This is the woods! Be quiet!

[danceswithcats]

I moved here 7 years ago, and found this home to be particularly enjoyable because the rural, peaceful setting was a major change from suburban life.

A vacant lot was purchased year before last and a home was built. The noise of construction was understandable. Then they moved in.

Mr. Homeowner runs a trucking business, and keeps his tri-axle dump trucks at home. I'm not beefing about that, per se, but must you use the Jake brake in this remote setting, and must you announce your arrival with air horns?

Mr. Homeowner has hobbies. They all seem to involve race cars, race trucks, and other loud vehicles devoid of any sound dampening. Nothing can be worked on at idle-everything must be repeated revved until all forms of life having a choice have fled.

Mr. Homeowner has a daughter. I was not aware that degrees in quad runner could be obtained, but apparently the Redneck University of Bohunk is offering distance learning degrees in quad runner, and she's working on her Masters. From the time she trudges up the road until well past dark, that damn thing runs, and runs and runs.

In addition to being unable to use my phone during the summer, the quad runner has an added benefit. Vegetation cannot grow on their property with the constant assault, so every rain storm sends a wash of fine silt and mud down the road to grace the property of you-know-who.

I'm trying to figure out what genetic mutation causes this type of asshat behavior. Whay don't these toads read books, watch movies, surf the net, masturbate-do SOMETHING that is quiet!!

Thank you for reading my rant. The asshats are still there, but I feel a bit better.

[SLASH]

Contact your local town/county govt about this. You don't have to put up with that, especially if their actions are messing up your property.

Of course though it's your word against his.

[Eternal]

I would think that living in the middle of nowhere for 7 years would detract from your desire to bash rednecks. My goodness, you must be in hell, everywhere you go there's another one of them. What's wrong with these people? How come they can't be normal!

[Liberal]

Ah. You must live in Libertaria. I'm told that's the only place where that sort of thing can happen.

[THespos]

I suppose making an attempt to actually go over there and speak to them about the noise is out of the question.

[Beagle]

Three words: foam ear plugs. One compound word: headphones.

The problem is, legally speaking, they are just using and enjoying their property. I don't see any unreasonable behavior. So, long-term, you better learn to get along or leave.

If they start dirt track racing at night, sue.

[BadBaby]

Even out in the country, there may be rules 'n' regulations about noise. My family moved 30 miles from the nearest town, five miles from a paved road, when I was about 12. Some noisy idiots moved in down the path and made life hell. Fifteen years later, the countryside still has raw gouges from their ATVs, for example.
When Dad checked with a policeman friend of his, it turned out the noisy bums didn't have a right to make life miserable for their neighbors, noise and air quality-wise. It took some doing, but eventually they were quieted down, got bored with living a quiet life and moved. The meth lab guys who moved in later were much more peaceful, but then the lab burned down (surprise! you've been living next to some really bad hats!) and talk about quiet after that.

[Larry Mudd]

The problem is, legally speaking, they are just using and enjoying their property.That depends on the location -- most places that have noise bylaws have ones that are pretty broad in their language, making any noise that's audible on adjacent properties verboten -- never mind airhorns and unmuffled engines. I hope that danceswithcats isn't in an area so remote as to be devoid of noise bylaws. That would suck.

I must say that the thread-title reminded me of some assholish behavior that led to the most reckless action I can recall ever having taken. I was camping in the Cascades many years ago, and was stunned when a crowd of young folks set up across the lake with a thunderous PA system on the back of a pick-up blasting crap "classic rock", polluting the area for miles around. The first night they were there, I just stewed. The second night, I shot their speakers out with a .22 I doubt that they even heard the shots, and still wonder if they simply thought that they blew them out playing Bon Jovi at nosebleed levels- they didn't pack up and leave, anyway. Although I was careful to make sure that no-one was near the truck, I still can't believe that I discharged a weapon in the general direction of a group of people, and I'm grateful that nothing went horribly wrong. Temporary insanity, I guess.

