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Wow, Jail Time for not Keeping Your Kids Quiet- UPDATE

Jail time for letting your kids play in your own back yard. I am just speechless.

First, read the article.

Daily life has changed a lot since I was growing up. This is not in my local area, but I can't imagine having a neighbor that would file a complaint like this. There must be a lot of frustration on both "sides of the fence", but wouldn't you like to think that adults could come to some sort of compromise, without having to file complaints?

I look at my home as my sanctuary, and my neighbor's home is not my concern. "To each their own" and "Live and let live" do not seem to be the rules anymore. Your thoughts?

There is an update on this story. Here is a link to the news story, but a judge dismissed the case yesterday.

Posted by Allison Werner on 06/20/2007 10:43 AM

Comments (17)

speechless

17 Comments on Wow, Jail Time for not Keeping Your Kids Quiet- UPDATE

JUN

2007

People are nuts! Obviously this guy has some issues if he is recording the kids voices for his comlaint. Hello, they are kids. Maybe this guys works 3rd shift or something, crazy guy.

Hello Allison,
I agree with Jeff, some people are just nuts. I think there must be other issues involved here, I cannot even imagine living like that.

Thank you Jeff and Cynthia. I have to agree, I can't imagine living like that. I would not want my children to grow up in such a hostile situation either.

Sorry, but I am going to have to side with the complainant on this one. I have kids, and live in a neighborhood with a lot of kids, and some pools. There is a huge difference between letting kids play, and outright screaming and yelling.

I think the bigger issue here, is whether the parents are actually parenting. "I told them to be quiet" is not trying to solve the issue or compromise it is a weak attempt at parenting.

I think the fact that the neighbor taped the noise, shows he is truly trying to solve the problem, not that he is nuts. How else could he prove the extent of the issue without a representation of what was happening. If he were to go around complaining or explaining it is all subjective, the recording lets the listener decide for themselves.

Hi James- You do raise some valid points as well. It could not have gotten to this point, if the parents were considering the neighbor's complaints, and parenting accordingly. This is all subjective, even with the recording. How can someone interpret "how much" is "too much" for anyone but themselves?

I am not saying that I agree with the "meanies" who are trying to ruin these kid's fun, but I would like to play devil's advocate for a second here. Do you have a right to enjoy your home in any legal way that you see fit? I know these are kids, but if they were MY kids, and I knew that the neighbor had a problem with the noise, I would try to compromise with him. I would try to arrange as much of their outdoor play time when he was not home as possible, and I would make my kids play more quietly when he was home. He has a right to enjoy peace and quite in his home, and the kids have a right to play in their own back yard. The key here is for both neighbors to be respectful of each other.

When I was a kid I was really rambunctious. I loved to run and play and yes, I am sure, scream. But my grandparents (they raised me) were quick to correct me if they thought I was bothering anyone else. Where I came from you respected the adults in the neighborhood and found ways to entertain yourself without getting on anyone's nerves.

How would you like it if day after day your neighbor went out in his backyard and made all kinds of noise? Swimming pool noise is often worse than other noise because it has that horrible echo quality. I personally think I would get tired of hearing it every day if the kids are indeed screaming (which is not so hard to imagine). I doubt I would go so far as to try to get them arrested, but I would probably ask them if they could try to control the noise. Who knows how you would feel after THREE YEARS of this noise though. It seems to me like both sides of this argument are wrong. The parents feel like their kids have the right to do whatever they want to in their own yard, and the neighbor feels like he has a right to enjoy his peace and quiet. If they would BOTH meet in the middle they could probably live side by side much more harmoniously.

You are right Allison, how much is too much will be different for each of us. I also agree with your bigger underlying point - that it is too bad it has come to this level, and could not be fixed along the way.

Great post, and good discussion!

Well Allison, I hate to say it, but this is the sign of the times. I always say, we don't know the whole story but on the surface our perception is that this is ridiculous.

Thank you James, that was exactly the point I was trying to make, it is a shame it has come to this level. Thank you Ali as well, for your very well put comment. If they would both work on the situation together, it never should have gotten this far. A case can be made for both sides, but to what end do you take your cause to?

Hi Kevin, thank you for your comment, well put, it's a sign of the times....

I think this is ridiculous. We are definitely living in a rough time. People don't respect one another the way they should.

Hi Treci- This is a rough time. Can you imagine going on a listing appointment for either side?

3 years complaining.

were the kids in the pool in the winter?

that's one unhappy person.

Allison...

My thoughts? I'll give ya my thoughts. This situation SUCKS. It is very disturbing that people are becoming less and less tolerant of each other.

What will the folks that filed the complaint do next? File a lawsuit against the children. Oh. I have a much better idea. Why don't they move :)

TLW...ROAR!

JUN

2007

Thank you all for your comments. Jay is right, 3 years complaining, but for the most part, pools are only in use about 3 months a year in my area, I can't imagine it's much more there. Thank you Cheryl for your comment, it is really sad what is seen on T.V. these days.

TLW- GREAT idea! Instead of a lawsuit, move! Thank you for your comment!

You picked a very popular thing to post on. I saw a story on Fox today regarding the event.

I still agree with your point about how unfortunate it is that it got this far, but I still disagree that people or kids can do whatever they want impacting the rights of others. There were 6 other families and homeowners that signed a petition indicating that noise was a problem from this house.

JUN

2007

Thankfully common sense (& the law) prevailed...I bet those complaints were made by people so miserable that they complain about everything. Kids having good clean fun...isn't that what childhood is for?

JUL

2007

Hmmmm, people are just so rushed to take things to court. I would not have thought about taking someone to court over such a thing, unless it was just really out of control. But I just can't really imagine that. I think the things that really get out of control are, uhmmmm high school parties when parents aren't at home...and the crazy ones usually get the police anyway.

I know... shouldn't kids just stay inside and play video games anyway? I don't think they should play outdoors anymore (sarcasm).

If I lived in an area where I really didn't get along with my neighbors and it just wasn't suitable to my lifestyle and for 3 years I had been under significant stress. I would just move. I don't think its fair that someone should have to move for a truly unruly neighbor - but if you live in a neighborhood with lots of kids there is going to be noise. And even if the guy would have won a lawsuit - what would that have accomplished? I doubt that the kids would now be quiet outdoors all the time.

Plus swimming pools lend themselves to "CANONBALL....SPLASH"

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