Can I report my neighbors for constant, loud swearing?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I think I would pay my next-door neighbors to move at this point, between the constantly barking huge dogs and the endless noise. However, after I complained to my landlord and HE talked to THEIR landlord, they at least aren’t running around and screaming outside while playing loud music at midnight on weeknights. BUT, when they sit outside on weekends all day… every day… and talk at the top of their lungs… which is starting to happen now that we’re getting to the season where it’s not raining every single minute and is getting warm (don’t these people ever feel the need for AC?), they are CONSTANTLY swearing. I don’t want to hear it all the time. I really don’t. I didn’t realize how much it bothered me until I started being subjected to it constantly. (As small children run around next door, btw.) They’re more than annoying enough without it.

Does anyone know if I can complain/report them to the police just because of this issue? What if I said it was against my Christian beliefs to have to hear it all the time? (That’s stretching the truth JUST a little.) Or is it illegal anyway, aside from just a noise level issue?

2

Depends on your local ordinances. In some places, using profanity in public counts as disorderly conduct.

3

And it’s enforced? And people are permitted to stand trial for it? And are convicted for it? And don’t have the convictions tossed on appeal for basic violations of the 1st amendment? Profanity is not obscenity

4

My local noise ordinance basically says if it’s loud enough to bother someone it’s too loud. But you would have to sign a complaint. In general content is protected. Noise ordinances are usually on a local level and not part of state statutes.

5

You could complain to them. If you’re polite and respectful they might even listen.

6

Since this involves legal advice, it’s better suited to IMHO than GQ.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

7

They won’t. And I’m not interested in risking my safety by doing it. That’s why we have the police. They’re trained to handle situations like that. I have heard craziness over there many, MANY times. I think they have at least one person living in that house who is truly disturbed and possibly violent.

8

You should move. Sorry.

9

I hate to point out the obvious but if the police show up at their door and tell them there have been complaints about how loud they are, it’s going to be kind of obvious who was making the complaint. It’s not like they’re being heard by people on the other side of town.

So what’s going to happen is the police are going to go to your neighbours and tell them there have been complaints and ask them to quiet down. Then, unless you’re the mayor, the police will give them a warning and leave. The police are not going to arrest anybody on a first-time complaint like this.

At this point, one of three things will happen. One, your neighbours might be totally cowed by the police and will withdraw into their house never to bother you again. Two, your neighbours might take this as a wake-up call over how annoying they’ve been and vow to reform their ways and be better members of the community. Three, your neighbours are going to figure out it was you who called the cops on them and decide that you’ve started a neighbourhood war and they’re going to fight back.

10

I’m just saying, a loaf of banana bread and a disarming smile as you welcome someone to the neighborhood almost always pays dividends down the road. Even if you never talk to them again you’re campaigning to be the really nice neighbor who bakes instead of the crotchety old passive aggressive neighbor who complains to the landlord and calls the cops.

11

Your neighbors are trash. Time to think about moving. Sorry.

12

I feel obligated to point to the documentary film “Shut Up, Little Man,” about two roommates who recorded the never-ending arguments of their neighbors.

13

As a comparitive example, here is the famous Michigan “Canoe cussing” case.

http://coa.courts.mi.gov/documents/OPINIONS/FINAL/COA/20020329_C225747(55)_85O.225747.OPN.COA.PDF
In my state to be convicted of using foul language under the Disorderly Conduct statute under (2), if I am not mistaken, the words must amount to “fighting words”. I would need to verify that.
2917.11 Disorderly conduct.
(A) No person shall recklessly cause inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to another by doing any of the following:

(1) Engaging in fighting, in threatening harm to persons or property, or in violent or turbulent behavior;

(2) Making unreasonable noise or an offensively coarse utterance, gesture, or display or communicating unwarranted and grossly abusive language to any person;

(3) Insulting, taunting, or challenging another, under circumstances in which that conduct is likely to provoke a violent response;

(4) Hindering or preventing the movement of persons on a public street, road, highway, or right-of-way, or to, from, within, or upon public or private property, so as to interfere with the rights of others, and by any act that serves no lawful and reasonable purpose of the offender;

(5) Creating a condition that is physically offensive to persons or that presents a risk of physical harm to persons or property, by any act that serves no lawful and reasonable purpose of the offender.

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2917.11

14

So you want to call the cops because your neighbors cuss too much?

Please post your address so I’ll remember to never live next door to you. Sheesh.

15

There is a civil claim against this kind of behavior. Yo could sue them for nuisance – basically, the right of quiet enjoyment of your property is being violated.

I have no idea if this is a colorable cause of action under these circumstances, but a lawyer in your jurisdiction would.

16

Great-- so apparently there aren’t enough privacy problems on the net already.

People need to follow the law. Disturbing the peace in a neighborhood with constant noise (which nobody else here is doing) is against the law. If people do not want to obey the law, then they should move to the middle of nowhere, where their noise will not be a problem (maybe.) I’m not going to move because THEY can’t follow the law. The police in this area love to give out huge tickets for everything. I’m recording the noise with a decibel meter as soon as it gets here… (And if I can ever PROVE the neighbors are selling drugs (I KNOW they are… but can’t prove it,) then that’s it.)

17

The police can and will only do anything about what they actually witness. An anonymous complaint may get them out there briefly but nothing will be done unless they witness illegal behavior. Which they most probably would not.

18

Please quote the law. The laws that govern such things are usually local and widely vary. As I stated up thread, where I live the noise ordinance is very subjective. In some places there is a specific decibel level and time constraints. You need to look up your local law as a first step.

And you are mentioning things that you will do and you will witness such as decibel levels. Which means you would have to testify as to what you saw and heard. Police can only go by what they hear and see. No way around that if you want to remain anonymous.

19

I agree. If you don’t like it, then just move, maybe Salt Lake in Utah might be good for you; surrounded by “holy” people. I just had a neighbor complain to me that he can hear me and my husband cussing. We’ve been here for 2+ years, and he has not. We’re not like this everyday, we just happened to be getting frustrated with other players on a very popular MMORPG. We’re in our own house.

Personally, I felt like telling the guy to F off (but I didn’t). I’m in my house and there is a thing called freedom of speech. If I can’t vent in my own f-ing house… or what if I was watching a movie with cursing… It’s not even night time… I’m actually quiet at night.

Honestly, my neighbor just p’d me off. I feel like, if it bothers him that much, he should just move!!!

20

Are you my neighbor? And, yes, I live alone now – it’s better for everyone this way.

That is, true, by the way, for all except my neighbors. But I did just come into posession of a decibel meter – it’s made by Radio Shack/Tandy or whatever. I’m looking forward to buying some AA batteries ( I guess they still make those) and testing things for fun. I’d totally recommend one, if you have the means.