Neighbor security lights and household debate

[rubytue]

I know y’all love these threads…

Neighbor aways away, but on the other side of a large pond, has installed blue flashing security lights that come on at dusk, off at dawn. Because of the water, they reflect all over. Our Lowe’s has similar security lights at night. Also, lights are aimed toward the walking trail that is officially opened 6am to 10pm. Lights don’t care about 10pm. 

There is a difference of opinion on these lights in my house. Person A is burn it down because they are so annoyed by them. Person B is meh, this is not my hill. A has been rating for the better part of a year, and cannot be convinced to ignore them. Basically, every time A takes the dog out after dark, they come back steaming. 

Data point: highly HOA controlled area. Covenants require exterior lighting to be approved. Only one month of minutes are online, and light have been up for 2 years and increasing (2 -> 4 -> now 6). 

Person A has been stewing for months and just brought a draft email planning to send to the HOA for person B to proof read, who reworded it to remove unproved allegations like “seizure inducing” and “ocular trauma”. Person A claims the lights hurt their eyes.  B’s eyes rolled so hard they almost fell out. “They don’t hurt your eyes, you are so annoyed you think it’s pain.”

B does agree they are annoying. But not a hill to die on and just doesn’t walk the dog that direction at night. Which, I suppose was the point, to keep people away, but it’s a ducking public trail and public park that someone is annoyed that they live next to and using low key measures to keep people away. Which, if you knew the history of this community, is just gross.

Said house is not on our street, it’s literally the other side of a lake/pond. 

[arielroux]

To make sure I understand…

1. do these lights flash continuously from dusk until dawn, or are they motion activated where they flash when triggered?

2. Can you see the flashing from inside your house if you have the windows/blinds open? Or is it only when outside?

[mcppalmbeach]

Apr 1, 2024 15:53:16 GMT -5 arielroux said:

To make sure I understand…

1. do these lights flash continuously from dusk until dawn, or are they motion activated where they flash when triggered?

2. Can you see the flashing from inside your house if you have the windows/blinds open? Or is it only when outside?

I had the exact same questions!

[InBetweenDays]

Usually those flashing blue lights signify cameras/recording. Not sure if that is the case here but just an FYI.

If I couldn't see if from my house (especially from our bedroom) I probably wouldn't care. I'd make note of the homeowner in case they're the type to flaunt the rules and then make a complaint about someone/something else. But I don't think I'd turn them in.

Although it does make me wonder if it has an effect on wildlife around the pond?

[cville]

Ocular Seizure would be a good name for a band.

[rubytue]

Apr 1, 2024 15:53:16 GMT -5 arielroux said:

To make sure I understand…

1. do these lights flash continuously from dusk until dawn, or are they motion activated where they flash when triggered?

2. Can you see the flashing from inside your house if you have the windows/blinds open? Or is it only when outside?

1. Continuously dusk til dawn. 

2. Yes, inside the house. But honestly, from inside the house only if you are looking specifically that direction. 

Also, they are visible from a playground where I walk the dog at night (often right around 10pm) that is 1/4 mile away from my house the opposite direction. 

[arielroux]

Apr 1, 2024 16:06:01 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Apr 1, 2024 15:53:16 GMT -5 arielroux said:

To make sure I understand…

1. do these lights flash continuously from dusk until dawn, or are they motion activated where they flash when triggered?

2. Can you see the flashing from inside your house if you have the windows/blinds open? Or is it only when outside?

1. Continuously dusk til dawn. 

2. Yes, inside the house. But honestly, from inside the house only if you are looking specifically that direction. 

Got it. I feel like you’re the person not willing to die on the hill just based on your phrasing!

If it were me, I would HATE THIS. I wouldn’t start throwing out seizures and such, but I’d be pissed. It would probably build slowly from a mild irritation to a full annoyance until one night where it would catch me on a bad day, and then I would lose my shit, lol. I don’t know what steps I would take to rectify it because I’m not a “call the police” kinda gal, but I’d have to do something. 

id also be really concerned about any animals living in the water or by the trail. That can’t be good for them. Keep your flashing lights out of my line of sight!

[tacokick]

I’m anti-HOA but this seems like the perfect use of them. I can’t imagine they are allowed. What other point is there to the HOA than to crack down on this sort of thing? Use it to your advantage!

They are annoying when the community is doing basic things like being in their own yard or walking the dog. I agree it might be disturbing the wildlife, my dad also lives on the water and while there is no HOA, these kinds of lights are strongly discouraged for that reason from the neighborhood club.

