Been there and done this several times. So many narrow-minded fucks with nothing better to do than see what you're doing. Hate hotrods. Hate collector cars. Hate dogs. Hate lawn mowers. In the 70s I was tagged by the city for working on my car while my neighbor was asleep. It was 11:30am. The city dickhead was trying to 'shut down my body shop' since it was no place to 'run a buisness'. He tried and tried to get me to tell him who owned the car and I wouldn't. I told him to fuck off and went back to work. A bit later the same dickhead came over with a local cop. Again they insisted my statement and proof of ownership and the lic plate was in full view. "Check it yourself, I'm busy..." is what I said along with "...by the way, get off my property." Once the threat of arrest was stated I went in the house and got my mom involved. She even had me nervous! The cop and the city worker tried to baffle us with bullshit and it didn't fly as she corrected them both multiple times. The complaint came from a jealous and spiteful neightbor 3 doors down who only bitched because he knew what I was doing. I have broken the noise ordinance with raw exhaust a time or 2 (or more!) but had all the shit put away before they got there. It's kinda fun when they believe your bullshit like "..yeah I was wondering who that was. We were out here lookin for the dude ourselves!" Be kind and treat people how you wish to be treated is always good, but always a cure. My current neightbor hates dogs. She yells at em for barking and it makes em bark, so she yells at em some more, and more, and more, then calls the sheriffs office. The last time I think she was told to leave us alone. He payback was to make little child-like ugly faces at my wife. This lady is well into her 70s. I make all the noise I wish during the day. I live in a rural community and tractors are loud too. So, being nice should sometimes come with a seasoning of "fuck em" but only if you're right.
When I was working in construction the concrete trucks werent allowed to enter a neighborhood before 7A.M. because of the noise that the rucks made. We would all line up outside of a neighborhood until the clock struck 7A.M. then we would roll in like thunder and there was nothing anyone could do about it. We also had to be out of the neighborhoods by 10P.M. at night.
The country lost something when people were given the ability to fuck with you anonymously and get away with it, just because they're jealous or spiteful or just plain stupid. We go through that every now and again with the old bag who lives across the street. The only parking restrictions in this neighborhood are no overnight on-street parking Nov. 15-April 15 and no commercial vehicles over 7500 lbs allowed. She bitches if someone parks across from the end of her driveway. The street is about 2 1/2 lanes wide, her driveway is wide enough for two cars, there is no reason she can't get out of the driveway just fine - but she's like 800 years old and probably shouldn't be driving at all - and is old with nothing better to do - so she's gone so far as to call the sherrif one day when we had all the cars out so a driveway sealer could come during the day, and one car was opposite her driveway by maybe one foot. Said sherriff admitted there was nothing he could do and spent like half an hour listening to her bitch in her Italian accent; I saw what was going on and went out and moved the car since by then I figured the sealer guy wasn't coming that day and ended up explaining that to the cop. It wasn't a big deal, it's just bullshit we shouldn't have to deal with.
I got a call one night that my dog was barking at my shop. So I go and put him inside the shop. As I am leaving I hear the new neighbors 2 dogs barking. I knew the cop and he said he couldn't tell me who called, but when I told him the new guys dogs were barking and probably started the whole thing he agreed. I said it was him who called and the cop nodded his head. The police don't enjoy being called over and over by the same people either.
If I'm reading this right, you aren't allowed to use power tools to repair your own car in California? Seriously?
Any chance of getting a buisiness lic and doing it as a second job....zoning might be an issue, i'm not good with doing anything legal. Myself, I'd find a band that wants to blair death metal songs about asshole neighbors just under the legal decible
yeah ..no shit..that means just about everyone in that town are in violation..including the Mayor and Cheif of Police
the karma cops will get the douchbag that is messing with you and it will be tenfold! be sure after you develop a good repore with the guy serving the summons send him a off color christmas card.
Even if the decibel level is at 55 dp, they still have to have it rated by a certified operator and a certified meter. It cannot legally be done by a neighbors report or event the opinion of an officer. it is too subjective. If they do indeed cite you, make sure this has been done. if not, it should be thrown out in court.
They way it looks to me is someone could call the cops everytime someone runs the mower, weed wacker, puts a sparkplug in their mower, airs up a tire, hangs a picture, talks at the curb, opens the garage with an opener; fuck that. I would bail.
That's the whole idea. They can prosecute you for anything they want. They write the rules so EVERYONE is guilty. rant off. Dave
Your problem is more than likely two-fold. In most residential areas, zoning regulations only allow minor repairs such as changing the oil, a tire, a headlight bulb, etc. Extensive work such as engine repair/replacement, body work of any kind (no matter what kind of equipment you are running), transmission repairs, etc. is strictly prohibited. This is a zoning issue in which almost all of us are guilty of. A city's noise ordinance usually covers the 11 pm to 7 am period, and has an exception for loud/excessive noise at all hours of the day or night. If you are working on a buddy's car that is not registered to you, an enforcement officer may view your operation as a commercial business (shade-tree mechanic), and cite you for not having an operational license. The best thing you can do is what some have already stated, understand that you are most likely in violation, educate yourself on your city's zoning regulations (you'll be shocked at what you find), and keep your activities out of sight, within a closed garage. You will only hurt yourself if you try to battle or out-wit your code enforcement officer.
the out is that working on almost anything (yard work, building a fence, grinding on your car) is above 55db - and they have to apply the law evenly and not single out any person or business. If you can show that most every yard in the hood gets mowed, and everytime its over 55db, you can defend your position as 'selective enforcement' which is not legal. I used this approach with my Harley, which was too loud, and a nieghbor who didn't like it but was perfectly content working on his house. It actually worked. But you may have to be ready to get a lawyer involved, which may not be cost effective.
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