Forum Posts

• Blythspyryt
  Posted in the topic Need advice on how to deal with an MC living across the street f in the forum Off Topic

  May 21, 2015 5:09 AM PDT

  @ Skyhorse and Purplebuzz - thanks for chiming in!
  
  A little about me - I don't ride (rode dirtbikes when I was a kid, I'm still trying to talk my hubby into cruisers for our retirement), I live in SoCal, I plan software conference and love my grandkids and my dog. Nothing very exciting to tell... I'm just someone who wants to live in my home in relative peace and do my thing - and I want the same thing for everyone else.
  
  
  This IS something that should be settled with a respectful chat and a handshake! I absolutely agree - and we've exhausted efforts in that regard. We've tried - many times - to have calm, courteous and respectful discussions. It's not just me having issues... it's most of the neighbors for 6-7 houses down the street on each side. We aren't a bunch of uptight ninnies, we are a very live and let live group of folks. NO ONE is trying to run these folks out of town, and we appreciate that they love their friends and family and pay their rent on time (and generally seem to take care of the property - or at least the property management company). Because they position themselves as a 1% MC (but they do seem rather harmless -- more Sons of Suburbia than Sons of Anarchy) a number of neighbors are afraid to approach them directly - but both my husband and I have tried everything from Hey Let's Have a Beer to Dude, you REALLY need to dial it down.. and nothing. All they really need to do is police themselves a little, use a little common sense/courtesy and probably meet up elsewhere (and so many clubs do this, it's just not unusual).
  
  
  We don't do this lightly, and I've never in the years I've lived here seen the neighbors this unified in frustration and this ready to blow. Something needs to change before it gets ugly - it's just going to take one beer too many and one dumb comment from someone for this situation to get very bad, very quickly. Our neighbors are cool people in general - but you know how people (and chickens) can get when they have a common enemy, they'll peck them to death given a chance. I don't want this to be a witch hunt or a harassment of these folks, but they've not left us much to work with.
  
  As far as crimes:
  Trespass and mischief (club motorcycles being ridden over neighbors lawns and down public sidewalks)
  Noise violations (California has very specific laws governing db levels of street bikes - most vehicles, for that matter)
  Domestic disturbance/ violence (way beyond marital tiffs, and it's pretty regular)
  Drunk in public, on public throughways
  Urinating in public
  Illegal parking
  Racial threats/harassment
  
  HOA violations (specific to our HOA only):
  Parking violations - you have to park at least one vehicle in the garage, one in your driveway and not block anyone's driveways.
  
  Motorcycle storage violations (resident bikes must be parked out of sight when not in operation - yeah, I think this one is kind of stupid, too)
  
  Public meetings - in general regular adult meetings are not allowed (Boy Scouts and Girl Scout stuff is cool - but not say... music rehearsals, adult clubs, etc. This one cuts both ways - my neighbor has a Bible study group that meets each week, but he came to the neighbors, asked if it was cool and we all ended up offering the use of our driveways for parking. OTOH - the guy who wanted his rock band to practice each Tuesday... no. Lots of gray area on this one but in general if you're creating a hassle for the neighbors, you can't do it.
  
  Noise rules (the usual -before 7am and after 10p, you need to be relatively quiet according to common sense - and a general noise rule about habitual/repetitive excessive noise)
  
  Littering/maintenance (yep - I get to clean up cigarettes, vomit and trash after their parties when club members park in front of my house. Yay, me.)
  
  Excessive residents (3 people or so on the lease - there's got to be 6-7 living there)
  
  In tract traffic violations (speeding, blocking, safety)
  
  
• Blythspyryt
  Posted in the topic Need advice on how to deal with an MC living across the street f in the forum Off Topic

  May 20, 2015 3:48 AM PDT

  Hi-- and thank you for all your input, I truly appreciate you taking the time.
  
  Yes, I've talked to them quite a bit, and they're generally polite - but then go about doing as they please.
  
  As far as just smiling and taking it - not an option. Ever. Particularly with the racial slurs. Evil (or in this case just being a dick) thrives when good people do nothing - I live in a neighborhood with young families, elderly and other people who are afraid of these people. I'm simply not. Annoyed, yes, but not afraid - I didn't make it to 50 without learning how to take a punch, metaphorically or otherwise. Sometimes you have to put some skin in the game so you can look at yourself in the mirror. Sometimes you come away with a bruise or five - but at least you stood up.
  
  Again, thanks to everyone who took the time to weigh in. I'm going to start the slow, steady, very polite and very respectful process of police and HOA complaints.... man, I hate to do this - but someone has to. What grinds at me is that they'll think it's personal, or some kind of 'biker discrimination'.... but it's not. Just the basic fundamental that we all have to coexist with a little cooperation.
  
  And - don't think I didn't consider the semi. ;-)
• Blythspyryt
  Posted in the topic Need advice on how to deal with an MC living across the street f in the forum Off Topic

  May 18, 2015 5:09 AM PDT

  Hi there -
  I'm not a crazy, uptight old lady... and really don't care what folks do in their own homes as long as kids or women don't get hurt, you don't bring crime into my neighborhood and you're reasonably respectful of my ability to enjoy my own property. That said, I have a 1%er MC Club President who has moved in across the street from me (as renters)... and they're crappy neighbors. They - and their guests - blow their pipes (no, not idle their bikes or accelerate as needed, but blow their pipes VERY VERY loudly) with great frequency, ride across neighbor's lawns, use racial epithets, scream at their women, park everywhere, have club meetings... just not stuff you want to deal with in suburbia with an HOA (which is why I moved into suburbia with an HOA). When politely approached they are pretty polite in return, but just go back to the same crappy behavior right away.
     My neighbors are  intimidated by the simple fact that they are 1%ers... but aside from acting generally like jackasses, they seem pretty harmless. They just moved into a bad fit for their lifestyle (I have no idea why they chose my neighborhood - they had to know they'd subject to the usual noise and space considerations you get with a Homeowner's Association neighborhood) - and we're now to the point my toddler granddaugher can't nap anywhere in the house because of the noise, I can't enjoy a television show or a book inside (with the windows and doors shut -- in the back of my house), the house has 7 vehicles taking up parking on both sides of the street... and on the weekends when the club meets for a ride they set off car alarms when they haul out. It's just not cool.
  
  I'm planning on starting a steady campaign of complaints to my HOA (lease review, noise complaints, parking complaints - all founded) and the police (noise compliants, racial intimidation <this is what really sucks, SO not cool>, trespass... and if need be, file a civil suit for voiating my right to quiet enjoyment of my property. I don't want to be that person, but  it's that bad. I've lived here for over 20 years and will live here the rest of my life - as have and will most my neighbors - we all work hard and deserve to enjoy our homes.
  
  Any suggestions from bikers here on how to better get these folks to be better neighbors? I don't want them to leave necessarily, just to idle or keep a low rpm on their bikes in and out of the neighborhood, probably have club meetups elsewhere (15 bikes may not sound like a lot from MC standards.... it is WAY too many for my street, particularly when they aren't considerate), stop the racial epithets (we have a super cool black neighbor that is their target - and there is NO WAY I'll stand by for that ) and park with more consideration and generally not be dicks? Everyone is going to make some noise, say something dumb or have a loud party from time to time -- I get it. But this has now become intolerable and in many cases, illegal.
  
  Any advise you can give to avoid having to take extreme measurs would be VERY appreciated - I'd love to find a way for this situation to work our for everyone involved without having to take legal and civil measures.
  
  Thanks!