ASK DR. DISH: Noisy neighbors
November 4th, 2009 by CatQuestion: Just about every night my neighbor, who lives below me, (I live on a hill) plays his drums late into the night. Sometimes he plays after midnight on a school night! I've complained to his parents, who live there, but nothing has changed. What can I do?
Answer: Funny you should mention this.
Just last week The Advertiser ran a story about Waialua neighbors whose noise complaints went all the way to the state Supreme Court. For years the Moysas and Davies have been battling an on-going feud about loud noise and singing. Taking legal action, I suppose, is a solution — but albeit maybe not the best.
I guess the only thing you can do at this point — aside from talking with your neighbors again — is to report the noise to the police. You can probably bring up the issue with your local Neighborhood Board, but there isn't much it can do to solve your problem.
It's too bad that people can't coexist together with respect and consideration.
Any suggestions?
***
Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at cat@thecatdish.com.
Tags: advice, Ask Dr. Dish, Davies, hawaii, Moysas, noise, noisy neighbors, toth
November 4th, 2009 at 6:11 am
Yep, call the police. There is a noise ordinance that says you cannot make big noise after a certain time. I forgot if it was 10 or 11 pm, something like that. But anything after midnight is a no no especially on a week night.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:32 am
There's only one solution here: Toilet Ninja. Sneak into said neighbor's house, drop a numero dos in the toilet and don't flush.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:45 am
I am afraid that some neighbors and their activities are just incompatible. In all likelihood, if this is an ongoing thing, and the two households have not worked it out on their own, at least one may have to move to see improvement in the situation. I had one really awful neighbor, and my purchase of my first home had a lot to do with the guy on the other side of the wall. I haven't found any similar incompatibility with neighbors in the past 22 years, although some may consider me an awful neighbor without having told me so, calling the police, or suing me.
If quiet neighbor has a high stress tolerance, calling the police and dealing with the later consequences of escalation may be a good choice. Often the escalation impacts otherwise innocent or more tolerant members of the households, so it is wise to think twice. Sometime other things start to happen when no one is looking, and everyone's stress moves up and stays up - the time to move scenario.
The advantage of calling the police, once anyway, is that both neighbors get an independent viewpoint on whether something is too loud or not a police matter. Some people are ultrasensitive, and others need to be told that they are way outside the normal range and infringing on others' "quiet enjoyment" in a blatant way.
While my children were small and my petite wife was pushing a double stroller around the neighborhood, I once called the police regarding a neighbor who routinely parked entirely across the sidewalk. I figured that if this was a legal way to park, I would be out of line in asking the neighbor to park off the sidewalk. Similarly, if it was in fact illegal to block the sidewalk all day, every day, I shouldn't have to enforce that ordinance all on my own.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:45 am
call the police and pray they are not too "busy" to respond.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:14 am
If talking to them nicely doesn't work, then I agree call the police.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:18 am
There's no reason for that sort of late-night drumming, when you can get an electric drum kit and headphones to practice at any time without disturbing your neighbors.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:40 am
sneak into the house and punch perforations in the drum heads. next time he feels like banging away, it'll punch a big hole in the drum.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:07 am
It might be fun to point some speakers their way and blast your music @ 5am! Make sure the music is something the kid would probably! That would be a mean thing to do to the rest of the neighborhood, but it's fun to think about doing it!
I guess you just gotta call the cops. A visit by the cops should let the parents know that it isn't just you being unreasonable.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:20 am
If calling the police is too threatening or if you have called but the noise is gone by the time they arrive, try mediation.
http://www.courts.state.hi.us/page_server/Services/AlternativeDispute/4E3D896DFE782019EB28F79FE3.html
November 4th, 2009 at 10:30 am
I agree with everyone, call the police.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Our neighbors used to beef all the time, either super late at night, or super early in the morning.. AND THEN they used to make up... loudly...AISUS!!
Luckily we just moved and we are only the 3rd family in a new development so no more neighbors yet
November 4th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Cut and dried really... if they don't react proactively to you personally asking them to respect quiet time, then you pretty much are left with calling the police. Don't let the neighbor bully you. And similar acts of retaliation never resolve anything, but only escalate them.
November 4th, 2009 at 11:21 am
sounds like this drummer is "entitled" to bang on his drums whenever he wants. it's all about him.
obviously his parents have failed to teach this guy about "respect and consideration" -- not only of his neighbors but his own parents, too!
yeah, call the cops. and good luck.
November 4th, 2009 at 11:38 am
UGH! I get those. BUT as long as my children can sleep and it's not borthering them then i'm good. Once my kids starts to complain i'm going off. But yes you only can make "noise" until 10pm, you would think yeah people get common sense!. What I would do is first talk to the neighbor's, then give them up until 3 strikes, then I'll tell my landlord. If that doesn't work then hell will break loose, because knowing these "busy" cops they aint gonna do crap! they too busy drinking coffee and eating donuts.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Remind me never to piss off frankie...
November 4th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Oh, and sorry, but I just saw yesterday's column. Mac makes $1.1 million a year, which right now equates to $550,000 per victory. As the state's highest paid employee, we have every reason to expect more of his football team.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Hire Bruddah Cuz Syndicate Kimo to break the boys' arms... no more drumming... at least for a LONG time... just gotta shell out two cases of Heinekens...
November 4th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I had a neighbor who consistently would throw parties until the wee hours of the morning. after several requests for them to hold it down, I kind of got my own revenge. When they thru a party I'd fire up my chopper when i'd leave for work instead of taking the car. 6am, straight shake your window pipes. It worked the parties were over by 11:30 from then on.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
My neighbor's AC unit is on all night long and it is loud. It is one of the big window units! I talked to them before and they shut it off around 11:00 pm. Lately, the AC is on all night long. My quality of sleep is going downhill and so is my health. I guess I will have to talk to them again. How I wish they get a split unit and put the condenser in the garage!
I also hate people who play mahjong late into the night! It is so noise!
Some people just don't have any respects for their neighbors.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Thank the lord my neighbors are very quiet. Might have something to do with education. Both my neighbors have degrees.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Our neighbors are quiet also..but we use to have neighbor who played in a band ...one was drummer I be complaining and my husband like the noise...argh....but they MOVE ! well I am half way deaf now so it has to be really loud noise!
November 4th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I prayed one day his drum will break in half but THEY MOVE WHICH IS MUCH BETTER my prayer was answered.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Well then another neighbor was blasting his music so I got even pulled my sterw hooled up the speaker my stere was louder but my husband
ruined my revenge he turned down my music I made sure the song was goofy...My husbnad said our neighbor will get mad so I said she is deaf it was funny.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
yes I hooked up our big speaker ...so the guy turned his music down ..my stereo won!