LOUD neighbors Town of Herndon (Manassas: cul-de-sac, for sale, real estate)

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by LynchburgLover

I’d call Police also. You just never know these days how even “reasonable” people will react to things.

But, if you already know your neighbor, this isn't a confrontation.


"Hey, Bill! I see your grass is looking great this year; what are you doing differently? How is Mitsy doing in 3rd grade this year? Oh, by the way, the stereo was a little loud last night; not sure if you know I can hear it through the wall?"


As a society, we've forgotten how to be neighborly.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I do not disagree with your statement, but my point is that we (as a society) now jump to the police first, in every case. We don't attempt to know our neighbors, resulting in our first conversation appearing confrontational.

The OP said the neighbors were "bad". And maybe they are, or maybe they just look scary.

And is it a legal matter and noise violation if the noise cannot be heard outside but only though a shared wall?

No, not everyone jumps to the police first. Plenty of people confront neighbors or people they are not happy with and this is when the proverbial you know what hits the fan then the police are called to clean up the mess. There may be times when talking to your neighbor first is a good idea. All too often it may not be such a good idea. Most people want to avoid confrontation at all costs and the police in general are fine with that. Not once in my 30 years did I tell a neighbor that I'd wished they tried to handle the matter first.

[lovnova]

Perhaps roses and a bottle of wine. Oh yes, and a apology for bothering them.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

No, not everyone jumps to the police first. Plenty of people confront neighbors or people they are not happy with and this is when the proverbial you know what hits the fan then the police are called to clean up the mess. There may be times when talking to your neighbor first is a good idea. All too often it may not be such a good idea. Most people want to avoid confrontation at all costs and the police in general are fine with that. Not once in my 30 years did I tell a neighbor that I'd wished they tried to handle the matter first.

Again, it's not a "confrontation" if you've already made an effort to know them outside of having an issue with them.

[lovnova]

Originally Posted by lovnova

Perhaps roses and a bottle of wine. Oh yes, and a apology for bothering them.

Just kidding.

Seriously though, Big foot is 100% correct. A few things to consider:

Loud music and noise is usually alcohol and/or drug fueled.

Confrontation can lead to assault and/or retaliation.

Unfortunately most local noise ordinances are very difficult to enforce.

I have a lot of first hand experience in this department. We live in SE VA now in a resort community. Most of the houses around us are short term rentals for vacationers. I called the police 18 times in 2017 for noise.
Down here the police can only ask the noisemakers to keep it down. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
I confronted some drunks one time at 1:30 am. Asked them to keep it down. Do you realize what time it is. Later that night they broke glass beer bottles in and around our pool and pool deck.

Just call the police right away. Don't wait, it won't get better. Don't be afraid to call them mutable times.

Keep a record of events, dates and times and ask the NE dispatcher for a case number each call.

Contact the HOA if you have one.

If they are renting contact the owner directly to discuss the problem.

As foot suggested do not confront the noise makers directly.

Good luck, unfortunately no easy fix for this.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by spencgr

Again, it's not a "confrontation" if you've already made an effort to know them outside of having an issue with them.

If this was brought up and I missed then I apologize. I was going on the assumption this is a neighbor you don't know, don't trust or believes may be troublemakers and you don't want to risk something.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

If this was brought up and I missed then I apologize. I was going on the assumption this is a neighbor you don't know, don't trust or believes may be troublemakers and you don't want to risk something.

I think your assumption is correct. They do not know the neighbor. But it also appears they have never attempted to know the neighbor. Now this specific OP says these people are "bad". They may be, and that would prevent me from getting to know them. But I don't know how the OP knows they are bad.


My point throughout this thread is that we, as a society, have stopped getting to know our neighbors. We don't know their names. We don't know anything about them. Then, when there is an issue, we are scared to approach, strictly because it would seem confrontational. Yes, it certainly would, if this is the first time you've every talked to the people who have lived next door to for years.

[lovnova]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I think your assumption is correct. They do not know the neighbor. But it also appears they have never attempted to know the neighbor. Now this specific OP says these people are "bad". They may be, and that would prevent me from getting to know them. But I don't know how the OP knows they are bad.


My point throughout this thread is that we, as a society, have stopped getting to know our neighbors. We don't know their names. We don't know anything about them. Then, when there is an issue, we are scared to approach, strictly because it would seem confrontational. Yes, it certainly would, if this is the first time you've every talked to the people who have lived next door to for years.

Are you serious?

[Ffxdata]

Neighborly is a two way street. We are outside all the time and friendly with neighbors—more so than most it seems—but there are neighbors that would intentionally dodge any attempts a friendly overtures.

The house across the street just sold and the new owners dropped by. I went across the street with my child who was the same age as their kids who were running around. I said hello. In response, the kids ran away and the new owner wouldn’t get out of his car or roll down the window for a solid 30 seconds before realizing I wasn’t walking away.

We lived in a townhouse a few years back and despite knowing all of our neighbors, one lady as her kids went out of their way to say hi or acknowledge us. Some people don’t care to be friendly or “neighborly” no matter what you do.

[Carlingtonian]

Some people are reasonable. Some aren't.

About 15 years ago, the wife and I lived in a condo in Arlington. It was in one of those 1960s buildings that used to be fancy but gradually gave way to frugal retirees, the recently divorced, a few student renters, and young couples like us, having just grabbed the lowest rung of the Greater DC real-estate ladder.

One Friday night, I go to bed early, preparing for a stamdardized test the next day. Next door, a few guys (whom my future wife and I don't know, as that unit was often rented out) start partying. There's loud music and loud talking, laughing--nothing too crazy.

Around 11:00 pm, I knock on the door and explain to the small group of fairly clean-cut 20-something guys how I have a big test the next day and would really appreciate it if they could keep it down. They seem understanding -- because who wouldn't be? I go back to our unit and go back to sleep, relieved.

A few hours later, I awaken to loud hollering and banging in the hallway. I'm incensed. I throw on some jeans and stumble into the hallway, shirtless and groggy. One guy -- a stout, chubby Asian guy, if you can believe it -- is kicking the elevator door, clearly hammered out of his mind. I walk up and say something like "Dude, WTF?"

He immediately turns to me and tries to get me in some sort of sloppy headlock. I shake him off, but he keeps coming at me. Finally I deck him with a right jab to the mouth, and he goes down in a crumple of manboob and Miller Lite. I go back to our unit, hoping that's the end of it.

It isn't. A while later, the Arlington Police show up. The officers (themselves barely old enough to drink) tell my boozy adversary and me separately it'll be mutual assault unless we each decline to press charges. Which we do. (I later had this come up for a security clearance, but the investigator agreed I did nothing wrong.)

So yeah, I'm inclined to skip the pretty-please and call the police first if any of the following is present: alcohol, tattoos, weapons, or a large percentage of people under 25. That will offend some people, but I really don't care.