Still-- what sort of people think it's acceptable to blast their music out over an eight-mile-long lake, ringed with people who have driven for hours to get away from the noise of civilization?

[kanicbird]

Still-- what sort of people think it's acceptable to blast their music out over an eight-mile-long lake, ringed with people who have driven for hours to get away from the noise of civilization?

It should be legal to shoot these people.

[Cat Whisperer]

Larry, they're victims of the disease that's taken over so much of North America - the symptoms are not caring how your actions affect other people (not even realizing that they *do* affect other people, in fact), doing whatever you can get away with, and not accepting responsibility for anything you *do* get caught doing. There doesn't seem to be a cure, though. Maybe someday all of us people who have managed to avoid catching this disease can build a commune somewhere and just leave the rest of the diseased to make each other's lives miserable.

[Witch]

Maybe you should have looked into what living in a rural area is really like instead of the typical surbanite romantized idea.

Gotta love when the city folk move in.

[OpalCat]

He's lived there for 7 years, I think he probably knows what it is like.

[Witch]

He should have found out what rural living was really like, and what alot of rural people really lived like, BEFORE he moved in. Sorry I wasn't clear.

[danceswithcats]

THespos raises a valid question. I've considered speaking to the neighbor, but decided against it. My logic is that if you are sufficiently inconsiderate and self-centered to cause the problem, you're likely not receptive to dialog. If I speak to neighbor, and he tells me to piss off, and I then contact Township/County for redress, it's a no brainer who launched the beef. I work out of town for days at a time, and don't need my home vandalised, an act that would likely go without discovery until my return.

Eternal raises another issue. I've no desire to hurt them in any way. I don't believe my OP contained any such thought. All I seek is respect for the environment, and respect for one's neighbors, no less than I afford.

Witch posts comments that I'm not sure I understand. I'm fully aware that there is no cable TV, police protection is limited, fire department response is incapable of saving the house unless immediately reported, and I must get my septic tank pumped. If the water doesn't come out of the well, it's my problem, and during a power failure, I'm one of the last to be restored.

I accepted all of the above, knowingly, and all I ask is a little peace and quiet. My business is construction, and at times I do welding, sandblasting, painting and other noisy stuff in my shop. I installed soundproofing materials before setting up business, out of respect for neighbors.

Is it too much to expect the same measure in return? Your sarcasm, Witch, is out of line, IMHO.

[Witch]

I'm not sarcastic at all.

I'm tired of people coming and moving to the "country" assuming they are getting bucolic silence. The woods indeed.

Guess what?

PEOPLE DO LIVE HERE.

And guess what else? People that live in rural areas tend to like to work on their cars. We like NASCAR too. I know in my town anyway this is true. Seems to be in yours too. We all all also have quad runners, and enjoy using them on our land. You don't like it? You think we should pick up a book or sit like a bunch of pasty faced zombies in front of the net 24/7? Well, that's too bad. I don't move to the city and then complain about the noise of the traffic, or the crowds.

Why did you buy a parcel of land so close to someone else's property? Nice thing about "the woods." They are vast. That's what you get for thinking like a surburbanite.

Our small towns that people having been living happily in for generations are being invaded by tightasses like you. You come expecting everyone to bend to YOUR ideas of how things should be, totally disregarding a way of life that has gone on QUITE well without you, thank you very much.

Feel free to return to the land of minivans. Us ol' hicks won't miss you a bit.

[CanvasShoes]

Originally posted by Beagle
Three words: foam ear plugs. One compound word: headphones.

The problem is, legally speaking, they are just using and enjoying their property. I don't see any unreasonable behavior. So, long-term, you better learn to get along or leave.

If they start dirt track racing at night, sue.

Depends upon where you live, "legally speaking". In my town, people are NOT allowed to just make noise that "leaves their property line".

The OP should probably check into the laws in her neck of the woods, she might have the law on her side!

