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July 11, 2008
Police Response to a Noise Complaint
So it's 2:30 in the morning on July 5th and my neighbor's party is still going strong. The music is rattling the pictures on my walls. I called 311 and lodge a noise complaint. About 40 minutes later, I see the cops pull up and go to my neighbbor's house. They left in about 10 minutes, but the music stayed on and just as loud for the next 2 hours or so! My question is what are the police supposed to do in response to a noise complaint? It seems like these jokers did absoluely nothing.
Comments
Get into the basement and flip off their main breaker.
Posted by: Steve at July 11, 2008 11:33 PM
The last time this happened to me I went downstairs in my pajamas, went into the apartment and turned off the stereo. Within seconds the party was over.
Posted by: guest at July 11, 2008 11:49 PM
You're a neighbor. I called at least 4 times. So did my landlady. We know the police came at least 3 times but I also wondered why it took until 5 in the morning before they got tough about it and yanked the plug. It was unbearable. Even the cop on the desk taking the calls was appalled at how loud it was- he could hear it through the phone.
The party in question was in the garden of a building on Dean st. they had a DJ too, and folks on Dean and Pacific were calling 311 and the precinct all night.
I really hate those people- this isn't the first time they've pulled this either.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 12, 2008 10:27 AM
How often does this happen? I know it's annoying and disruptive, and I'm not claiming to love loud inconsiderate neighbors, but if this isn't a regular occurrence I say it's ok for them to have a loud long party once in a while (meaning once or twice a year). I know it’s a pain, but truthfully we all live in the city in close proximity to one another and have to learn to deal with other people’s lives. If this is something that happens often, that is a completely different situation. But even then, I think they’d be much more responsive to a plea from you personally than they would the cops.
Good luck next time!
Posted by: henrystreet at July 14, 2008 9:58 AM
I see what you're saying Henry Street, but if you multiply it out along the block, you're saying that every single one of the one or two hundred people living on a dense urban block has the right to keep their neighbors up until 5am once a year.
I think it's a two way street. That people should be able to have parties. People should not clench their fists and dial 311 every time someone makes a noise they can hear.
But I also believe that people who live in dense cities should turn down the music of their party to a conversational level at 2am.
I think that if both party-people and future party-people assume some responsibility here, then there will be more parties and fewer hurt feelings.
Posted by: vanburenproud at July 14, 2008 10:09 AM
VBP, I completely agree. Being a good neighbor is absolutely a two-way street. I am a huge fan of 311 in general, but fear that people use and suggest its use as a surrogate for direct, often more effective, communication. OP: Maybe write a note or knock on their door and mention that 2:30 was too late for that level of noise, or ask that you at least be forewarned next time (I always appreciate at at least knowing in advance when neighbors will be keeping me up - gives you time to get the earplugs in before it's too late).
Posted by: henrystreet at July 14, 2008 11:54 AM
Sure. I agree with you that these conflicts are better solved directly.
In a building I used to live in, it was customary to post signs inviting all neighbors to the party, stating a time frame for loudness, and a plea to talk directly to the party hosts instead of calling the cops.
In lieu of this kind of basic party responsibility, I think it's important to go over after the party and calmly discuss that there was a problem with the noise, that you'd like to know about the party ahead of time, that you'd like the music to stop at 1 or 2 am.
But you have to see that in this post the noise went on until 4:30 am. Can we agree that picture-rattling loud noise at 4:30 am is never cool?
Posted by: vanburenproud at July 14, 2008 1:43 PM
I agree that a party once in a while is not worthy of the pitchfork and torches mob, assuming it quiets down at a reasonable hour. Personally, crank it up until midnight, I'll even give you till one on a holiday weekend, then drop the music down to conversational background levels. I don't care if your guests stay all night, as long as it isn't loud.
The party bxgrl and perhaps the OP are talking about was so loud that neighbors on the OTHER side of the block of Pacific were talking about it. I don't understand how anyone can be so oblivious to their neighbors. I would never do that to the people around me. You may think you are just celebrating at 1am. You KNOW you are keeping the neighborhood awake at 4:30. Absolutely and inexcusibly selfish and thoughtless.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at July 14, 2008 2:33 PM
If everyone is entitled to one loud party once a year this borough would never get any sleep. Many neighbors called the precinct- this party was a loud, rowdy bunch, and the noise level was unbelievable. Everytime these people throw a party it's huge and extremely loud. And they have done so for years. Like MM said, up until 12, or even 1 it's tolerable, although in this case it was so loud the vibrations shook windows and you could feel it through the floor. And I don't even live adjacent to that house. I'm on the block behind and several doors down. Once a year is too much - I don't see why it should be on the entire neighborhood to be considerate of these people when they care nothing about their neighbors.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 14, 2008 8:33 PM
So what are you going to do about it, bxgrl?
You can talk to the offending neighbors directly, ideally as part of a coalition of your fellow neighbors. When they are not having a party is a good time to do it, because everyone can be level-headed and fair about understanding that a party is a good thing, it's just that it shouldn't make anybody stay up until 4.
If that doesn't work, you can go to the precinct and talk to someone about why calling the police didn't work. Calmly explain that it's a consistent problem; that you are representing all the other people you've formed a coalition with; that you have talked to them and not seen any improvement; and ask for advice about what to do next. Ask for their help.
Douchey people like this give parties a bad name. It's important to do something, IMO. If for no other reason, then to protect the integrity of parties in general.
Posted by: vanburenproud at July 14, 2008 8:55 PM
Montrose:
Call the CB#8 district manager, Doris Alexander. Ask for her assistance in mitigating this. When September rolls around and community boards meet again, join the Police committee. (BTW, that's different from the 77th Precinct Community Council.)
Posted by: BrooklynIsHome at July 15, 2008 12:07 AM
In the summer we have lots of parties around here, block parties too. these guys are a group apart. Although I haven't spoken to them personally, I'm fairly certain that other neighbors have- to no avail. e that as it may, their music and dj were so loud that only a dead person would say it wasn't bad. And they turned the music up everytime after the cops left. They don't care about being good neighbors.There is a block association and some of us are asking them if they can do anything but I am sure they were quite aware how bad it was, long before the cops came. Other than calling 311 and the precinct there doesn't seem much we can do.
Not sure how you protect the integrity of parties but come labor day there'll be loads of parties all over the Heights and 95% of them turn it down after 12.Certainly wouldn't want to put an end to parties- neighbors make great bbq!
Posted by: bxgrl at July 15, 2008 12:53 AM
BrooklynIsHome is right--the Community Board can help. And instead of just calling 311, you can make your actual presence known to the cops.
Go over to the precinct house as a group and explain that you have a chronic problem. Each of you take your list of 311 calls and the numbers they give you. Be polite and persistent and act as a group.
Good luck!
Posted by: vanburenproud at July 15, 2008 8:13 AM
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