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**petegz28** · 01-09-2009, 03:32 PM

Ok, as some of you have heard me complain before, the neighbors who live behind me\across the street installed a 10ft lamppost in their front yard. It is excessively bright. I by that I mean it outshines the streetlights easily. The ligh illuminates the entire backside of my house meaning it shines right through my dining room window and bedroom window. I cannot sit on my deck when it is on as it is like having a light shined righ tin your face.

So, what I have done so far....I tolerated it and paid $500 to put in a tree to help block it. That does a meh job. So I thought oh well until....CHRISTMAS TIME! What is so special about CHRISTMAS TIME and the Lamp? I will tell you....

The people put exterior x-mas lights on their home and guess what...they had to turn off their light so they could be seen. Day after x-mas the light was back on in all of its blinding beauty.

So I finally looked up the code and found an "Unlawul Illumination" code that states basically your light cannot shine across your property line to the point it is a nuisance. So I filed a complaint with the city.

The city in turn said this is an exception to municiple code and they forwarded it to the Police. The Police contacted me and said they are waiting for the blessing from the city prosector to allow a citation. This is where it gets good...

If they do get the blessing, I of course have to sign a complaint and possibly appear in court to have the light dimmed or removed.

I am half willing to accept reimbursement for the $500 for the tree I put in, though that does me no good in the winter. The wife says I should let it go. My best friemd says "**** em' they should of thought about that when they put in the light".

So would you follow it all the way to court? Or am I being a bigger dick than usual?

Updated: Talked to him, asked him to either wait until 10:00 to turn it on or get a dimmer bulb.....light was off last night so he is being cool though I could tell by his town he wasn't happy about the purpose of my visit

Chief Roundup · 01-09-2009, 07:39 PM

You ever heard of killing someone with kindness???
Ask your neighbor over for dinner.
Let them see what thier light is doing to thier neighbor that was nice enough to ask them over for dinner so that there would be no word fighting over it back and forth just simply adding fuel to a fire.
During the dinner and conversation you can let them know that it has been bothering you for a while by letting them know that you have been looking for options to help the situation including spending $500 on a tree.
Ask them for thier help to fix this situation.
Then if all else fails you let them know that while you have been trying to find a peaceful and easy solution you have also found that it is against a city ordinance and you can go that way if you are forced to take that road but you would rather not.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 01-09-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Listen to your wife and buy some curtains.

Really? I ever see a house go on the market in my neighborhood I'll let you know. You'd be a good neighbor.

Have you gone over there and splained' the sitchiation to em? They're about to be cited by the city, so you've obviously won this war. Let them know your conditions for surrender. If they're good with it, great. If not, take no prisoners.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 01-09-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

i remember we had this light outside to stop intruders from coming on our property. We had to take it down, next day I was raped

patteeu · 01-10-2009, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

If anyone put up a light that shined into my bedroom window, since I like complete darkness when sleeping, I would be really pissed.

I'd go to court before I felt bad about being a dick because my thought would be, you were a dick first putting up that ****ing thing so you get a dick response.

If you like complete darkness when you sleep, you ought to introduce yourself to the concept of shades and curtains.

rocks · 01-10-2009, 07:30 AM

I would suggest that you take them to court. Im guessing that they are not stupid and they know how bright the light is. They have just chosen to infringe on your rights as a neighbor and not respecting the fact that they live in a city. Owning a home in the city affords you certain rights and responsibilities and thankfully your city has a code dealing with Light Trespass.

I know what your going through. We have been having the same type of issue with a neighbor since August of last year. Done the whole talk to him thing (twice) and then had my attorney draft a formal letter asking that the lights be changed. We then found out that our city has no code dealing with Light Trespass. So you have that going for you and would go with it.

**Saul Good** · 01-10-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocks

I would suggest that you take them to court. Im guessing that they are not stupid and they know how bright the light is. They have just chosen to infringe on your rights as a neighbor and not respecting the fact that they live in a city. Owning a home in the city affords you certain rights and responsibilities and thankfully your city has a code dealing with Light Trespass.

I know what your going through. We have been having the same type of issue with a neighbor since August of last year. Done the whole talk to him thing (twice) and then had my attorney draft a formal letter asking that the lights be changed. We then found out that our city has no code dealing with Light Trespass. So you have that going for you and would go with it.

First, you should smear his house with feces and burn a cross in his yard. You should probably find out his name and then track down his family members and kill all of them, too.

Why would anyone bother talking rationally to a neighbor first? A conversation? Eff that noise! That's a bunch of hippie bullshit. Burn his house to the ground and piss on the ashes.

How dare someone put up a light and not take it down even though nobody has ever asked him to? This is an outrage!

Brock · 01-10-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

If anyone put up a light that shined into my bedroom window, since I like complete darkness when sleeping, I would be really pissed.

I'd go to court before I felt bad about being a dick because my thought would be, you were a dick first putting up that ****ing thing so you get a dick response.

Wouldn't you have to first borrow the attorney money from your mom?

**Iowanian** · 01-10-2009, 10:33 AM

It sounds like Mecca is destined for a lifetime in his mother's basement too. Its not his fault, its just the only place he can sleep properly, when he's not up all night playing WoW and practicing nun chucks.

Reading some of the responses in threads like these clarify to me further why I believe its better to live in a small community. Some of you have no concept of being a neighbor.

smittysbar · 01-10-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Listen to your wife and buy some curtains.

