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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    3

    Default Bad Neighbors

    My question involves real estate located in the State of: California

    We have lived in this house for over 15 years. New tenants have moved into the house across the street about 5 months ago. They have repeatedly parked behind our driveway blocking us in, verbally harassed us when we walk outside, threatened my dog, and play music loudly (to the point we can hear it over the tv and late at night). This has been an issue for the entire time they have lived there. We started by asking them to please stop. It escalated to almost daily harassment. We have called the police to file reports, but they say they cannot do anything. We have talked to the landlord, but have received no help. Is there something else we can do?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
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    98,846

    Default Re: Bad Neighbors

    Do you both have the same landlord?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    OH10
    Posts
    17,019

    Default Re: Bad Neighbors

    The police can tow a car blocking your driveway.

    http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22651.htm

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    3

    Default Re: Bad Neighbors

    We own the house.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Behind a Desk
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    98,846

    Default Re: Bad Neighbors

    I'm not clear on why the police can't help you.

    If somebody is blocking your driveway, you can call the police and have them towed.

    If they are playing music at a volume sufficient to constitute a noise violation, the police can cite them.

    Surely you're not the only neighbor with complaints. What have the other neighbors been doing?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Bad Neighbors

    Our neighbors are not doing anything. They do not want to get involved. I do apologize for not being clear, but the last cop told us that since the noise ordinance states 200 feet away from the source of the noise, he cannot cite them for it. The car in question is a large SUV parked on the opposite side of the narrow road, but directly in front of my driveway. The cop said that since it is a private road, he cannot cite or town the SUV.
    Thank you for any advice you may have!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    OH10
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    17,019

    Default Re: Bad Neighbors

    I suggest you appeal to the city council to make the area across the street a no parking zone, for safety reasons.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    314

    Default Re: Bad Neighbors

    Police are not working hard enough here. 200 feet makes very little difference when someone is working a jackhammer at 2:00 am in the morning, or playing musics till the wee hours of the morning. Press them hard enough to either visit the site, or let you gain evidence.

    Are there any easements in place regarding parking? Since they are renters exerting pressure on the landlord would be my next step. A letter from a lawyer can do a lot towards getting the process moving in the right direction.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    OH10
    Posts
    17,019

    Default Re: Bad Neighbors

    that is what happens when you live in a state where everyones house is up their neighbors butt. We also get the NY, NY apartment livers complaining also. I tell them move somewhere you can buy at least an acre of peace.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    El Dorado County, CA
    Posts
    395

    Default Re: Bad Neighbors

    As to the private road issue, the police are correct. There is nothing they can do. If it were a public right of way, it would be within their jurisdiction. As it is, it is a civil matter of the tennants interfering with your rightful enjoyment of the roadway easement.

    Some noise ordinances make reference to decibel levels, some are more general and subjective. I have not heard of one with a distance to source provision. Check the local ordinance for yourself to see just what it says. These can usually be found somewhere on the City's or County's (for unincorporated areas) website. If it provides for an objective standard like certain allowable decibel levels at certain times of day, start making a log. Get an inexpensive decibel meter at some place like Radio Shack, make some measurements when the neighbors make noise, and note time and decibel level in your log. After a while your log will show patterns of excessive noise and you can take that to the police as something documented that they can act on.

    If your neighbors are threatening you, you family or guests, your pets or property, this is a different matter altogether and one that the police are usually better trained to deal with. Document each such occurrence in detail. The police may not be able to do much about a single minor occurrence, but again, if you have a log demonstrating a pattern of abusiveness, it gives them something more to act on.

    Until the tennants' actions reach the level of misdemeanor crime, the police are going to be quite limited as to what they can do with problems which happen entirely within private property. Those matters are often more effectively handled through civil action. Up until you decide to take that course of action, continue directing complaints to the landlord even if they bring no action at all. That way, if you do bring civil action against the tennants, you may be able to pull th elandlord in as a defendant as well. If nothing else, that will motivate the landlord to do something about problem tennants.

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