Harassing Neighbors

[Zani]

I am a mother of 6 children and for the past 3-4 years have been having a problem with the neighbors.  When the kids go outside, the neighbors are always yelling at them or calling the police on them for being kids.  My kids are not out real early nor are they out real late.  We moved "problem items" to the opposite end of the property. They continue to threaten legal action and continue to tell my kids to be quiet or shut up.  Kids will be kids and they are not any louder than any of the other children in our neighborhood.  In fact, my kids got yelled at when it wasn't even them.  What is someone to do? The do not want to budge and their kids are grown.  Mind you, they have had many pool parties and we never once complained. All my kids see is arguing and can't understand why the neighbors don't "like them."   Please help, a frustrated mom

ANSWER: Laura,

You did not mention what the police have told you or done when they respond to these complaints.  It also does not sound like that the neighbors have taken any legal action even though they have threatened to.  I am not sure what "legal action" they can take if no laws are being violated.  

Its easy for me to say this because I don't live there but unless someone has been arrested or "legal action" taken why not just ignore these people?  I would bet that the local police have told you the same thing.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

The police of course said to try to get along with them.  They also said that we could press harassment charges should we choose.  I thought there was nothing that a district judge could do in this case and that harrassment is hard to prove.  The police were called both from them and from us.  The neighbors would turn their stereo on  and face the speakers towards our house and then go in theirs or leave.  My concern is that the neighbors' brother is a lawyer.  These people are trying to take my kids fun away from them.  They have called zoning on a swimming pool etc.

[aliciadearn]

If you are getting harassed by your neighbors then what you are doing here go to the nearest police station and file a first information report against them.

[Colson]

I knew that the police had said that because there is nothing that they can do.  They cannot order the neighbors from calling the police.  

However they correctly told you that you have an option about charging the neighbor(s) with whatever violation of the law that applies.  Every state has a process where one citizen can prefer charges against another without a police officer getting involved.  However nothing will come of it and it will only make matters worse.

I would not be concerned that they have an attorney for a relative.  Anyone can go out and hire an attorney whether he be a relative or not.  What is the attorney going to do?

I don't mean to make light of this but this kind of thing happens ten thousand times a day in this country and every police officer has been on countless numbers of this type of call.  The only option you have is to move and I am sure that you don't want to hear that.