Mount Pleasant DC Forum

zoila · Joined: 14 Feb 2010 Posts: 13

Okay I have a problem with my next door neighbor, who is trigger happy at calling the cops for everything that is going on, parties, construction work, etc.

At one point, we were getting the roof replaced (always within the hours of 9-3pm), and this lady called the cops on us each time.

To give you an example of this woman's meanness and pathologicalness, she even called the cops on us once while drywall work was being performed inside the house. This was at 2pm.

Another time, she called the cops on us at 8pm on a Friday night while we were having a party.

I finally figured out who the woman was and asked her what her deal was. I woke up this morning and I found workers, a cop, and that woman standing in my front yard. I asked her what the deal was and why she called the cop. She said I had no permit. I did, but in any case I didn't actually have anything to do with the construction work, it was my builder. This was in front of the cop, and I was 100 feet away. She said that I was being agressive and threatening to her. Mind you, I was 100 feet away. I asked the cop if there was anything to be done about nuisance neighbors.

This lady said "Oh well I've been keeping a log about you." Your neighbors on the other side are "pissed off about easement violations." What the heck?? Easement violations? When I asked what she was talking about, she didn't say anything. We have an alley to the right side of the house. It's a small alley which we share with the neighbors running the length of the alley. I don't even use the alley for anything but to take the trash out. Our back yard is fenced in, but the fencing is indented to make room for trash cans.

Okay. I need help here. This woman has never bothered talking to me. She just calls the cops. I've only been in the neighborhood for 6 months. I want to be able to enjoy my house. Mine is beautiful and hers is run down and I can't help but think that this is jealousy of some sort. I want to be able to have parties on the weekends. Is there some sort of decibel meter I can buy online to determine noise levels?

In addition, this woman cannot be reasoned as she is clearly pathological. What is my remedy here? Is there anything the cops can do about nuisance phone calls? (This has to be a waste of important resources).

jack · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 4400 Location: 19th & Lamont

This is not the first such situation I've encountered in Mount Pleasant.

Concerning the police, they must investigate such situations when they're called, but they generally figure out quickly who's being unreasonable. If the complainant is being unreasonable, the police come, because they must, do their duty, and then go away.

The legal definition of "noise disturbance" in DC is a "reasonable person" test:

(n) Noise disturbance – Any sound which is loud and raucous or loud and unseemly and unreasonably disturbs the peace and quiet of a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities in the vicinity thereof, unless the making and continuing of the noise is necessary for the protection or preservation of the health, safety, life or limb of some person. In making a determination of a noise disturbance, the Mayor shall consider the location, the time of day when the noise is occurring or will occur, and the duration of the noise. In addition, the Mayor may consider the magnitude of the noise relative to the maximum sound levels permitted under this act, the possible obstruction or interference with vehicular or pedestrian traffic, the number of people that are or would be affected, and such other factors as are reasonably related to the impact of the noise on the health, safety, welfare, peace, and quiet of the community. If the noise is outside the Central Employment Area or an area zoned manufacturing or industrial, or if the noise occurs at night, the Mayor shall not be required to measure the decibel level of the noise in order to find a noise disturbance. A sound shall not be considered a noise disturbance if made during noncommercial public speaking during the daytime.

The nominal maximum noise level in a residential neighborhood is 60 dB(A) daytime, 55 dB(A) at night, measured at your property line. But as the definition of "noise disturbance" shows, these aren't hard limits. The "reasonable person" test defines whether a noise level is a "disturbance" or not.

Sound meters aren't expensive, and may be useful as a first-order line of defense. Radio Shack has a couple, for about $45.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103668
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103667

-- Jack

coquigretch · Joined: 14 Feb 2010 Posts: 9 Location: Mount Pleasant

I love it that you asked the cops how to deal with nuisance neighbors.