I don’t even shop at Lowe’s anymore because of those lights. They give off a very near future, totalitarian police state vibe I would not be happy about at my home.

ETA even if one half of the household doesn’t care and wants to continue avoiding them forever, getting rid of them will stop the other half from complaining about them. Win-win.

[ECB]

Apr 1, 2024 16:06:01 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Apr 1, 2024 15:53:16 GMT -5 arielroux said:

To make sure I understand…

1. do these lights flash continuously from dusk until dawn, or are they motion activated where they flash when triggered?

2. Can you see the flashing from inside your house if you have the windows/blinds open? Or is it only when outside?

1. Continuously dusk til dawn. 

2. Yes, inside the house. But honestly, from inside the house only if you are looking specifically that direction. 

Also, they are visible from a playground where I walk the dog at night (often right around 10pm) that is 1/4 mile away from my house the opposite direction. 

so , there is a middle ground here. This is annoying. All of it. The HOA needs to be informed. But does “ocular seizure” really need to be induced here??

[rubytue]

arielroux, you are correct. I tried so hard to temper myself. But also, H is totally ready to burn it down. He is also convinced they are up because he occasionally would walk the dog at 2am when he was out of work. I have a hard time believing someone is so scared of a middle aged man with a tiny dog. 😂

ECB, I took the medical accusations out of the email. Just focused on the increasing number of lights, the mention that it’s pointed at a public trail that is open, and the question if the HOA approved it and citing the requirement for approval.

But it is like being in a totalitarian police state.

[jane6672]

I would not say “seizure” unless a literal seizure is actually being induced.
I wouldn’t use hyperbole at all (bc it comes off as overwrought, when level-headed is what is what you want for a complaint) but I 100% would not use medical terms to inflate the importance.


But this sounds like a hella nuisance, and something which is actually appropriate to pursue with the HOA.

[meanie]

I would assume the HOA is already aware if the lights are that noticeable. It doesn't hurt to ask, but I would definitely tone down the initial e-mail to more of a general inquiry.

The flashing is weird....how often do they flash? That has got to be so annoying to anyone who lives closer!

I could totally be person B though, my H is person A. I try to rile him up to yell at people on my behalf and he just rolls his eyes. Useless.

[flygirl]

We have a neighbor who, no joke, has at least 10 cameras and motion lights on their house pointing in every direction. If I lived immediately next door to them I probably would have been arrested by now for destroying them with a baseball bat so I get your Hs anger. I would start with the HOA and remove anything other than the facts. Hopefully that will get you some resolution.

[felicity]

I love HOA/neighbor posts. Please keep us updated lol.

[bittybomb]

Oh man, this could definitely be my house.  My husband would be person A and I would be person B.

We have a similar, yet doesn't seem quite as annoying, neighbor light problem and when my husband gets rolling on it, you can almost see the steam coming from his head.  The amount of times he has googled light pollution is hilarious. 

My husband is non confrontational, however, and would NEVER send an email.  His end goal is to wind me up and try to have me send it, lol.  I love a good strongly worded letter.  I have suggested several times he go knock on the neighbor's door to see if there could be some compromise, but he would rather seethe privately. lol.

[Nonny]

I'm also generally anti-HOA, but you'd better believe it that I'd be weaponizing them against the dog boarding neighbors if I had them at my disposal.

I agree about avoiding hyperbole and trying to stay rational about the complaint though, because it will seem move valid if your H seems less crazy.

I'm also kind of confused about why security lights flash. That's really weird.

[DotAndBuzz]

Continuously flashing lights?

Yeah, I’d be person A here. I can get on board with motion activated lights, but the constant flashing would make me insane, ESPECIALLY if I could see it in my house. I know you said that you have to be in a certain spot, but still, noooope for me.

This is where HOAs can be really helpful. I’d send an email letting them know, bringing up my concern for wildlife, allude to “general distraction and disruption outdoors at night,” and asking for clarification about their outdoor light policy/policy for approval.

[cville]

For the record, I'd be apoplectic with rage and the first draft of my email would probably talk about fundamental human rights and the desecration of both quiet enjoyment of my home and local wildlife.

But I'd send my 5th draft. With that stuff gone. And with citations to municipal law and HOA policies in place.

[tacokick]

Apr 1, 2024 16:27:56 GMT -5 meanie said:

I would assume the HOA is already aware if the lights are that noticeable. It doesn't hurt to ask, but I would definitely tone down the initial e-mail to more of a general inquiry.

I feel like often people think that someone else has brought up an issue or that the people in charge are aware and then it ends up not being the case. Or there is assumption is that it doesn’t bother anyone so it keeps happening. At least that’s how issues in my neighborhood seem to go!

