Honking
So I live down on Lincoln place and apparently a lot of people carpool or something. I don't know if there's just one offender or a bunch, but every freaking morning at like 8 am there's all sorts of obnoxious horn honking right outside my window. I know I'm whining and all, and I know that noise is a part of living in this area, but it's every morning with these people. Then, like two nights ago, at 1 am some guy was just honking repeatedly- not a car alarm, either, because it was totally irregular, and lasted like 20 minutes.
Isn't there some sort of city ordinance against non-emergency honking in residential areas? I mean, obviously I'm not gonna really ever do anything about it, but if I want to yell stuff out my window, do I have a case?
Isn't there some sort of city ordinance against non-emergency honking in residential areas? I mean, obviously I'm not gonna really ever do anything about it, but if I want to yell stuff out my window, do I have a case?
Comments
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Signs on Vanderbilt threaten a $250 fine for honking, but little good that does. It's not enforced, so nobody cares.
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I also live on Lincoln and am starting to go nuts as a result of the incessant honking. Calling 311 isn’t an option; by the time the cops get there the offender will be long gone. I am open to creative solutions (perhaps calling the PD and complaining about the regular occurrences and asking for regular enforcement).
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Car services have a habit of honking when they are outside? If it is a car service maybe you can get the name and call the office to tell them. If it persists you can always call the TLC. Good luck.
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You are NOT whining. Noise is the number one problem in this city, and honking is its number one avoidable manifestation. The car services are the worst, but it's widespread among other drivers as well. I'm for calling 311 and finding out how to get the $250 fine enforced. All it would take is 10 tickets issued for word to spread.
I've started thinking that water balloons from on high would help deal with idiots who stand out in the street yelling, too... -
JamesOnDean wrote: I've started thinking that water balloons from on high would help deal with idiots who stand out in the street yelling, too...
while I miss the 'protection' offered by a bar and the sheer number of people out and about and around that bar, I do not miss the asshats that would stand outside of Ripple and talk on their Nokia 2-way radios. more than once I considered going up on my roof and throwing something at them. probably something more damaging than a water balloon, but I also have terrible aim. -
JamesOnDean wrote: I've started thinking that water balloons from on high would help deal with idiots who stand out in the street yelling, too...
Surely you can be more creative than that! Urine balloons? Maple syrup balloons? Wesson balloons? Bleach balloons?:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
How to (you have to scroll down a bit):
http://dailyheights.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1397 -
depending which side of lincoln you're on (undy vs washy), those honks may be honks for drive-thru deliveries. and i'm not talking about food. seems pretty common closer to undy. by washy, more likely car services.
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lnclnplcgentrifier wrote: depending which side of lincoln you're on (undy vs washy), those honks may be honks for drive-thru deliveries. and i'm not talking about food. seems pretty common closer to undy. by washy, more likely car services.
With regard to the "drive thrus". Im wondering if you got the license plate numbers you can give them to the police dept. I went to one of the local council meetings and it seemed police were taking all drug leads seriously. It was all done very indiscrete too. DH'er Quig might even be able to direct you to the proper person at the PD. -
that would require me to stand on the sidewalk hanging out on the end of the block where i don't live, taking notes. as a white stroller mom, i can't imagine how i could do that inconspicuously. nor am i interested in playing rat. but thanks for your concern.
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Living on the corner of 6th and Bergen, we get our share of honking all day and night from the several intersections around us. Doesn't seem to phase the 78th at all. We also get a cop here and there using his car's loud speaker to ask his buddy to get him a coffee, etc. Love it at 6:30AM on a weekend hearing something like "hey Joey get me a coffee while you're at it.. light and sweet. "
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lnclnplcgentrifier wrote: nor am i interested in playing rat.
When your kid has to navigate those drive thru services on his own, your apathy will disappear. -
My vote is: eggs. Thrown. From the window. At any honking car.
Cheap. Easy. Yell first, then throw. -
JamesOnDean wrote: You are NOT whining. Noise is the number one problem in this city, and honking is its number one avoidable manifestation. The car services are the worst, but it's widespread among other drivers as well. I'm for calling 311 and finding out how to get the $250 fine enforced. All it would take is 10 tickets issued for word to spread.
i usually look outside my window and quickly write down the license plate number. that way i can report them directly to 311. fewer cars bumping with dance party music at 3am sure is SWELL.
I've started thinking that water balloons from on high would help deal with idiots who stand out in the street yelling, too... -
qtrain wrote: Signs on Vanderbilt threaten a $250 fine for honking, but little good that does. It's not enforced, so nobody cares.
I've always wondered if anyone ever get fine for honking on streets where the sign is posted. How does the police enforce the rule if they are not present when someone honks. IMO, those street signs that warn about honking is meaningless. -
stacey wrote: Car services have a habit of honking when they are outside?
If they're a good car service, they'll call you on their cell.
Regardless, the horns can get just as bad on my current (for the next 2 days, before I move to PH) block in the South Slope. It's why my spouse and I sleep in the back room of our apartment - all the street noise, yelling, horns, etc. Blecch! -
I pay more attention to the ones that say "PLEASE DONT HONK - Respect your neighbors"
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muteflute wrote: My vote is: eggs. Thrown. From the window. At any honking car.