[Sejal_Traurig]

Witch Go back and read the OP.. Someone ended up building next to the OPs land.. He (Assumed.. Could be she) didn't move in next to them.. Your argument that the OP invaded someone else's territory doesn't wash.. The OP lived there for 5 years before the offender moved in..

[Drastic]

Feel free to return to the land of minivans. Us ol' hicks won't miss you a bit.

I don't quite follow how someone who's lived somewhere for seven years has less tenure than people who just moved in.

But then, I'm from a rural area originally, and we do tend to be dim.

[Larry Mudd]

What, basic consideration for your neighbors is contrary to established traditions of rural living? Funny, I grew up in a rural area and people who created nuisance noise were taken still to task for it.

And you're faulting danceswithcats for purchasing a house next to a vacant lot that was later purchased by a noisy asshole?

[Beagle]

Revving an engine or driving a legal offroad vehicle on your own rural property can be illegal? That would be news to me. Sure, laws vary.

I think this case would boil down to an interpretation of the facts. If the neighbor is an unreasonably noisy asshole, it may be actionable. IMO, the facts so far alleged do not suggest unreasonable behavior.

The best chance is restrictive covenants. You can "legislate" all kinds of strange things in those.

[Witch]

I misread that part of her post. I danceswithcats came second. I apologize for that, and I thank you for bringing it to my attebtion.

But I still stand by my point. when the land was bought I'm sure he knew where the property line was. Another question, if I may...how much land do you each have?

And since when is working on your vehicles and riding your quadrunners on your own land a nuisance?

[Sejal_Traurig]

Originally posted by Witch

And since when is working on your vehicles and riding your quadrunners on your own land a nuisance?

When it is so loud it prevents your neighbors from using the telephone..

Since when did living in Bston Mass qualify YOU as a hick?

[Sejal_Traurig]

Bleh.. Boston, Mass obviously.. Hence my new sig... (Assuming it works)

[Witch]

I'm living in Boston at the moment. But I grew up, and still spend every spare moment I can in Warwick, Ma. Pop. Approx 500.


Is that good enough for you? Do I qualify as a hick now sir?

[Sejal_Traurig]

Originally posted by Witch
Do I qualify as a hick now sir?

No. You don't live in the country. At best you are white trash..

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.
.
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Ethnicity assumed.. Please spare me the racist ramblings..

[Witch]

Go.
Fuck.
Yourself.



And you are a racist. And not worth my time.

[danceswithcats]

Let's first establish and clarify gender issues. I am a he. (Sorry for the grammar)

Sejal_Traurig nailed the original point. Had I moved to the nuisance, I'd have no one but myself to blame. My other neighbors are courteous and considerate. Asshat & Co. is the exception.

When I bought my home, the lot was vacant, a point observed by everyone except you, Witch .

There is no desire within me to deprive Asshat of his ability to enjoy life. All I request is that he enjoy his life peacefully, and allow me a similar measure of courtesy.

[80sHairMetalMaven]

First off...IMO,Witch is way outta line.
Second...the next door neighbor is an asshat and should be reported. I've had to deal with that sort of thing a lot since until recently we had a blank lot behind our house where asshat teenagers would take their quads and go 'off-roading' on the weekends.
Call the cops and see what can be done about it and I bet you get that peace and quiet you went to the country for.
Or move farther out into the country.

IDBB

[Tinkertoy]

I grew up in a town with a population of 26 people, and the outlying farms. Guess that qualifies me as a Hick. No way in Hell would we have tolerated that type of behavior by our neighbors. Check into the laws for your County.

[Odesio]

I live in rural Arkansas on 3 acres of mostly wooded land and it is very quiet. My home is pretty close to the main street and I can see two of my neighbors home from my house. The loudest noises I hear are cars driving by and the occasional gunshot when someone shoots something. I can't imagine living in a rural area that was noisy all the time.

I also own an ATV. I've never heard one that was so loud that it prevented me from talking on the phone. How close are they driving to your house?

Marc

[t-keela]

Sounds like someone here is yanking your chain. Surely no-one is that thick?

