Teen party - what does a neighbor do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just seeing this thread now. And I'm honestly confused as to why so many people are against calling the cops. Call the non-emergency number and make a noise complaint. Don't mention the drinking unless there is actual evidence of same (and, no, a beer can in the street isn't it). This shouldn't ruin anyone's life. Most likely, the cops will show up, take a noise measurement, and tell the partiers to keep quiet. We have noise restrictions for a reason, and OP is entitled to sleep at night.

I'll tell you why: Defund the Police. This is a perfect example of the kind of thing that doesn't require police action and where involving the police only has the potential to make things worse. Reserve police time and resources for real problems.

As a parent with four adult children, we absolutely would want to hear from a neighbor/acquaintance if this kind of thing were going on in our house. We would have been grateful to receive a call or text from OP. But OP shouldn't have been vague about it. I would have texted along these lines: "Hi, it's OP, hope you're well. Just thought you should know that it sounds like there's a big party going on at your house. Larla is such a great kid, I'm sure it's all good, and she says her dad is home -- but I didn't see him, there's a beer can out front, and didn't want anyone to get into any trouble. Can you let me know if you guys know about the party? Thanks and sorry for the trouble."

This entire post is ridiculous. For one party, do nothing. If it continues, take it up with the parents in person.

Please. I have two teens. One has a much smaller mostly outdoor gathering recently. I told the neighbors in advance. “I will be home, I will have everyone inside by 11 and will try to keep the noise down. Please text me if they are disturbing you.” That’s how you avoid having the cops called.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just seeing this thread now. And I'm honestly confused as to why so many people are against calling the cops. Call the non-emergency number and make a noise complaint. Don't mention the drinking unless there is actual evidence of same (and, no, a beer can in the street isn't it). This shouldn't ruin anyone's life. Most likely, the cops will show up, take a noise measurement, and tell the partiers to keep quiet. We have noise restrictions for a reason, and OP is entitled to sleep at night.

I'll tell you why: Defund the Police. This is a perfect example of the kind of thing that doesn't require police action and where involving the police only has the potential to make things worse. Reserve police time and resources for real problems.

As a parent with four adult children, we absolutely would want to hear from a neighbor/acquaintance if this kind of thing were going on in our house. We would have been grateful to receive a call or text from OP. But OP shouldn't have been vague about it. I would have texted along these lines: "Hi, it's OP, hope you're well. Just thought you should know that it sounds like there's a big party going on at your house. Larla is such a great kid, I'm sure it's all good, and she says her dad is home -- but I didn't see him, there's a beer can out front, and didn't want anyone to get into any trouble. Can you let me know if you guys know about the party? Thanks and sorry for the trouble."

This entire post is ridiculous. For one party, do nothing. If it continues, take it up with the parents in person.

Please. I have two teens. One has a much smaller mostly outdoor gathering recently. I told the neighbors in advance. “I will be home, I will have everyone inside by 11 and will try to keep the noise down. Please text me if they are disturbing you.” That’s how you avoid having the cops called.

This, this and more of this.

IF the parents know and they're decent neighbors, they reach out BEFORE the party.

If they're not home, no teen is going to notify the neighbors beforehand, because they risk the neighbors telling their parents who may nix the party or just supervise (either way, so uncool).

If they're not decent neighbors, yeah... You already know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They seem to have quieted down. I messaged the mom, don’t have dad’s number. No response. I don’t want to call the police and ruin any lives. Very much hoping there is no aftermath with these kids driving away after having been drinking. Thanks. And I’m not really worried about covid, it was just the icing on the cake of this scenario.

You wouldn't have ruined lives by calling the police. At least in our area they just break up the party or sometimes even tell them to quiet down depending on which cops arrive.

Our neighbor used to let her teen child have a lot of parties that went on past midnight before covid. No one would have cared except there was lots of underage drinking, beer cans and bottles on people's lawns the next day and kids spilling out on the street drunk. Other neighbors called the cops on them multiple times. Nothing at all ever happened. They are used to it. This is a relatively affluent neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

^In our case the parent knew the parties were going on. Neighbors tried to talk to her but she didn't care. She was a diplomat from a European country and kept telling everyone they were overreacting even when one party goer shoved a concerned parent on the ground and even when she knew the parties were keeping up elderly neighbors and preschool kdis.