcement.

If you aren't breaking the law, you aren't breaking the law.

:)

I've dealt with this a few times, and it's irritating, but as long as you are going out of your way to remain within the legal guidelines of your community, and you are POLITE to the police that are showing up to do their jobs, nothing will happen to you.

Don't tick off the police about it, though, you don't want that. Right Pat? ;)
 
#32
Relic said:
The cops here in my town are very very aware of the neighborhood complaints regarding the "college houses". There have been some interesting legal ramblings vs the landlords and such being held accountable. Basically the township moneyholders asked that the the landlords be cut some slack and not be held to a higher standard while the police countered by stating that they should be called any time something goes down that disturbs the peace.
When I did call them, they came with a show of force that would have scared the crap out of a platoon of marines.. they know the deal. While I would not abuse my right to call them over every little thing, they certainly know what residents here often have to put up with.
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That's good. A few years ago, when we were having A LOT of problems with various college houses, we found a way to curb it a bit. ANY TIME we received a valid complaint on a college house, we called the landlord to "advise" him of the complaint. It didn't matter what time it was. Cops get a 4 am loud party complaint? Landlord gets a 410am phone call. Very effective after a while!:D
 
#33
cheezewiz said:
That's good. A few years ago, when we were having A LOT of problems with various college houses, we found a way to curb it a bit. ANY TIME we received a valid complaint on a college house, we called the landlord to "advise" him of the complaint. It didn't matter what time it was. Cops get a 4 am loud party complaint? Landlord gets a 410am phone call. Very effective after a while!:D
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Wow, that's a seriously brilliant idea! I'm sure that would be very effective here. I'm actually surprised that they don't already do this.
Well, actually no I'm not...some of the landlords are also local politicians.. hence them being given slack over any nefarious goings on. :eyebrow:
I'm sure if they got a call, some cop trying to do his job and look out for the residents would have his hand slapped.
 
#34
Holy War said:
....there is one who just hates that were playing rock in his quite suburban neighborhood. we practice for a max of 4 hours but not necessarily at gigging volume but kinda loud none the less. hes called the neighborhood association complaining about us but they told him that there is nothing that they can do. he has called the cops but they have never come to me about the complaint.
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There is nothing your disgruntled neighbor can do because you're doing nothing wrong.

Don't change.
 
#35
My old 3 piece band used to practice in my garage. The old neighbor lady who didnt like me called the cops on us. We spoke politely with the police, who were more interested in our band then giving us any trouble. We told them (we were about 18 at the time) that we thought that noise complaints could only be made after 10pm. They told us the law actually states if youre disturbing someones peace at ANY time of the day a complaint can be made.

We stopped practicing in my garage for a while. Then our guitarist quit and the band became a 2 piece, bass & drums. My friend who lived about 5 blocks away said he could hear us every week. We practiced from 7-9pm every wednesday, then it turned into thursday. In the 3 years we practiced there, with the garage door wide open, we never received another visit from the police.
 
#36
Holy War said:
forgot to add that i am a us Marine and that helps gwt around a lot of red tape with the police. om also a stident at the virginia military institutw and most of my neighbors respect me enogh to let me play. they realize i am a goos person and that music is my outlet. thw guy is a seriois dbag. i dont think playing music at my home on sunday between 1-5 os all that unreaaonable. ive even had other neighbora come up to me and compliment our music
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a good person would be more considerate of his neighbors.....some people ,myself included work nights......

why not try to deaden the sound in the practice space....old carpet on the walls and windows etc......not everyone wants to listen to you.......shooting is my outlet,but i dont get to do that at home even between 1-5 sundays....just because the cops cant do anything about it doesn't make it the right thing to do.......

just because someone wants a little peace and quiet at home on a sunday does not make him a db.......i would have thought respect for ones neighbors would have come up at the virginia military inst....
 
#37
im pretty sure theres a law about how much noise one can make at a certain distance from ones house, and an SPL meter could be brought over to see if you are making unreasonable noise. as for the time of day, thats about the best you can do.

so either get the cops to monitor levels to see if you need to turn down or not, and then have THEM talk to the guy about whether or not he has the right to do anything.

OR...

forearm to the bridge of the nose..
 
#38
warwick.hoy said:
If the cops aren't fining you or telling you to turn it off then I'd say you'd have little to worry about. Try to be as courteous as possible when you tell the complainer to sod off.

Do some research anyways into your sound ordinances though. Here in Spokane people have the right to complain at anytime of the day...no sound curfew.

If you have to find a different place to rehearse....I don't know if they will still allow it, but the band I was in; as well as a lot of bands I knew in VA. Beach jammed at a certain self storage facility. If you are interested I'll PM you some details.
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actually my other band practices there at that self storage unit
 
#39
Jim Campbell said:
a good person would be more considerate of his neighbors.....some people ,myself included work nights......

why not try to deaden the sound in the practice space....old carpet on the walls and windows etc......not everyone wants to listen to you.......shooting is my outlet,but i dont get to do that at home even between 1-5 sundays....just because the cops cant do anything about it doesn't make it the right thing to do.......

just because someone wants a little peace and quiet at home on a sunday does not make him a db.......i would have thought respect for ones neighbors would have come up at the virginia military inst....
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this guy does not work nights. And he didnt want peace and quiet, he was mowing his grass when he came over to complain. As far as the VMI comment, you'd be surprised what we do and don't learn here. Don't judge on things you don't know about. When he came over I was very respectfully to him but all he could go on and on about was how pissed off he was. So I pretty much told him we were going to play until someone with authority comes and tells us to stop. And to date (knock on wood), no one has. He can live in his own bitter world with no fun or enjoyment, it doesn't bother me. He was the one who came onto my property and started the name calling and threats. Whatever, Im really not all that concerned about it anymore. I will continue to play at my home, during reasonable hours at reasonable volumes.

Oh and just as a reference, I was playing a Mesa BB750 through a 4x10 with the master volume at about 9 o'clock. The guitar players (who use a Mark IV and Thunderverb 50), were at about the same volume level, i.e. not loud at all
 

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