Neighbor with bright light

[forkliftcontrols]

My next door neighbor has one of those big bright "barn yard" mercury vapor lights mounted up high on a 40ft. telephone pole (power company rented light). Recently, the bulb burned out in it; I thought this was great because my family could be outside at night or swimming in the pool without a glaring harsh light shining in our eyes and putting up with the old lady watching us through her cracked window blinds (thinking we can't see her; yeah right), but the power company came a few days ago and changed it, now it is 3X brighter then ever. It shines through my bedroom window blinds.

My neighbor is an old lady who thinks someone will break into her house if she doesn't have a industrial light in her back yard, Frankly, I think she only has it there so she can watch what the neighbors are doing at night; thats all. There isn't much crime in my town.

Could I call the power company to have it sheilded or disconnected? or to at least tell them to replace it with a normal-sized porch motion flood light? These damn lights are responsible for polluting the sky at night.

BTW: I told her about it; I asked her politely to do something about it, but she doesn't ever listen to anyone.

Thanks, John

[bigjim]

[robson]

pellet gun - every time it's replaced

[forkliftcontrols]

I actually thought of that, but from the angle of the bullet would be facing my house, it would seem to obvious who shot it and figuring I complained about the light; she would suspect me of shooting it out and call the cops.

[Joseph Meehan]

[e-mail] wrote: ..>

Local laws are all different. I would suggest starting with the power company as they may take car of it as you suggest and they are likely to be familiar with the local regulations.

[m Ransley]

If its brighter now a larger watt bulb was put in, there are local laws. It depends on how far you want to go with it, maybe a letter from you could explain it to her, maybe she could keep it off till an hour you are not outside. Neighbor fights can get nasty.

[Sacramento Dave]

Try the city building department, Code enforcement officer, City manager the point is you have to make a stink, let them know this a nuisance to you and your family. Are there any other neighbors bothered by this light ? if so go as group, the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

[Sacramento Dave]

I thought of somthing els You said the power Co. came and replaced it so it must be there light? That's were you should start. If the old lady can turn it on or off start knocking on her door at 1 & 2 AM and ask her to turn it off. You don't want to mean to the elderly, But there are still a lot of not so helples older people that are still asses.

[willshak]

Are you the only one bothered by it? Are other neighbors equally bothered? If so, get together with them and complain to the Util. Co. as a group.

[Bob G.]

================ So hop over the fence and do the deed from differewnt angles...LOL Seriously call the power company and request that they shield the light...

I am a backyard astronomer and any light can absolutely destroy my night vision so I understand how I would feel if I were in your position... finding a dark sky "site" is almost impossible anywhere in the USA right NOW !

Bob G

[Joseph Meehan]

I would suggest that is not a very good idea. It is not likely to be looked on kindly by anyone, including the police and could be considered harassment and certainly is not going to win friends. Neighbors are neighbors and being friends is a good idea.

[Mys Terry]

rig up a photocell so that whenever that light goes on, so does Ozzy Osborne, pointed at her house.

If she complains, tell her that she has the powweer to turn Ozzy on and off, and there is nothing you can do. Tell her if she keeps the light off, Ozzy will stay in his cave. She can try turning the light on and off a few times to get the idea of how it works.

[HeyBub]

There is no law against being a "suspect," nor can you be arrested for "suspicion" of anything.

With suitable arguments, light can be a public nusiance, just like noise, odor, overhanging trees, unsightly junk, or even nudity. Just being on your own property does not immunize one from complaints.

[Steve B]

Call the power company and zoning and neighborhood code enforcement. Squeak that wheel. You may get a little relief. If not, there's always the old pellet rifle in the garage.

Steve

[Bob]

A tall hedge would probably do the trick. They take awhile to grow, so plant soon.

Bob

[canadian_woodworker]

" My next door neighbor has one of those big bright "barn yard" mercury

vapor lights mounted up high on a 40ft. telephone pole "

Thats one tall hedge.

[Sev]

Generally, I'm in agreement with those advocating the legal, civilised route- likely to be more effective in the long run, if slower. But I have a certain mischievous curiosity about what would happen if a water pistol of a certain size filled with, say, ice water were to accidentally be discharged on a hot bulb- it isn't shielded, is it? I mean, kids have been known to do such foolish things.

[willshak]

Mercury vapor lights are enclosed in a housing like automobile headlamps. They are designed for outddor use, so rain, snow, sleet, etc. have little effect on them. Even the pellet gun suggestion might take more than a single shot. Better with a .44 magnum. Let me add just another stupid solution to the problem. Kill the old lady!

[C & E]

Joe's right. And don't do anything destructive. It's just going to come back on you, besides being illegal and unethical. It's too bad you don't have a better relationship with 'the old lady' and could talk with her. Explain your point of view calmly and stay calm even if she becomes unreasonable. Yes, there are mean folks of all ages but being older and alone causes many to become overly suspicious or downright paranaoid. I'm watching it happen in our family and it's not fun for anybody.

[Goedjn]

Buy one of those million-candlepower spotlights. Aim it at the yard-light. If it's got a daylight sensor on it, that will turn the thing off.