Intrusive Security Lighting

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grimwulf

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#240880 1-Oct-2018 09:30

Hey folks - looking for some advice as my Google-fu is severely lacking in this area.

So our neighbour just erected some new security lights for their driveway - 4x of them, blindingly bright LEDs that shine directly on our property's frontage. In addition, they've clearly not set them up properly as every time the wind blows, their tree moves and these lights come on a-blazing.

Went to have a chat with them about it last night - and was basically told to mind my own business (in rather more vulgar language that I won't repeat here).

Have been searching in vain this morning for an applicable Wellington council bylaw or aspect of the building code that covers this and I'm clearly missing something...

Could anyone point me to some useful info as to what our rights are in this situation please?

For now I'm resisting my immediate urge to tit-for-tat with the rather powerful floodlight I have in my garage.

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#2099128 1-Oct-2018 09:41

Contact CAB, they'll point you in the right direction.

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michaelmurfy

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#2099131 1-Oct-2018 09:48

Not helpful but for a chuckle: http://www.27bslash6.com/halogen.html

Edit: May actually be helpful but won't get you on good terms with your neighbours.

I'd like to know what can actually be done here too.

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mdf

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#2099135 1-Oct-2018 09:53

Law of nuisance - "causing a substantial and unreasonable interference with [your] use or enjoyment of [your] land". The Council can issue an abatement notice for some (but not all) nuisance situations. Having just checked WCC's website, they don't seem to have a separate channel for non-noise complaints, so I'd start with the noise complaints area. It will be the same enforcement officers. Unfortunately if you don't get any joy from the council, the Disputes Tribunal is probably your next best option.

I really don't get how some people think it's okay to behave like this. It's not like your house is suddenly going to be somewhere else. I've had one particularly bad neighbour and it can totally affect your quality of life. It was a happy day when she moved away!

gcorgnet

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#2099169 1-Oct-2018 09:57

This comes to mind: http://www.27bslash6.com/halogen.html

EDIT: Damn, someone beat me to it :-)

Dratsab

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#2099243 1-Oct-2018 10:59

michaelmurfy:

Not helpful but for a chuckle: http://www.27bslash6.com/halogen.html

Edit: May actually be helpful but won't get you on good terms with your neighbours.

I'd like to know what can actually be done here too.

To be fair, from the original post it sounds like the neighbours have deemed being on good terms as a non-starter. Maybe there's a bit of history, or maybe they're just ***** like the people a couple of doors down from me...

Edit: good luck with getting it sorted @grimwulf, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread as I'm interested in seeing if/how it gets resolved. What part of the country are you in?

Aredwood

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#2099250 1-Oct-2018 11:08

Are you on a cross lease with that neighbour? Read the cross lease terms if so. As they often have a section to do with causing a nuisance.

Otherwise an expensive court case under the resource management act.

Or just get that floodlight out.

Inphinity

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#2099262 1-Oct-2018 11:20

See if you can hire a swarm of giant moths? Sorry, maybe not as helpful as I hoped it might be ;)

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DarthKermit

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#2099278 1-Oct-2018 11:43

You need to erect some giant mirrors to return the neighbour's light back to them.

michaelmurfy

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#2099299 1-Oct-2018 12:18

Well to be honest 100w LED modules are very cheap from eBay. Personally, I'd just fire those up for a few nights directed at their house until they get the message.

Ge0rge

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#2099312 1-Oct-2018 12:48

Slingshot? (and no, not the isp)

ZollyMonsta

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#2099315 1-Oct-2018 12:52

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

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xpd

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#2099317 1-Oct-2018 12:58

Mothman FTW

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MikeB4

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#2099319 1-Oct-2018 13:03

Escallation is not something you should do in these situations as it can make life very unpleasant. Have a chat with the CAB and the Council and see what can be done.

neb

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#2099487 1-Oct-2018 15:19

DarthKermit:
You need to erect some giant mirrors to return the neighbour's light back to them.

More specifically, get a convex mirror, put in interruptor in front of it (e.g. a spinning fan), and focus it at their bedroom or somewhere similarly intrusive to them. That way every time their lights come on, they get a high-intensity strobe directed into their house. And since it's their own light (your contribution is purely passive), there's nothing they can legally do about it.

networkn

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#2099489 1-Oct-2018 15:23

See the above post about escalating.

Whilst it may be fun to talk about causing others misery if they are doing the same to you, it's rarely going to work out as well as you might hope.

There are legal avenues to take here and the OP should investigate those. It's very unlikely any good would come from retaliatory action.

You never know when you might need a neighbour.

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