CENTER — Concerns relating to disputes with a neighbor (or neighbors) certainly keep San Luis Valley police department & sheriff’s office peace officers quite busy. Oh yes, this is certainly part of police work; however, such calls for service are manpower intensive.  

Such complaints initiate with our great Communications Center dispatching an Officer who starts the process by interviewing a citizen concerned (angry) with his/her neighbor, resulting in a report being prepared, and at times resulting in a citation issued to the neighbor. Many times both neighbors continue to call for an Officer alleging that the other neighbor is really the instigator: this gets complicated. Many times (to keep the peace within a neighborhood) I have asked the aggrieved neighbors to meet with me and my key staff  at the police department in an attempt to resolve the “feud.”  

For many decades my various agency file cabinets were loaded with numerous neighbor complaint files; however, I must mention that once they do show up at my office the success rate is superb in that at least 75% or more are resolved and the neighbors remain on acceptable terms. Unfortunately there are those cases that have resulted in an arrest or citations issued (e.g., for trespassing, loud music, etc.) and others where one of the neighbors was so fed up that they packed up their belongings and moved: which was the best (safest and least stressful) option in some cases.

I have experienced really unique neighbor disputes that have included: cats scratching the paint on the next door neighbor’s new car, grass clippings and small twigs being left on one’s property (two inches into the other’s property), a dog (in a back yard) barking at all hours, loud mufflers from a car in the driveway, blocking a sidewalk with a vehicle, and the list goes on and on. Not to say that these concerns are not irritating; however, I hope this article will provide some insight into how to methodically remedy/fix such concerns before they result in violence or an unsafe family situation.

An Internet article authored by attorney Betty Wang entitled “Top 5 Neighbor Disputes and How to Resolve Them” listed some interesting facets of these disputes in that “. . . 42% of Americans say they've been involved in a dispute with their neighbors.”  “Additionally, while most neighborly arguments don't turn into Hatfield v. McCoy-type feuds, they can still be difficult to deal with. Some can even land you in court.” 

The article further mentions that most disputes are often triggered by:

1. Noise (48% of all disputes). Whether it be from raucous late-night parties or maybe different sleep schedules that result in one neighbor waking up the other, noise is apparently the No. 1 way to annoy your neighbor.

2. Pets and animals (29%). Pets and animals can be tricky to deal with directly, since it is the animal that is causing the problem and not the owner. But many times the issue stems from the owner's failure to properly handle or train his animal.

3. Children's behavior (21%). Much like pets, children running onto your property, being loud, or defacing your property can often be the result of their parents -- i.e., your adult neighbors -- not properly looking after them. State laws may even hold the kids' parents liable for damages. 

4. A visual nuisance, the property's appearance, trash, etc. (18%). Many eyesores, such as unkempt lawns, offensive signs, or overflowing trash cans can lead to ill will between neighbors. 

5. Property boundaries (17%). In these types of disputes, neighbors often have misconceptions about where their property begins and ends.

I concur with the article relating to how to resolve a dispute which should first involve going directly to the source:  

1. 49% of disputes involve meeting with the neighbor creating the concern to discuss the concerns.

2. 27% result in contacting the police department (which may not work as most issues are not criminal in nature).

3. 11% result in sending a letter or email to the neighbor outlining the concern: an experienced lawyer can help with the wording of your letter if the issue is particularly sensitive and hopefully get you to a quick resolution.

4. Finally, if all the above does not work and it is not a criminal matter, seeking the services of a civil attorney. (This is a good solution; however, it comes with a cost and is time consuming.).

Final outcome: Just remember, once the attempt to resolve a dispute evolves beyond meeting personally with the neighbor, and invoking all the other listed remedies, experience has indicated to me that a “line in the sand has been drawn” which unfortunately results in a never-ending immense level of tension and strife between such neighbors. 

Advice: Consequently, when the cookouts, having a “brew” together, and the “good mornings” are generally placed into a “never-never land,” perhaps that house with the white picket fence, in a country setting, is the solution.