Not where I live. They will not accept an anonymous complaint for a civil code violation. Tried that twice.
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It finally happened…shut down by the cops!
- Thread starter Bullitt5135
- Start date
5 months back, I got shut down for outdoor band practice at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon.
but neighbor's birthday party went on and on until 1:30am a few weekends ago.
the "selective enforcement" is what bugs me.
but neighbor's birthday party went on and on until 1:30am a few weekends ago.
the "selective enforcement" is what bugs me.
To some neighbors it might not be how loud it is, it could be the type of music or the quality which drives them nuts.
Some people just can't stand to see others having a good time.
Might be a good idea to canvas the area with invitations (warnings
) with included sedatives and earplugs. You could also take requests.
A permit is a permission slip to do that which would otherwise be illegal. I'm sure it can be negated by by police authorities. The cops are also known as the police FORCE. The are the BLUNT end of law ENFORCEMENT. Good luck with that battle. A friend decided to start chucking empty wine bottles at the cops in full riot gear that were there to stop the noise. A couple of tappy poohs on the shins with nightsticks calmed him right down. He never saw his gear again.
He still has knots on his shins today...that happened in the '60's
Some people just can't stand to see others having a good time.
Might be a good idea to canvas the area with invitations (warnings
) with included sedatives and earplugs. You could also take requests.A permit is a permission slip to do that which would otherwise be illegal. I'm sure it can be negated by by police authorities. The cops are also known as the police FORCE. The are the BLUNT end of law ENFORCEMENT. Good luck with that battle. A friend decided to start chucking empty wine bottles at the cops in full riot gear that were there to stop the noise. A couple of tappy poohs on the shins with nightsticks calmed him right down. He never saw his gear again.
He still has knots on his shins today...that happened in the '60's
My band once played a police picnic event. We were told to turn down more than once. Would be funny if “neighbors” called to complain. (It was at a reserved park, but I’m sure we could be heard a distance away.)
We had been shut down by the cops on multiple other gigs. The cops said they got 3 complaints, a little over a mile away. Took them time to figure out where we were playing. (Back yard, private party. The 50 cars parked up the neighborhood likely gave it away too.)
That gig we were playing “quiet”: no mics on the drums, no mains, and our monitors were turned to the audience as mains. Still, it got loud.
FWIW, the two things that will usually get the cops called are the bass drum, and the bass guitar. Those low frequencies travel! If you eq the bass out of your bass, and seriously mute the bass drum, I think you’ll find you get fewer visits from the police.
And if you thought you needed full stacks to be loud: 14 years old, had the band over. No drummer, just 3 guitars and vocals - all using 15 watt practice amps. Vocals included. Played outdoors, my back yard, 1pm in the Summer. The cops roll up as my friend decided to climb up on the roof and stand at the apex. He turns around and sees the police officer in the driveway. Doh!
We had been shut down by the cops on multiple other gigs. The cops said they got 3 complaints, a little over a mile away. Took them time to figure out where we were playing. (Back yard, private party. The 50 cars parked up the neighborhood likely gave it away too.)
That gig we were playing “quiet”: no mics on the drums, no mains, and our monitors were turned to the audience as mains. Still, it got loud.
FWIW, the two things that will usually get the cops called are the bass drum, and the bass guitar. Those low frequencies travel! If you eq the bass out of your bass, and seriously mute the bass drum, I think you’ll find you get fewer visits from the police.
And if you thought you needed full stacks to be loud: 14 years old, had the band over. No drummer, just 3 guitars and vocals - all using 15 watt practice amps. Vocals included. Played outdoors, my back yard, 1pm in the Summer. The cops roll up as my friend decided to climb up on the roof and stand at the apex. He turns around and sees the police officer in the driveway. Doh!
Anonymous complaint BS, it's public record you can FOIA request (freedom of information act) to get the incident call number telephone number and the audio recording of the callers complaint. Police can not seize property without a judges order.
Code enforcement will normally allow you to adjust the levels within your cities ordinances to within legal limits so you can continue without fear of reprisal, after all it's a public service (they work for you) if it is within the legal limits (at least where I live) there is nothing the police can do legally. Sorry that happened...