I have had to deal with these assholes you speak of from time to time.

NOTE: This is my recommended behavior, Sometimes it works to pay them a visit. Get a couple of your friends/neighbors and y'all agree to go to the new neighbors house together one Sunday afternoon. Bring your pastor, assuming you have one. Maybe invite your local constable and his/her wife (plainclothes).

Pitch-in and bring them a housewarming present, bake a cake or something. If they are responsive, who knows?
If this approach doesn't work... The best thing is to sit with your friends and see how they feel about it. The group should then talk with your local constable or sheriff's dept. and find out what you legal rights are. Hopefully, he/she was present at the original meeting.
The appearance of local authorities is usually enough. Especially if they have a little domestic violence, drinking, drugs, or abuse history. Odds are they'll be gone within a month.

Usually the neighborly visit will make a hell of a difference. They don't usually stop their behavior completely AND SHOULDN'T, but in most cases they do regulate it to the point of tolerance.

That would probably be wonderful, huh?

If you still can't get any results...well, I can't recommend anything illegal here on the Board. But fighting fire w/ fire comes to mind. Problem with that is the possibility of an escalating feud, those can get nasty.

If this bunch is as bad as they sound, there will probably be some bad history somewhere.
BUT...Hey, maybe they think you're the asshole neighbor who didn't even bother to introduce himself. If you are shur-nuff country folk, that is a necessity! You ALWAYS welcome the neighbors. You might just need'em sometime. I've put out lots of fires in my day. Sometimes the "neighbors" weren't even home.

Do they KNOW that you have a problem with them or are you assuming intelligence exists to the point of obvious recognition?

[THespos]

THespos raises a valid question. I've considered speaking to the neighbor, but decided against it. My logic is that if you are sufficiently inconsiderate and self-centered to cause the problem, you're likely not receptive to dialog. If I speak to neighbor, and he tells me to piss off, and I then contact Township/County for redress, it's a no brainer who launched the beef. I work out of town for days at a time, and don't need my home vandalised, an act that would likely go without discovery until my return.

danceswithcats, I really think you should go talk to your neighbor. Seriously, some people don't realize that their noise level is too loud. And it shouldn't matter to the authorities who approached who first about the noise level. I don't know your noisy neighbors, but based on your post, you've given me no reason to believe that they'd react to your complaints by vandalizing your house while you're out of town.

You might be surprised when you approach them. They might be apologetic and agree to keep things down.

[Tony Montana]

Start a good ole' fued, thats what I say gosh dern it.

Is your name McCoy?

;)

[Witch]

Originally posted by danceswithcats
THespos raises a valid question. I've considered speaking to the neighbor, but decided against it. My logic is that if you are sufficiently inconsiderate and self-centered to cause the problem, you're likely not receptive to dialog. If I speak to neighbor, and he tells me to piss off, and I then contact Township/County for redress, it's a no brainer who launched the beef. I work out of town for days at a time, and don't need my home vandalised, an act that would likely go without discovery until my return.





Aaaaaaah, a prejudicial and ignorant assumption about the country folk neighbors.

Almost as mind-numbingly stupid as the "white trash" comment above.

I've been here awhile, and I didn't realize we got to pick and choose what groups and subcultures were deserving of respect.

Silly me. I believe they all do. And, in my mind, if you'll slam one, you'll slam another, even if you're enough of a hypocrite to keep it to yourself.

[fluiddruid]

If a group of guys beat you up while you're walking down the street minding your own business, is it "picking anc choosing what groups are deserving of respect" if you call them violent pricks? Witch, there is a difference between judging people by their race or culture ("my next door neighbors are hicks/black/whatever, so if I bring up this issue with them they might vandalize my property") and judging by the behavior of a group of people that has already been illustrated ("the family next door is acting thoughtlessly and selfishly, and it concerns me that there might be backlash if I point this out because they have demonstrated themselves to be rude and selfish").

