Parking lot a soccer field...noise disturbance?

[wforicv]

Is it legal for workers of a Mexican restaurant to enter the parking lot behind their business after closing hours (10:30 PM to 2:00AM) and play soccer? The parking lot is shared by several businesses and backs up to an apartment complex. Our residences are about 20 yards from where they scream, yell, cheer and bang/bounce the ball against the buildings and fence. This noise wakes up my children and prevents me from studying efficiently. I have called the police each time and make a noise complaint. I never know if this helps or if the game just ended (trees block my view of the parking lot). After calling, they usually quit an hour or so later (either police are slow to respond or the game just ended). Any advice on what I can do would help. A few months ago, I attempted to speak with the manager and let him know it was a disturbance and pointed out a public park with 3 soccer fields was within walking distance, but this did not help. Most of the workers do not speak English well or at all.

--a tired and frustrated graduate student and mother of 2 in Charleston, SC yearning for peace and quiet late at night

 

[wforicv]

Does this not break any laws?

 

[CdwJava]

It might break laws for disturbing the peace, but I suspect this is a rather minor offense and not a high priority. If the management refuses to cooperate, you might just consider calling the police every time they disturb you and ask the officers to contact you - at last that way you will know if they are responding.

In my state, if you call anonymously or do not wish to sign a complaint (i.e. make a citizen's arrest) then there is no crime. It might be the same there.

- Carl

 

[wforicv]

thanks

I appreciate your response! I realize this offense is not of high priority to the city but for my kids and my sanity it ranks pretty high. I would expect an officer to only respond if no emergencies were occurring.

Again thanks for responding. Hopefully after several calls, they will finally take the hint that it is inappropriate and walk to the 3 public soccer fields right down the road.

 

[CdwJava]

Depending on where you live, a response could be delayed. A busy large or middle sized city might find this call being put at the bottom of the burner for up to an hour. A small city with low call volume would still have it at the bottom, but a lack of other activity might allow for a response within a few minutes.