So, I've lived in this house for a little over a year. About 2 months ago, some chick and her boyfriend, maybe in their early 20's bought the house next door. They proceeded to turn on the porch light, which happens to flank the side of the house mounted outside the covered porch and not more than 15 feet from my bedroom window, and has a direct 180-degree, unobstructed view at the enire length of that side of my house, most directly my bedroom window. The previous owner installed one of those new fangled flourescent bulbs that must be the equivalent of 150-200 watts. It is like sunrise! The light is so bright, and even with heavy, insulating curtains that I have on the window, it reflects around the window and lights up the room ALL night. Literally...they HAVE NOT turned the light off once since they moved in. It even remains on during the daytime.
Dismissing these people as stupid and inconsiderate, I had thoughts of smashing it with a hammer, turning the bulb just enough to turn off, ripping the whole thing from its mount and even taking it out with a pellet gun. Other thoughts like affixing a 3-million candle-power spotlight and aiming it at their windows, or parking my car in the driveway and leaving the headlights on directed toward their windows....
But...my conscience got the better of me, mostly to avoid a pissing match, but legal and moral reasons as well. I wrote a little note pleading with them to turn it off, install a dimmer bulb or even buy a motion sensing light, which I offered to install for free!
I also mentioned the fact that bright lights around your house make the shadows even darker in contrast, and it is even more inviting for a prowler to hang out amongst the shadows that passers-by can not see into.
Why do I gotta be so considerate, when so many people have none for others?
I have a hard time sleeping with lights, and this makes it very difficult. It has actually made me pretty grumpy the last week. Please let this bombardment of light pollution in my bedroom end.
I even called the police to see if there was an ordinance for such a thing, but they directed me to zoning. I haven't yet called them, I hope I don't have to.
This really has no relevance here, I just needed to rant. Thanks for reading tho.
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Don't let their ignorance and hate intimidate.
Sorry to hear yer havin trouble. U should move up to good old Ideho. We still get BS but we dont usually have that kinda stuff.
Because a porch light is serious stuff.
Sounds like you did the right thing perhaps they didn't know that the light was bothering you or even that it was one. It is a new place to them and they are still learning about the place. I wish I had folks like you living around me.
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In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons.
Herodotus
There will be codes dealing with the excessive light levels BUT you must have a basis for your complaint. You need to know what level (Candlepower) is allowed in a residential area and then be prepared to prove (by a meter reading) that the neighbors light is exceeding that level.
Obviously the best course would be to appeal to the neighbor and keep the government out of it. Invite them into your bedroom one night after dark to see for themselves what effect it's having....... If that fails you can always go the code route......
I would mount a very shiney sheet of aluminum in such a way that it covered my window and deflected the light to their window.You are stealing some of the use of their light and they aren't getting the full benefit.Be good to your neighbors and return their light. ,,,sam.
I have two neighbors that each have two dogs that bark at nothing all day long. The two right next door have finally settled down alittle and I have said something to that guy about the habitual barking. Now the people across the street have two beagle/basset hound mix things. NO matter if they are outside or inside they bark NON-STOP. They even get so loud that if no TV or anything is on in my house I can hear them inside. One of my get back at'em things is to walk over to one of the big trucks, open the door, reach up and pull the air horn cord for about 10 seconds. That is usually good for 2-3 minutes of peace and usually by the second air horn blast they are right outside to haul the muts indoors.
tim
My neighborhood gripe is the arzseheits next street over who seem to think they have the right and duty to subject the entire neighborhood to their 1000 watt ground-pounding bone-jarring "music" at all hours of day and night.
Take a 4x8 sheet of plywood and erect a sign to block it. " Your light is burning the paint off my house".
To settle, you remove the sign, if they redirect and time that light.
Talked to them today. They were going to replace the static fixture with another, but after my note, decided they would go for a motion-sensitive fixture instead. Who'd-a-thunk-it?
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Don't let their ignorance and hate intimidate.
Glad you got your beef resolved in a civil manner! We'd hate to hear that you got embroiled in a shooting war, over a light bulb! LOL! If you really want peace and quiet, come on down here, and find a hilltop hidey hole, like me and CGO did, you'd never regret it. Our neighbors couldn't get us with a 3,000,000 candlepower light, even with a directional fixture! It just can't travel that far!
I am glad that I don't live in one of those places where you have houses super close together. My neighbors cause no problems at all, though they have learned I do work on computers, so they ask for my help on occasion. My neighbors will also watch things for me, and they have a son who I pay 20 bucks to cut my lawn every 2 weeks in the warmer weather.
Good to hear your problem was resolved in a good manner. It always pays to talk to and get to know the neighbors.
Sounds like the solution is almost a winner...LOL
Hope you get some sleep Ivan and that they do not replace with another annoying outer space beacon......
I to have made peace with a neighbor that felt he was in his every right to dump on my property. It was an ugly two months of feuding but now we are buds..
That's what men do..........
Glad you got your beef resolved in a civil manner! We'd hate to hear that you got embroiled in a shooting war, over a light bulb! LOL! If you really want peace and quiet, come on down here, and find a hilltop hidey hole, like me and CGO did, you'd never regret it. Our neighbors couldn't get us with a 3,000,000 candlepower light, even with a directional fixture! It just can't travel that far!
If only I had the resources!
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Don't let their ignorance and hate intimidate.
I'm sure they were unaware of it interrupting your sleep and bothering you in general. A polite conversation can do wonders. You did the right thing by talking to them.
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To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.
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