Please remove yourself from the big wooden cross, mmkay? You're not exactly showing a lot of respect for city folks and suburbanites, are you? Or, gee, I guess that's different, right?

[Tony Montana]

Originally posted by Witch
I've been here awhile, and I didn't realize we got to pick and choose what groups and subcultures were deserving of respect.


Hmm, I pick and choose what groups deserve respect all the time,for instance that group of teens standing in the middle of the road blocking traffic yesterday, oblivious to everyone but themselves. They displayed no respect for the law or the person honking at them..


Silly me. I believe they all do.


Not me, if you have no respect for yourself or others, you'll get none from me.

I'm just crazy like that I guess..

[jlzania]

Dear Witch:
I moved to 19 acres in the middle of nowhere. I'm an ex-urbanite.
My neighbors grew up here. They are, by your definition, hicks.

I respect their rights to 1) operate an ATV on their land; 2)set off firecrackers periodically and 3) have loud parties in their backyard .
They respect our rights to 1) make loud noises while remodeling; 2)operate heavy machinery. and 3) peridoically blare music from the house into the garden.

However, in the interest of being good neighbors, we've all tactilely to function within an understand perimeter.
Their parties move inside after a certain time and we don't use the chainsaw before 9 AM on a Sunday morning.

I can understand your a measure of your frustration.
I have city friends that don't understand that cows bellow, horse shit draws flies and, as Mr Zevon so aptly said:
"There ain't much to country living,
Sweat, piss, jizz and blood."

However, danceswithcats neighbor's are rude louts.Why are you defending them?

[Witch]

Because jlzania, danceswithcats have given no evidence that are in fact rude louts.

I asked how much land we are talking about here. He never answered. In a rural setting you and I know this makes a big difference.

Unless I am talking on the phone next to an open window and the kids are driving the quads directly next to it, there's no problem hearing on the phone. That's just bullshit.

Unless they are working on their vehicles or riding thier ATVs at ungodly hours of the day or night, they have every right to do so.

The bit about "I don't need my home vandalized" if I complain really got my goat. Afraid they'll come at your place with pitch forks? Spit chewing tobacco all over the place?

Worst case scenario for your neighbors?

The town police will say "There, there, we'll go talk to them", go speak to the "perps" (probably about the weather and then about what an asshat YOU are), and life will go on as normal.

Unless proven to me otherwise, they are not doing a damn thing wrong. If they were lighting huge fires, having huge parties or huge brawls I'd be the first to say such behavior is inappropriate in ANY setting. But from the evidence presented here, danceswithcats really needs to get a life.

[Finagle]

I think Witch is demonstrating how aptly some of us choose our user names.

I don't actually understand how country, suburban, or urban living enters into the equation. If you have neighbors, you should be considerate of them. Loud revving engines, two cycle engines running continuously, and soil erosion are not considerate nor acceptable.

As for the "I can do what I want on my property" argument -- that works pretty well as long as you can figure out a way to keep your 100 decibel sound waves from leaving your property.

[Sejal_Traurig]

Originally posted by Witch
That's just bullshit.

Apparently Witch is a cyber-polygraph...

[jlzania]

Witch-it is my ever so humble opinion that when my noise level becomes consistently and egregiously obtrusive- I am violation the tenets of good neighborliness and being a rude lout. That applies whether I live smack dab in the middle of downtown Boston or in BFE.

[Cat Whisperer]

Witch, I haven't seen anything posted by Danceswithcats to warrant your outrage. If you have some kind of deep-seated rage about townies moving into your rural area, why don't you go start your own Pit thread about it instead of crapping all over Dwc's thread?

[lieu]

Actually, I'd rather hear 'em on a 4-wheeler than masturbating. Course, that's just me.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Originally posted by Witch
The bit about "I don't need my home vandalized" if I complain really got my goat. Afraid they'll come at your place with pitch forks? Spit chewing tobacco all over the place?

Worst case scenario for your neighbors?