Here's the famous Honku perpective on eggs:
Cheap. Easy. Yell first, then throw.
go to http://honku.org and click on "Story of Honku" on the left menu.
(this is also an excellent all-around honking resource) -
wow, such an outpouring of support! makes me feel better about my gripe.
I'm thinking water balloons from the roof, but the problem is my building has an obnoxiously loud motion sensor that goes off when you go up there, so my mission to end the noise near my apartment building would create tons of noise in my apartment building, and that wouldn't be cool to my neighbors.
maybe once the summer comes I can camp out up there and wait or something. luckily, i've now finally learned the appropriate way to fill a balloon with urine, after years of misguided efforts. -
I think if enough people call 311, eventually the police have to do something about it.
Another option is the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles form MV-15. http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us//forms/mv15.pdf. It will take 3-5 weeks and cost you $10 to get the registration information of the owner of the car (this might not be so useful for car services). The offender will certainly appreciate being reminded at 3:00am, for a couple of days in a row, that it is not nice to honk horns in a residential area for no good reason. Remember to be nice when you call and turn off your caller ID. (Thanks to Aaron Naparstek who had this idea before me). -
Jamzer wrote: (Thanks to Aaron Naparstek who had this idea before me).
Here's a photo, via Naparstek, describing a good way to "improve" those "No Horn Blowing" signs:
No Horn Blowing Except for Anger:
http://www.naparstek.com/2004/07/guerilla-signage.php
I love that modification because it's so true. Maybe 75% of the honking is out of anger. (The other 25% is livery cabs telling people that their ride is here). And of course the un-modified sign is a joke too, since the police never ever enforce honking laws. -
You can also try these:
http://www.glarkware.com/securestore/c181844p16370773.2.html
No honking box, but you can write that in... -
Subject: Write to your council member at local precinct
Council Member Letitia James
67 Hanson Place,
Brooklyn, NY
11217
Dear Council Member James
I am writing to you in reference to serious concerns I have about the stretch of Lincoln Place on which I live. I am seeking your assistance to make this part of Prospect Heights a better environment for its residents.
Lincoln Place (between Washington and Underhill) is plagued by yelling, honking, car alarms, and loud music (from passing and stationary vehicles) at all hours of the day and night and is physically very dirty with rubbish blowing about everywhere. Traffic violations abound. Cars travel at excessive speeds and fail to give the right of way at busy intersections. Furthermore, it is common local knowledge that the corner of Washington and Lincoln is frequented by drug traffickers and users alike.
Residents of all ages and backgrounds are forced to content with this negative environment in their daily lives. In many cases they fear for their safety or simply can’t get a good night of sleep because of the incessant noise.
This is doubly disturbing because one needs not travel far to find residential blocks that are safe, serene and tidy. Prospect Heights, some boast, is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Shouldn’t Lincoln Place share in this praise?
What sets Lincoln Place apart from other more desirable blocks? Though there is a police department within walking distance there seems to be a serious lack of policing on Lincoln Place. In the six months that I have lived on this street I have never once seen an officer on foot or a patrol car enforcing the obvious violations that take place on a daily basis. And though I have seen street sweepers on Washington, I have only once seen one cleaning Lincoln Place (hardly enough to combat the heaps of trash that some buildings accumulate without fear of penalty).
What message are we sending when the police fail to curb noise and stop drug trafficking? What is the result of ignoring obvious and recurrent infractions of the law? Can one have pride in a filthy street?
I believe that the problems of Lincoln Place grow worse because they are ignored by the authorities. I believe that this has produced a culture that does not care to follow the law, be respectful of neighbors, or keep litter at bay.
I am envious of neighboring streets no more than one or two city blocks away. Regular policing and street sweeping have led to a positive environment in which residents obviously take pride. Why can’t Lincoln Place benefit from the municipal services that other blocks enjoy?
Best,
Council Member Letitia James
250 Broadway
New York, NY
10007
Dear Council Member James
I am writing to you in reference to serious concerns I have about the stretch of Lincoln Place on which I live. I am seeking your assistance to make this part of Prospect Heights a better environment for its residents.
Lincoln Place (between Washington and Underhill) is plagued by yelling, honking, car alarms, and loud music (from passing and stationary vehicles) at all hours of the day and night and is physically very dirty with rubbish blowing about everywhere. Traffic violations abound. Cars travel at excessive speeds and fail to give the right of way at busy intersections. Furthermore, it is common local knowledge that the corner of Washington and Lincoln is frequented by drug traffickers and users alike.
Residents of all ages and backgrounds are forced to content with this negative environment in their daily lives. In many cases they fear for their safety or simply can’t get a good night of sleep because of the incessant noise.
This is doubly disturbing because one needs not travel far to find residential blocks that are safe, serene and tidy. Prospect Heights, some boast, is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Shouldn’t Lincoln Place share in this praise?