Bill · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 144

Does this lady has mental issues that are obvious to the cops and maybe they can just humor her and not bother you?

kelly5612 · Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 260

The cops are likely already humoring her. This probably didn't start when you moved in; she sounds like someone with a lot of time on her hands and a new neighbor to occupy it. I bet if you checked with the last owners, they went through the same thing (and may have some ideas how to deal with her).

You're right that there's no reasoning with her, but don't let her psychopathology change the way you live your life if you're not doing anything wrong, intrusive, illegal, etc. Have your parties (maybe a pre-emptive call to the police apprising them of the inevitable?) and enjoy your home. And think of how miserable she must be to live her life like that.

GinaG · Joined: 22 Jan 2010 Posts: 50

Yes, I agree with Kelly5612. I'd recommend you check with other neighbors as well to see if they had experienced the same behavior.

coquigretch · Joined: 14 Feb 2010 Posts: 9 Location: Mount Pleasant

I live in the same house as Zoila, and no one else on the block has had problems with her (other than her unkempt yard and deteriorating house that brings our property values down), but no one has lived in our house for 3 years. She's probably just annoyed that her once "peaceful existence" without neighbors has become actual city living. I'm sorry, but if you don't like the sounds of people living next door to you, maybe a MoPleas rowhouse was a bad idea.

zoila · Joined: 14 Feb 2010 Posts: 13

No. Apparently when our condos were being converted, she called the cops on the builder every single day while work was being done despite there being permits.

In any case this woman has a rundown house and seven 'roommates,' whatever I learned a long time ago that some people are just ugly on the inside and outside and want to share their misery

ryanshepard · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 74 Location: 17th and Lamont

You may want to take a moment to write the Council about this pending, awful bit of legislation:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/Keep_the_DC_Council_from_criminalizing_workers

They're about to grant virtually *anyone* in the city the right to sue - and to have preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders granted - RE: "public nuisances" with almost no burden of proof.

If the law passes, it will almost definitely be used as a tool for harassment by folks like your neighbor.

jack · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 4400 Location: 19th & Lamont

jl · Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 45

Peacetree · Joined: 02 Jun 2010 Posts: 6 Location: Mt. Pleasant

Not totally suggesting this, but keep this in your quiver since we all know how nuisance neighbors can make life hell. DC Code only allows you to have two boarders in houses zoned as R4, which is nearly all of Mt. Pleasant. If this complaining neighbor has more than two renters, and she hasn't had her house zoned as a rooming house, you can call DCRA, report it, and ask them to investigate.

denisew · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 162

I dealt with alot of situations like this when in government. I have a couple of suggestions, if you want to fight fire with fire.

If you think she is over 65 you could call Adult Protective Services to check on her.

If she has more than 5 unrelated people in the house without a boarding house permit she is in violation (DCRA)

You could also, if the house is in really bad shape, call the historic preservation office to report a "demolition by neglect."

Personally, I would call Adult Protective Services and ask them to check on her (they may already know her) as she has obvious mental health issues and is living in deteriorating conditions.

I know that one poor woman I know bought a house next door to a mentally ill woman who had issues over a decorative rock in her neighbors yard. Our inspectors moved it for the owner, then we finally issued her a landscaping permit for the rock to get the owner to leave her alone.--The issue was the neighbor couldn't hit her driveway and would hit the rock when she went over her neighbors lawn.

Denise

queenb714 · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 2 Location: mt. pleasant

@Zoila-This is one side of the story so I will be partial.
1. If you DO have valid perments then there should be no problem. If you DONT, then she can call the police and they can come back time and time again.
2. Mount Pleasant is a mix of older homeowners and new urban dwellers so if your having a loud party, you might get the cops called on you if you dont let your neighbors know before.
3. Most importantly, have you ever tried to have a conversation with your neighbor before you know your about to cause a noise disturbance(ie parties, loud construction). I have parties a few times a year and I let all my neighbors know and even invite them. Not saying you have to invite her but letting her know might ease the tension. You can go back and forth with each other for revenge until someone moves (which could be years) or you could try to compromise and talk things out Smile