[InBetweenDays]

Apr 1, 2024 16:44:54 GMT -5 Nonny said:

I'm also generally anti-HOA, but you'd better believe it that I'd be weaponizing them against the dog boarding neighbors if I had them at my disposal.

I agree about avoiding hyperbole and trying to stay rational about the complaint though, because it will seem move valid if your H seems less crazy.

I'm also kind of confused about why security lights flash. That's really weird.

It sounds similar to those Lot Cop devices that are used in a lot of parking lots (at least around here). Way more annoying that your typical neighborhood security light.

[rubytue]

Person B has reported the results of this to person A, hat in hand.

Email has already been sent, minus the unjustified health effects. But notes being made for future correspondence.

And, FTR, I do find it annoying. But not burn it down rage. Though I am spinning up a bit.

[rubytue]

Apr 1, 2024 16:56:34 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

Apr 1, 2024 16:44:54 GMT -5 Nonny said:

I'm also generally anti-HOA, but you'd better believe it that I'd be weaponizing them against the dog boarding neighbors if I had them at my disposal.

I agree about avoiding hyperbole and trying to stay rational about the complaint though, because it will seem move valid if your H seems less crazy.

I'm also kind of confused about why security lights flash. That's really weird.

It sounds similar to those Lot Cop devices that are used in a lot of parking lots (at least around here). Way more annoying that your typical neighborhood security light.

YES! LotCop sounds like what I was saying is in the local Lowe’s parking lots.

[pixy0stix]

Person A should also check city light ordinances, because that type of light is prohibited here because of light pollution.

[Nonny]

Apr 1, 2024 16:59:38 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Apr 1, 2024 16:56:34 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

It sounds similar to those Lot Cop devices that are used in a lot of parking lots (at least around here). Way more annoying that your typical neighborhood security light.

YES! LotCop sounds like what I was saying is in the local Lowe’s parking lots.

I've never actually heard of the brand Lot Cop, but I think I've seen something similar outside of a utility company or something. (I have a vague memory of high fences and flashing lights, but it was daytime and I was just driving past.)

[candreco]

Well, I sneaked into my neighbors' yard last night to adjust a landscape light that got bumped and has been shining into my bedroom window, so I'm definitely team letter to the HOA. Agree with toning it down though.

[ssmjlm]

Did you see my randoms post last week about the annoying ex-husband neighbor with the floodlights?

So yeah, I’m team involve the HOA and any other local ordinances.

[livinitup]

I would probably be person A and I would be writing the email if I didn’t already knock on their door and ask for a reasonable resolution.

It’s really annoying how my H does not get as bothered about things and makes my perfectly reasonable freak outs seem outsized by comparison.

It really is obnoxious to cast flashing lights on a common area like a trail. This person bought a property by a trail that closes at 10 pm and it sounds like he mostly abandons the property for most of the year. Yet, he is leaving a biggish impact on all of it and the neighbors. H is impacting residents on the opposite side of the lake. Obnoxious.

Consider being specific in what your H is asking for in the email. Is he asking for the lights to be moved, turned off (during what hours), changed, etc? It sounds like he is making a case for them to be a nuisance* but what is he asking to change?

Since this will most likely be a voluntary change by the homeowner or if refused, enforcement by the HOA, he needs to ask for specific action items. Things when completed (hopefully easily and soon) will clearly provide a resolution to the problem.

*Mention that it reduces property values. That is super vague and gets people (& HOAs) super worked up.

[rubytue]

Apr 1, 2024 17:13:47 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Did you see my randoms post last week about the annoying ex-husband neighbor with the floodlights?

So yeah, I’m team involve the HOA and any other local ordinances.

I did. I’m clearly not as annoyed as H. But to me, that is far more disturbing of the peace. This is just, to be, fly buzzing around your head annoying.

[meanie]

Apr 1, 2024 16:49:09 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Apr 1, 2024 16:27:56 GMT -5 meanie said:

I would assume the HOA is already aware if the lights are that noticeable. It doesn't hurt to ask, but I would definitely tone down the initial e-mail to more of a general inquiry.

I feel like often people think that someone else has brought up an issue or that the people in charge are aware and then it ends up not being the case. Or there is assumption is that it doesn’t bother anyone so it keeps happening. At least that’s how issues in my neighborhood seem to go!

True! Maybe there's a bunch of person A/B arguments going on in all the houses around the lake, haha!

[lostrn]

I can't picture what this looks like but it sounds beyond annoying.