What sets Lincoln Place apart from other more desirable blocks? Though there is a police department within walking distance there seems to be a serious lack of policing on Lincoln Place. In the six months that I have lived on this street I have never once seen an officer on foot or a patrol car enforcing the obvious violations that take place on a daily basis. And though I have seen street sweepers on Washington, I have only once seen one cleaning Lincoln Place (hardly enough to combat the heaps of trash that some buildings accumulate without fear of penalty).
What message are we sending when the police fail to curb noise and stop drug trafficking? What is the result of ignoring obvious and recurrent infractions of the law? Can one have pride in a filthy street?
I believe that the problems of Lincoln Place grow worse because they are ignored by the authorities. I believe that this has produced a culture that does not care to follow the law, be respectful of neighbors, or keep litter at bay.
I am envious of neighboring streets no more than one or two city blocks away. Regular policing and street sweeping have led to a positive environment in which residents obviously take pride. Why can’t Lincoln Place benefit from the municipal services that other blocks enjoy?
Best,
77th Precinct NYPD
127 Utica Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Dear Inspector OConnell
I am writing to you in reference to serious concerns I have about the stretch of Lincoln Place on which I live. I am seeking your assistance to make this part of Prospect Heights a better environment for its residents.
Lincoln Place (between Washington and Underhill) is plagued by yelling, honking, car alarms, and loud music (from passing and stationary vehicles) at all hours of the day and night and is physically very dirty with rubbish blowing about everywhere. Traffic violations abound. Cars travel at excessive speeds and fail to give the right of way at busy intersections. Furthermore, it is common local knowledge that the corner of Washington and Lincoln is frequented by drug traffickers and users alike.
Residents of all ages and backgrounds are forced to content with this negative environment in their daily lives. In many cases they fear for their safety or simply can’t get a good night of sleep because of the incessant noise.
This is doubly disturbing because one needs not travel far to find residential blocks that are safe, serene and tidy. Prospect Heights, some boast, is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Shouldn’t Lincoln Place share in this praise?
What sets Lincoln Place apart from other more desirable blocks? Though there is a police department within walking distance there seems to be a serious lack of policing on Lincoln Place. In the six months that I have lived on this street I have never once seen an officer on foot or a patrol car enforcing the obvious violations that take place on a daily basis. And though I have seen street sweepers on Washington, I have only once seen one cleaning Lincoln Place (hardly enough to combat the heaps of trash that some buildings accumulate without fear of penalty).
What message are we sending when the police fail to curb noise and stop drug trafficking? What is the result of ignoring obvious and recurrent infractions of the law? Can one have pride in a filthy street?
I believe that the problems of Lincoln Place grow worse because they are ignored by the authorities. I believe that this has produced a culture that does not care to follow the law, be respectful of neighbors, or keep litter at bay.
I am envious of neighboring streets no more than one or two city blocks away. Regular policing and street sweeping have led to a positive environment in which residents obviously take pride. Why can’t Lincoln Place benefit from the municipal services that other blocks enjoy?
Best, -
Subject: Re: Write to your council member at local precinct
jamielevin wrote: Dear Council Member James
How many threads is this monster on? -
Nice work writing the letter I would have liked to have written if I had more time/energy. Other relatively quiet members of Lincoln Place thank you, and apologize for the occasional loud bass playing during the day.
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Jaime,
I can tell you from experience that to get some police enforcement you're probably going to have to go to some precint community council meetings. They're held monthly. Talk about the problem there. And ask for enforcement. It'd help if the Councilmember also sent someone to press them on the issue at the same time. And if other neighbors came. You'll need the cops to enforce for a period of weeks, not just one day here or there. You can also talk to the Community Board about getting a No Honking sign on yr block.
None of this will be particularly helpful in the long run, unfortunately. You probably have to move.
Likewise, I've been thinking that it'd be nice to go around to all the car services in the area and press them to stop honking for pick-ups. Tell them to call using a cell phone or ring the buzzer. Get their lazy azzes out their cars. That would certainly knock down a certain % of the honking.... -
Subject: Online Complaint forms T&LC
Fill out an online complaint form on the Taxi and Limousine Commission Website here:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mailtlc.html
and
here:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/file_complaint.shtml -
Subject: Council Woman Letita James
After sending the letter to Letitia James (see above) I have been asked to meet with her. I am pleased to learn that she is willing to speak to local residents about their concerns. I hope for progress! -
It was real real bad this morning... 6:00, then 6:40, then 7:30, ugh... can't a guy get his beauty rest?
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teddyballgame wrote: It was real real bad this morning... 6:00, then 6:40, then 7:30, ugh... can't a guy get his beauty rest?
Honking's bad, but the neverending car alarm was worse. A few weekends ago, there was this car somewhere on St Johns that kept going and going and going for hours. I've never wanted to beat something with a brick so much in my life! :roll: -
Ugh... after a late night gig on Long Island last night I decided to spend the night at my parents house so I could get a full night's sleep without the honking- only to be woken up at 8:15 (on a saturday morning!) by an automated dialer call from the town saying to be prepared for a snowstorm... thanks, misspent tax dollars!
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