The town police will say "There, there, we'll go talk to them", go speak to the "perps" (probably about the weather and then about what an asshat YOU are), and life will go on as normal.
From one relocated country bumpkin to another: what the fuck is your malfunction, Junction? That's a mighty wide brush you have there.

[Robb]

Witch, are jake brakes and air horns just another part of country living? Maybe rural Mass. is much louder than I ever imagined.

[CadburyAngel]

Originally posted by Witch

The bit about "I don't need my home vandalized" if I complain really got my goat. Afraid they'll come at your place with pitch forks? Spit chewing tobacco all over the place?



Every group can retaliate and every group can vandalize. It sounds to me like the OP didn't want some sort of escalating, immature feud with his neighbors: not that he assumed his neighbors would behave like "hicks" because of his history with them or their cultural background.

He never said anything about the retaliation coming in some stereotypical "hick" or "redneck" form.

You're the one that did that.

[Witch]

Originally posted by Sejal_Traurig
No. You don't live in the country. At best you are white trash..

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.
.
.
.

Ethnicity assumed.. Please spare me the racist ramblings..


Now THIS is painting with a wide brush.

Oh, and sejal, unless danceswithcats has a ATV with a jet engine in it...I stand by my statement that it's bullshit.


But you're right Cadbury. danceswithcats never did say the reason he was afraid his neighbors would vandalize his property was because they were "hicks." I should not have implied that he did, and I apologize for that danceswithcats.

BUT

I'd be interested to know what the reason behind his concern is. Very interested. Why the fear danceswithcats?

Are there are other neighbors around? If this is such quality of life altering noise pollution, why hasn't anyone else brought this to the attention of the authorities?

You're all very quick to jump on me for taking the side of the neighbors here. Seems to me you're quite willing to convict on next to no evidence of wrong doing here. I'm disappointed.

How much land do you both own? How close are your houses to your property lines?
At what times are they making all this noise?
Are you blameless in the "making of noise" department?
Why are you so worried they will vandalize your property if you report them? You don't even know these people.
Why haven't you ever spoken to your closest neighbors in all the years you've lived there?
Any other neighbors? Why haven't they complained?



danceswithcats is offering little to no information to warrant such knee-jerk support.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Originally posted by Witch Originally posted by Sejal_Traurig
No. You don't live in the country. At best you are white trash..

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.
.
.
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Ethnicity assumed.. Please spare me the racist ramblings..
Now THIS is painting with a wide brush So is implying that all hicks are good 'ol boys.

[CanvasShoes]

Originally posted by Beagle
Revving an engine or driving a legal offroad vehicle on your own rural property can be illegal? That would be news to me. Sure, laws vary.

Yes, it can be illegal, you see, it depends upon the decibal level among other things. I don't know the laws where danceswithcats lives, but here in the Municipality of Anchorage (which has many heavily wooded and isolated areas), as well as outer lying areas, it's illegal for your noise to pass beyond your property lines.

There are distinctions made for those who use their property as a business that have to do with the times of day noise can be made and what types of noise and so on, but basically, noisemakers aren't just allowed to "rev away".

I think this case would boil down to an interpretation of the facts. If the neighbor is an unreasonably noisy asshole, it may be actionable. IMO, the facts so far alleged do not suggest unreasonable behavior.

The best chance is restrictive covenants. You can "legislate" all kinds of strange things in those.

Blowing an air horn all the way home isn't unreasonable? Loud "Glasspak" type exhaust on racecars revving night and day and all other manner of vehicle sounds that run without cessation aren't unreasonable?

Sheesh!, your poor eardrums must have given up the ghost long ago!

[Witch]

"All the way home"? "Night and day"?

Go reread the OP Canvas Shoes.


I see no claim of either.

[fluiddruid]

Oh, come off it, Witch. If I have a loud and obnoxious party then the neighbors would be fully within their rights to call the cops, despite whether it's the first or the last party.

You're assuming the worst of the OP for no good reason. Unless, of course, you're defensive because you are one of these loud, obnoxious jerks?

