Community Corner
Comment of the Day: "Deputies should carry a rolled-up newspaper on their belt so that the party knows the deputy means business."
A look at the funniest, strangest and most informative comments from Patch readers.
We take pride in our work here at Patch and always strive to bring our readers interesting news. However, we must admit, sometimes the most interesting parts of a great Patch story are the comments from readers that it sparks.
Mission Viejo Patch's coverage about the City Council's decision to bill the cost of multiple police visits to loud parties onto the offending party's host drew more than 20 comments Tuesday.
- Read the full story here: Hosts of Loud Parties to Pay for Multiple Police Visits
Here are a few highlights of comments from Patch readers:
Panglonymous August 20, 2013 at 10:25 AM A party that has to be warned is a bad party. Deputies should carry a rolled-up newspaper on their belt so that the party knows the deputy means business. A party that has to be warned more than once is a very bad party and should be swatted on the snout with the newspaper baton. A party that must be broken up is beyond bad and should have a fire hose turned on it forthwith.
Mediator August 20, 2013 at 11:22 AM This type of restriction or subjective policing reminds me of something I witnessed in Cuba in 2008. While visiting the neighborhoods I saw a few people dressed up and hanging around outside a residence building. I asked them what they were all dressed up for and they explained that there was a celebration at one of the 3rd floor residences home but that they, by the government, were not allowed to have more than a certain number of people gathering in one place. Hum, maybe we can provide a number of people for this new ordinance, I mean we wouldn't want subjective measures to begin to trample on our rights?
PJ August 20, 2013 at 12:05 PM My neighbors called the cops because they felt that my sons two year birthday party was too loud at 6:30pm. When I laughed after hearing the complaint, and suggested that the officers have a conversation with my neighbor about wasting police resources, one officer threatened me with a hefty ticket, and possible arrest, if they had to come back. I was pretty sure that they didn't have the authority to do either at 6:30pm, but what the police can do (authorized, or otherwise) never ceases to surprise me, so I didn't push my luck. If the police already have the "tools" of ticketing, and arresting, what is the point of another? If they don't have those tools, they have the tool of lying about those tools, which worked to keep two year olds from partying past 6:30. Can I be ticketed, arrested, AND have to pay for the cops to do it? Or do I just have to give the officers gas money if they come back?
cary August 20, 2013 at 02:34 PM People need to lighten up! If a neighbor has ONE party and it's loud who cares. If every day, it's another story.
Eileen G. August 20, 2013 at 02:58 PM So.... you can call the cops if your neighbors are having a loud party and if they come back they can hit you with a hefty fine. What about annoying DOGS. I have 6 homes that line my property and they all have dogs ... I do not. They bark at me when I'm in my yard, they bark at me when I'm bar-b-queuing, they bark at each other.... at all times of day and night. But to get them to be fined I have to find other neighbors that will complain about them also. Something is wrong here. Regarding the loud parties we have a party at least once a year with live music. Many years ago there was a complaint the officers showed up and told us that we needed to keep it down, and if they showed up again the homeowner could be arrested. It was 8:30 at night. From that point forward we papered the neighborhood with flyers stating we were having a party that there would be music and a lot of cars. We also posted a start and end time on this notice and our phone number if they had a problem. Only one time did someone ever call us, it was 11:10pm and they complained that the notice said music would stop at 11. As soon as the band finished that song we were done. We had neighbors appreciate that we have done that.
S Belle August 20, 2013 at 07:35 PM Totally agree, Eileen Gonzalez. I suppose you can complain to Animal Control. But why is it okay to complain about the occasional noisy party and make the perpetrators foot the bill for repeat police visits, gripe about barking canines, but is perfectly acceptable to subject me to incessant "Marco Polo" from my neighbor's pools (plural!) from dawn to dusk? I'd take one or two noisy parties per year or barking dogs over the constant sounds of kids screaming. Who is in charge of that enforcement? In either case, if I do not like it I can always move to Wyoming and live on the prairie, I know I know.
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