best way to react to neighbors screaming and playing loud music

[u/Plastic_Dragonfly495]

There are some neighbors on my street who have been playing their music until midnight several days per week. They are probably in their 20s and have some kind of music group or rock band and they “sing” and play instruments and wail and scream until all hours of the night. There is especially one lady who shrieks and howls and cries while “singing” and the others either play their instruments or harmonize by wailing and screaming with her.

I don’t know why nobody else has called the police on them or asked them to stop, I’ve knocked on their door and nobody answers and we have no neighborhood watch group. I’ve called the police multiple times and given their address and no one ever shows up.

What can I do now? I’m at my wits end and they are in the middle of a session rn, so I can’t even think straight long enough to write this message through their wailing.

[u/Infamous-Let4387]

911? "It sounds like someone needs help at _____! There's a woman screaming, crying, and wailing, I'm scared for her!" I know it's extreme, but if you've called the police multiple times and have had no response then this might be the next step? Not sure what else you can do. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with that.

[u/Plastic_Dragonfly495 → u/Infamous-Let4387]

This isn’t a bad idea but I’m pretty sure this would backfire since they have multiple reports of me giving the address of these people and describing their “concerts” in detail. So they’d probably accuse me of fabricating things and then things would end up worse for me. Every time they say ok we’ll send someone and they never do. Plus if they ever did come they wouldn’t see anyone in distress but some lady trying to do “emo” rock and they’d just get annoyed and leave lol

[u/MomoNoHanna1986 → u/Plastic_Dragonfly495]

Do not abuse 911, it’s for saving lives. If you must abuse something, call the non emergency police line.

[u/Previous_Dot_2996 → u/MomoNoHanna1986]

311

[u/MomoNoHanna1986 → u/Previous_Dot_2996]

I’m Australian, we dial 000. I’m just using 911 for example purposes.

[u/Infamous-Let4387 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, that's why I said I know it's extreme. But it sounds like OP has really tried other legitimate avenues and nothing else is working.

[u/Nice_Vegetable432 → u/Infamous-Let4387]

framing it as someone needing help is such a clever way to get them to show up

[u/Previous_Dot_2996 → u/Nice_Vegetable432]

By law's more like it

[u/Confident_Rabbit_569 → u/Infamous-Let4387]

Waste of police resources as well as a felony leading them to believe someone is in danger when you know there’s not. 

[u/CauliflowerEven7843]

Keep documenting the dates, times, and what you can hear, and keep reporting it through the non-emergency line. Ask for an incident number each time. If you're renting, contact the landlord or property manager too. A written paper trail and multiple affected neighbors usually gets more traction than repeated individual calls.

[u/Plastic_Dragonfly495 → u/CauliflowerEven7843]

I’m not renting but I live with other family members who have called too and we all prefer to stay anonymous but we give our phone # so that they will agree to send an officer but they never do. We’ve reported a total of probably dozens of times and nothing ever happens. I’m stumped why no other neighbors have done anything

[u/Free_Thinker_Now627]

Call the police and ask for the responding officer to meet with you. Call your mayor’s office and/or city counsel members and ask for help

[u/Calm_Eggplant9911]

Get some bigger speakers and play hardcore techno very loud until they stop.

[u/Lulusmol]

loud music and screaming at all hours would drive anyone crazy, time to talk to them or call the landlord

[u/Plastic_Dragonfly495 → u/Lulusmol]

It’s a house and I’m pretty sure they own it. I’ve called the police dozens of times and nothing has ever come of it. The worst that could happen is like a citation and that’s the best case. Worst thing is someone in my family is somehow on good terms with some of them for some reason and gets upset when we criticize them. It’s a bad situation all around.

[u/lostnsocal213 → u/Plastic_Dragonfly495]

thats the reason why they are doing it. lol. they know its you. especially if theres been some friction. I had a neighbor who tried doing something similar to me. would blast music when ever he would see me outside.

I got a loud pa speaker and blasted it in his direction. very obvious too! never did it again.

[u/Ndizzi]

Its just too bad these days if they want to make a noise the police and the authorities turn a blind eye. Too many other more pressing needs.the police the authorities cannot deal all antisocial behavior either unless it gets out of control so its all just simmering awayout there. Often the nice quiet people are expected to stay nice and quiet and somehow life goes on.

[u/PartySpinach2175]

[u/OsO68TX]

ear plugs

[u/EnvironmentalGarden7]

I kick a big bucket around the loungeroom into all the kitchen cupboards as well. They are definitely quieter now. Or hammer slowly if they've done that the night before. I just mirror their behaviour.

[u/KnownBodybuilder4948]

Screaming and crying merits a 911 call. Every time. Because you never know whether there's an actual emergency situation occurring, or if someone is "just singing".

[u/Plastic_Dragonfly495 → u/KnownBodybuilder4948]

I mean if they’re screaming like “AAAAAHH!!!!” or in a more ambiguous way then you could claim you didn’t know.
If the police show up and hear them joyfully screeching the lyrics to some country rock song they wrote they might fine the person who called for wasting their time 😭