[CanvasShoes]

Originally posted by Witch
Now THIS is painting with a wide brush.

Oh, and sejal, unless danceswithcats has a ATV with a jet engine in it...I stand by my statement that it's bullshit.


But you're right Cadbury. danceswithcats never did say the reason he was afraid his neighbors would vandalize his property was because they were "hicks." I should not have implied that he did, and I apologize for that danceswithcats.

BUT

I'd be interested to know what the reason behind his concern is. Very interested. Why the fear danceswithcats?

Are there are other neighbors around? If this is such quality of life altering noise pollution, why hasn't anyone else brought this to the attention of the authorities?

You're all very quick to jump on me for taking the side of the neighbors here. Seems to me you're quite willing to convict on next to no evidence of wrong doing here. I'm disappointed.

How much land do you both own? How close are your houses to your property lines?
At what times are they making all this noise?
Are you blameless in the "making of noise" department?
Why are you so worried they will vandalize your property if you report them? You don't even know these people.
Why haven't you ever spoken to your closest neighbors in all the years you've lived there?
Any other neighbors? Why haven't they complained?



danceswithcats is offering little to no information to warrant such knee-jerk support.

On the contrary witch, danceswithcats has answered most, if not ALL, of your questions in his continuing posts in this thread.

You just haven't been "listening" and are the one with the "knee-jerk" reaction.

[CanvasShoes]

Originally posted by Witch
"All the way home"? "Night and day"?

Go reread the OP Canvas Shoes.


I see no claim of either.

Danceswithcats "until well after dark". And "runs everything at high idle, continuously (paraphrased)". And she (he?) also goes on to explain further in her (his) other subsequent posts.

I agree with another poster here, sounds as if YOU are one of those noisy obnoxious louts and are just hyper-sensitive to this thread because you are an example of what the OP is ranting about (sorry folks, dropped prep, lol).

[danceswithcats]

Attempting to clear up queries posted since I was last online:

As another poster wisely observed, I do NOT wish to become involved in an escalating feud with a neighbor, which is why I've been gritting my teeth. I know nothing of them, and based upon their candor towards the rest of us out here, I care not to. My concern is based on the property being vulnerable, owing to location and my work schedule. A friend sold his second home because he was tired of break-ins and vandalism, and he didn't have any form of beef with a neighbor. I'd like to think they wouldn't behave that way, but their conduct to date is indicative that they don't dive a Tinker's damn about anyone but themselves.

I've spoken to my other neighbors, and everybody is of the same feeling. The fellow in between me and Asshat has already stopped using his outdoor porch because of the dust that drifts downhill from the quad runner. He tells me he can't leave windows open on that side of his house because of the dust. To my knowledge, no one has spoken to them because they're all supremely pissed off.

To answer the distance/lot size question, most parcels are between 1.5 and 3 acres. Linear distance between my office and their property line is around 500 feet, as the lots are much deeper than they are wide.

Nobody is envoking any form of racial or class anger on this side of the fence. I don't consider myself any better than they, except in the consideration department, which is why I limit noisy activities to business hours, e.g. 9 to 5. I am a music fan, and sometimes like it cranked, but walked the property lines while some Aerosmith was running, with the windows open. The sound heard was conversational in level. As such, I'm confident that I am not a presenting a holier-than-thou position.

The hated quad has run as early as 0700, and as late as 2300, depending on weather and season. Race car work is a tossup, as it occurs at any time, daylight preferred.

My office is closer than the bedroom to the street, perhaps 100 foot setback. A large canopy of trees on three sides keeps things cool, so I don't have central air. I use a whole house fan to draw in air during the summer. Keeping windows open is essential to air exchange, but I've had to trade temperature for auditory comfort.

Perhaps this will answer some of the allegations put forth by Witch . If not, put a sock in it.

[CanvasShoes]

Well, if it helps any dances, I went through a similar, though not rural, situation up until last summer.

I own a little trailer (OMG, I'm trailer trash, yes it's true, lol and HEY! just kidding!), on a nice piece of land in a mixed zoning area.