Code enforcement will normally allow you to adjust the levels within your cities ordinances to within legal limits so you can continue without fear of reprisal, after all it's a public service (they work for you) if it is within the legal limits (at least where I live) there is nothing the police can do legally. Sorry that happened...
Not here either. Hang up on them, they'll call back. If you won't cooperate they flag the call as frivolous.
My city ordinance is noise loud enough to hear 50 feet from the building/stage 11pm-7am. Any other time is noise loud enough to disturb a reasonable neighbor from comfort is a nose violation.
I would think a reasonable person should be able to sleep after being awake 30+ hours. Not that this is the case with the OP. I don't know what his community is like or what the ordinances are like. Nor do I know why someone called the cops. But it is reasonable to expect that if you are at home, you don't have to be at a concert.
With that said I have put up with a lot of noise from my neighbors with concerts and pool parties. None of them have notified me, "Hey, we are having a party Friday night. There will be a band. It's supposed to be over at 11pm. If you have any complaints about node, here is my phone number. Call and I will address them for you."
I wish they did that because unless it was a daily thing it would be easier to deal with.
Right, but what the OP was doing was either properly permitted and within the bounds of the noise ordinance or it was not.
Never had an issue with the police. Did once with a neighbor when I was in high school. We were practicing in my family's laundry room when the Perpetually Scowling Neighbor came into his backyard and started motioning his hand down. We all just smiled and waved back.
I can understand the fireworks, however. One reason LSU's Mike the Tiger mascot no longer enters the stadium is because one time some idiots detonated a barrage of fireworks right beside the animal. He refused to enter his cage or the stadium after that. The practice since has been dropped. Anybody who wants to see Mike can visit him in his habitat.
I can understand the fireworks, however. One reason LSU's Mike the Tiger mascot no longer enters the stadium is because one time some idiots detonated a barrage of fireworks right beside the animal. He refused to enter his cage or the stadium after that. The practice since has been dropped. Anybody who wants to see Mike can visit him in his habitat.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
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- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
I have called on neighbors lots of times. In a residential area, nobody should have to suffer other people's music (inside their own house with the windows shut) at any time of day. We are building a new house and will not buy a lot anywhere that doesn't strictly enforce noise a noise ordinance with teeth. Also will soundproof the house as much as possible - 2x6 studs and high quality windows with my office in the basement. Music and barking dogs from neighbors is actually one of the top reasons for moving and we live in a really nice quiet area.
... Or it's gunfire. In my neighborhood, prior to 10PM there's really only three "noise complaints" the cops will respond to: (1) music with profanity/obscenity at high volume, (2) domestic disturbance, and (3) fireworks/gunfire/explosives.
Ah you're "that guy". Well you should at least give your new neighbors a pass for at least as long as your construction takes because building a house is as you must realize with all the trucks, table saws, jackhammers, hammers and nail guns really are a pleasure for your neighbors for months and months on end...but it's ok for you right?
You city slickers
Ever heard of tannerite? Any given weekend day, if you stay outside long enough, you'll hear a big BOOOOMMMMM. I hear gunfire all day Saturday and Sunday. Doesn't bother me a bit.
Some of us have lived in cities our entire lives, and couldn't actually sleep under those surroundings. Living in proximity to people involves an occasional sacrifice so they can have a Sunday afternoon block party or something like that. It's worth it. It's the sound of humans, like hearing birds in the forest, or whatever. Beats lawnmowers anyway.
Of course, there are limits, but permitted music at 3 pm would be well within them.
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My neighbor up the hill plays guitar through his practice amp - thankfully only during the day - and I can hear him inside my house with the doors and windows shut.
The real problem: he sucks. I mean he is really, really bad.
Here in Salem, MA, Halloween capital of the world, we had at least half a dozen bands playing downtown until 10pm... some neighbors don't like it, but they are the neighbors that generally don't like anything.
You should offer to help him learn.
Then rip the strings off his guitar and run away laughing maniacally.