This.

StcChief · 01-10-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutamess

Uh, Eddie, Have you tried talking to the neighbor about it?

talk to the neighor.... tell them you have looked up the "unlawful" illumination ordinance....

**petegz28** · 01-10-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smittysbar

This.

**** that. Why should I not be able to enjoy sitting on my deck? And we do have curtains. But I don't want to keep my house closed up all the time. I aksed him if he could wait until 10:00..which involves me closing my CURTAINS in my bedroom. I think that is more than reasonable.

**petegz28** · 01-10-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StcChief

talk to the neighor.... tell them you have looked up the "unlawful" illumination ordinance....

I did talk to him. I didn't feel I had to mention that, yet.

StcChief · 01-10-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petegz28

I did talk to him. I didn't feel I had to mention that, yet.

if your at this point. next step is cops knocking on his door.
that might get his attention. Court should be that guys last option.
Depending on how the ordinance is written he will likely lose.
Pay fine, smaller pole, dimmer bulb....

your tree? doubt it.

**petegz28** · 01-10-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StcChief

if your at this point. next step is cops knocking on his door.
that might get his attention. Court should be that guys last option.
Depending on how the ordinance is written he will likely lose.
Pay fine, smaller pole, dimmer bulb....

your tree? doubt it.

He turned it off last night. I am waiting to see how long this will last. I genuinely feel bad about it but **** it, he shoul dnever of put in such a bright light in the first palce.

Skyy God · 01-10-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petegz28

All I know is the guy looked like he could play LB for the Chiefs. I am 5'6" and a desk jockey.

This was the first time you saw the guy? Really? It's more likely that you had seen him before, hence your indirect ($500 tree, contacting city attorneys) conflict methods.

01-09-2009, 03:32 PM
petegz28 Supporter petegz28's Avatar Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks	What would you do if your neighbor.... Ok, as some of you have heard me complain before, the neighbors who live behind me\across the street installed a 10ft lamppost in their front yard. It is excessively bright. I by that I mean it outshines the streetlights easily. The ligh illuminates the entire backside of my house meaning it shines right through my dining room window and bedroom window. I cannot sit on my deck when it is on as it is like having a light shined righ tin your face. So, what I have done so far....I tolerated it and paid $500 to put in a tree to help block it. That does a meh job. So I thought oh well until....CHRISTMAS TIME! What is so special about CHRISTMAS TIME and the Lamp? I will tell you.... The people put exterior x-mas lights on their home and guess what...they had to turn off their light so they could be seen. Day after x-mas the light was back on in all of its blinding beauty. So I finally looked up the code and found an "Unlawul Illumination" code that states basically your light cannot shine across your property line to the point it is a nuisance. So I filed a complaint with the city. The city in turn said this is an exception to municiple code and they forwarded it to the Police. The Police contacted me and said they are waiting for the blessing from the city prosector to allow a citation. This is where it gets good... If they do get the blessing, I of course have to sign a complaint and possibly appear in court to have the light dimmed or removed. I am half willing to accept reimbursement for the $500 for the tree I put in, though that does me no good in the winter. The wife says I should let it go. My best friemd says "**** em' they should of thought about that when they put in the light". So would you follow it all the way to court? Or am I being a bigger dick than usual? Updated: Talked to him, asked him to either wait until 10:00 to turn it on or get a dimmer bulb.....light was off last night so he is being cool though I could tell by his town he wasn't happy about the purpose of my visit Last edited by petegz28; 01-10-2009 at 10:53 PM..
Posts: 130,171

01-09-2009, 07:39 PM	#121
Chief Roundup Admitted Planet Junky Chief Roundup's Avatar Join Date: Oct 2000	You ever heard of killing someone with kindness??? Ask your neighbor over for dinner. Let them see what thier light is doing to thier neighbor that was nice enough to ask them over for dinner so that there would be no word fighting over it back and forth just simply adding fuel to a fire. During the dinner and conversation you can let them know that it has been bothering you for a while by letting them know that you have been looking for options to help the situation including spending $500 on a tree. Ask them for thier help to fix this situation. Then if all else fails you let them know that while you have been trying to find a peaceful and easy solution you have also found that it is against a city ordinance and you can go that way if you are forced to take that road but you would rather not.
Posts: 19,423

01-10-2009, 07:30 AM	#125
rocks Box of Rocks Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Joplin Missouri	I would suggest that you take them to court. Im guessing that they are not stupid and they know how bright the light is. They have just chosen to infringe on your rights as a neighbor and not respecting the fact that they live in a city. Owning a home in the city affords you certain rights and responsibilities and thankfully your city has a code dealing with Light Trespass. I know what your going through. We have been having the same type of issue with a neighbor since August of last year. Done the whole talk to him thing (twice) and then had my attorney draft a formal letter asking that the lights be changed. We then found out that our city has no code dealing with Light Trespass. So you have that going for you and would go with it.
Posts: 315

01-10-2009, 10:33 AM	#128
Iowanian Supporter Iowanian's Avatar Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia	It sounds like Mecca is destined for a lifetime in his mother's basement too. Its not his fault, its just the only place he can sleep properly, when he's not up all night playing WoW and practicing nun chucks. Reading some of the responses in threads like these clarify to me further why I believe its better to live in a small community. Some of you have no concept of being a neighbor.
Posts: 62,473