Blinded By The Light: What To Do About Light Pollution [Block Talk]
ACROSS AMERICA — Christine, a Pennsylvania Patch reader who asked what to do about her neighbor’s glaring security and work lights that shine into her home, has plenty of sympathy from those who answered our informal survey for Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column.
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Some readers advised getting blackout curtains or blinds, sleep masks and simply adjusting, while many others said a cordial conversation with the neighbor could resolve the problem.
Nashua (New Hampshire) Patch reader Mol tried all of that.
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When a new neighbor moved in and installed lights that shined right into bedroom windows, Mol waited for a week, took over a plate of fresh-baked cookies and welcomed them to the neighborhood “and kindly asked him if he could reposition his spotlights, as they were shining in our bedroom windows.”
So much for niceties.
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“He said, ‘Hell no, I got too many things for people to steal in my driveway, and besides, I want to be able to see ’em before I shoot at them,’ ” Mol said.
The neighbors didn’t speak for eight years, and “then police hauled him away in handcuffs.”
“Been dealing with it with our neighbors for years,” said Beth in Connecticut, who reads North Branford Patch, North Haven Patch and Branford Patch. “Their backyard floodlight shines right into my bedroom. We could make shadow puppets on the wall each night.”
Beth installed room-darkening blinds, but wonders why “they couldn’t at least have them on a sensor.”
“I have floods that are on motion sensors,” she said. “They go on when there is movement. I’m not lighting up the neighborhood all night long.”
M’Lynn, a Livermore (California) Patch reader, said she already could not “see a single star in the sky” because of her neighbor’s bright lights when installed two more that are “so bright you can’t look at them.”
“I have no need for a porch light on the side of my house,” M’Lynn said. Like Beth, she wondered, “Why can’t her lights be on a motion detector?”
It’s Light Trespassing
Several readers suggested getting local authorities involved to adopt and enforce light pollution ordinances. One of them was Jim, a Berkeley (New Jersey) Patch reader who is involved in The Astronomical Society of the Toms River Area, an organization that promotes dark skies in the state.
“Light trespassing is a private property rights issue,” Jim said.
Rather than single out a neighbor, Connecticut Patch reader Nattily Attired suggested getting all neighbors to sign onto a pledge with groups such as Lights Out Connecticut to turn off unnecessary lights during migratory bird season.
Hatboro-Horsham (Pennsylvania) Patch reader Kari also wants to see more defined light pollution codes.
“It’s one thing to have a light, but a spotlight is a whole other story,” Kari said. “It’s different if one lived on a farm with lots of property, but at a suburban home where houses can be closer together and smaller plots of land, it is not necessary and is inconsiderate of neighbors.”
“We call this ‘light trespassing,’ and yes, it is awful,” said Rockville Centre (New York) Patch reader Nimue.
“Many flowering garden specimens demand a day-night sequence, so now they cannot flower,” Nimue said. “Lighting so bright to elicit a confession. One would think that common sense would prevail — but no.”
“If your neighbor is using those lights all night long, they must be scared of crime,” said Lisa, who reads Wauwatosa (Wisconsin) Patch. “I would politely suggest they get some motion sensor lights.”
‘Stop Fearing The Dark’
Other readers argued bright lights aren’t an effective deterrent to crime.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Across America Patch reader Dave, who questions the effectiveness of outdoor lighting as a crime deterrent.
“No one should have to sleep with their neighbor’s lights in the bedrooms at night. It’s not healthy or neighborly,” Dave said. “Nuisance lighting needs to be regulated. Light trespass needs to be regulated. Use motion sensors and timers. Use low-color temperature LEDs. Use fully shielded fixtures,” Dave said. “Stop fearing the dark.”
“There is no clear scientific evidence that increased outdoor lighting deters crimes, Old Town Alexandria (Virginia) Patch reader Barbara wrote, citing DarkSky.com. “It may make us feel safer, but it has not been shown to make us safer.”
She added, “It seems most property crime occurs during the light of day, and it disrupts local wildlife, migrating birds.”
“From what I see on Ring Neighborhood reports, lighting doesn’t deter prowlers at all,” Haverford-Havertown Patch reader Mickey said. “Turn on your light if you actually need to see something or you’re going inside, and then turn it off again.
“Those floodlights are horrible,” Mickey continued. “Realize that even if your neighbors don’t say it, they hate your outdoor lights being on all night long.”
Also, Mickey said, “They attract water bugs, cockroaches and other little creatures.”
‘Fume In Silence’
How about doing nothing? Several readers said that is a good approach.
“Fume in silence,” said Dev, a Frankfort (Illinois) Patch reader. “It’s just rude, and I wonder how they’d react if someone did it to them” Dev said.
Cindy, a Greater Alexandria (Virginia) Patch reader, took an understanding approach and got light-blocking window treatments. “If the neighbor is living alone, they probably do that for safety reasons.”
Jo, who reads Sarasota (Florida) Patch, removed landscape lights at the back of her house when a neighbor across the lake complained they were shining into her house — “which was impossible as they were low voltage with a cover on them,” Jo said.
She polled her neighbors and none of them seemed to be bothered by the lights.
“Nonetheless, I took down the lights as it was a concern to the new neighbor, who was crabby and nasty in her approach,” Jo said. “Then she decided she didn’t like the neighborhood and moved out 6 months later. I never reinstalled the lights.”
Neighbor Squabbles Are Never Fun
“Attitude is everything,” said JMC in Massachusetts, who reads Shrewsbury Patch, Holden Patch and Worcester Patch.
“If you confront neighbors in a hostile manner and make threats, it never goes well (that’s why Judge Judy is so popular),” JMC said. “If you focus on problem-solving, and try to see their point of view, it’s much more productive.”
It’s a good idea to know if local ordinances address exterior lighting before approaching the neighbor.
“I would approach the neighbor in the spirit of partnership, sharing any information in a cooperative manner,” JMC said. “If other neighbors are also being affected, I would get them to join in, there is strength in numbers.”
“A neighbor versus neighbor squabble is never fun to live around,” agreed fellow Floridian Winnie, who reads Tampa Patch, Bradenton Patch and Sarasota Patch. “You have to be respectful of your neighbors.”
There’s also strength in numbers. Winnie’s neighbor installed bright LED security lights “got to be a little too much.” When a few other neighbors raised the issue as well, the neighbor turned off the bright lights.
“I now have room-darkening shades plus room-darkening curtains in my bedroom. I sleep really well now, and it saves me from confronting the neighbor across the street who I hardly know,” Freehold (New Jersey) Patch reader said.
Dallas-Hiram (Georgia) Patch reader Carol installed blackout curtains to avoid talking to her neighbors about their “very bright” lights — eight on the front of the house and five more in front of their garage.
“They are not the type of people that you can talk to,” Carol said. “Makes you wonder what they are afraid of that they have to have all those bright lights.”
And then there’s Mo, a Royal Oak (Michigan) Patch reader mulling more drastic action.
“I haven’t done anything yet, but am considering unscrewing the bulb on the one that shines right into my daughter’s window as well as two other windows,” Mo said. “They are the extremely bright kind.”
About Block Talk
Block Talk is an exclusive Patch series on neighborhood etiquette — and readers provide the answers. If you have a topic you’d like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with “Block Talk” as the subject line.
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