My property, along with several other houses and/or trailers, sits west and parallel of a retail strip off of a main road, the east side of which is zoned all residential.

Most of the retail strip is fine. But the McDonald's/Chevron Mini-mart directly across the street from mine and three other neighbors houses was a local hangout for teens and what appeared to be a juvenile deliquent element.

They would come in at all hours starting when school let out, and just congregate (in clumps of 15-20 vehicles) with their loud stereos booming (note aforementioned Anchorage Municipal ordinance regarding noise). Not only that, the station was constantly having items shoplifted and had a lot of "drive-offs". And yes, being that I was right across the street I observed a lot of this myself. Such as the little brats throwing beer bottles at the clerks for asking them to turn down the music.

We, the neighbors along this residential strip, complained and talked to the store. We went and talked to the perpetrators, the store, we constantly called the cops, we went to assembly meetings, we talked to and wrote everyone from the headquarters of Chevron and Mcdonalds to the mayor and ombudsmen of Anchorage.

It took us about two years, two years of campaigning, walking the streets getting our neighbors involved, of videotaping the teens, of calling cops and the store to complain.

We finally got the "hangout" closed down. Just in time for me to move out and rent out my trailer and move to a truly quiet neighborhood, LOL.

Anyway, the moral of the story is that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" hopefully it won't take as long since you live in a rural area and only have one set of "offenders".

Good Luck!!!!!

[Sejal_Traurig]

CanvasShoes I've been facing a similar problem to the hangout one you described. The parking lot of the strip mall where my business is located is one of the hangouts here in my town. I have called the police a number of times and what usually happens is that the police drive through the parking lot and leave without ever stopping.. So I call again.. This time they usually stop for a minute but then leave without making the people leave. So I call AGAIN. I have on more than one occasion been told that the police want these kids hanging out here so they know where the kids are and that I shouldn't mind my common area maintenence bill going up because of the extra cleanings that the parking lot needs from the trash they leave strewn about. They also told me that the beer bottles smashed against the side of the building couldn't have come from the kids because they weren't drinking, even though I personally witnessed the bottles being thrown. They tell me that it is up to me to get these kids' names. I can just imagine how that will go over.. "Hi.. I'm no one of any real authority, but can I have your driver's license please?" They'd be targetting me with the beer bottles. I have also been told by the police that this parking lot is public property and as such I have no grounds on which to demand that these kids leave. How dense can these cops be? Public property is property that is owned by a city, county, state or federal government, designed for public access, and maintained by taxpayer dollars. This property is owned by a private company and maintained by occupant dollars.. I hope the OP has better luck with the authorities than I have had, should he (She?) choose to go that route..

[Rilchiam]

dances, I really think someone should approach the noisy neighbors in a diplomatic way. If all that you and everyone in the community does is stew about them and talk behind their backs, naturally your resentment is going to grow until it's unmanageable.

You might want to express some concern for them, as well. If their whole property is torn up due to the trucks and quad, that's probably not good for the foundation of their house.

[CanvasShoes]

Originally posted by Sejal_Traurig
[ I have also been told by the police that this parking lot is public property and as such I have no grounds on which to demand that these kids leave. How dense can these cops be? Public property is property that is owned by a city, county, state or federal government, designed for public access, and maintained by taxpayer dollars. This property is owned by a private company and maintained by occupant dollars.. I hope the OP has better luck with the authorities than I have had, should he (She?) choose to go that route.. [/B]

We faced similar opposition. It's worth it to perservere though. I don't know what the laws are in your neck of the woods, but as far as the parking lot being "public property"? Unless it truly IS a public parking area (like one of those centered ones, or off-street parking maintained by the city), it's probably part of the property in which your business is located.

I'd contact all sources in your area if I were you:

Ombudsman, local papers, owner of the mall (to find out whose property is whose and if he/she will enforce rules against misuse), police, also, filming the "perps" works wonders toward discouraging them.