Joe,
I was wondering what your thoughts are on the police efforts to patrol known college student neighborhoods and pass out noise violations and alcohol citations. I am a student who is graduating in May, and while I have been here I have received neither but know countless people who have. Do you think that the police efforts are well spent or that they should be spending more time patrolling areas with known criminal activity, instead of patrolling areas with easy targets, who don't carry weapons or have gang affiliations. Don't get me wrong, I understand the noise ordinance has a purpose, but it just seems to me there are much more important things to control than college students being loud in college neighborhoods. To me it seems like a safe, easy way for the Salisbury Police to bring money in, considering that the citations for a noise violation carry a $500.00 fine and are given to every person who resides in the house which receives a violation.
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33 comments:
Every crime deserves enforcement, and citizens deserve to have their complaints handled, however I think Salisbury should focus more on the violent crimes, gangs and the street thugs.
Obviousbly you're not familiar with the operation of a police department. Locally, we have sectors- this means during each shift, the officers patrol certain areas. Unless a call is dispatched to a particular officer, the officer can pick what he/she wants to do. My apologies that you feel like police officers target college students. One further comment: drug dealers and theifs do not stand out along the road advertising their activity so being at the right place at the right time to catch a bad guy can be challenging.
Noise ordinances were designed to maintain a certain quality of life in a neighborhood. This level was determined by representatives within the local government who where elected by the citizenry in legal elections. Enforcing laws as they relate to quality of life issues assure that these neighborhoods remain decent and livable. When these laws aren't enforced, the neighborhoods start to degrade from once stable neighborhoods to unsafe, undesirable locations within any city or town. They become what are known as "neighborhoods in transition". These neighborhoods start to become occupied by drug dealers, prostitutes, transients, and homeless undesirables. As people with the means find these neighborhoods unsatisfactory for the safety of their families, they sell the homes and move away. When there are many homes for sale in that area, it drives the value of these properties down. Often these properties will be purchased as rentals. Many people who rent (NOT ALL), do so because they cannot buy a home of their own, either due to irresponsible financial practices, including, but not limited to, no jobs. They still need money to pay rent so.....guess what they do.....right, sell dope. Now the people who are responsible and choose to rent becuase they don't want the responsibility of home ownership (not a bad thing, just a personal choice), won't live in that neighborhood because the increase in crime that always accompnies drug dealing is more than they are willing to endure and the have no financial ties to that neighborhood. So they move out leaving that home vacant - guess what? Drug dealers and other criminals.
So you see...a simple noise ordinance may not seem like a big deal when looking at the surface, but deep down, failing to address quality of life issues such as those will lead to larger problems 100 fold worse. Elders will tell you "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Listen up young folks - there are still lessons to learn.
You know "countless" other students who have received noise citations?
Give it a number and we'll think more about what you've written.
Do you have the same feeling about parking tickets for students?
What about the students being robbed when walking on Smith,Hazel,Ohio,Nayor,Streets.Are the police necessary?
People are making noise? People are having parties, enjoying themselves, sometimes getting loud?
OMG - we cannot have this!
Let's have our government employees confiscate some of their property. Take their money. Force them to behave.
Police don't just drive around looking for parties to bust. They come in response to neighbors in the "college neighborhoods" who have had enough of the noise for the night. Sorry about the fines, but there's usually at least one chance given by police to quiet down before the citation books come out.
If you don't like the noise ordinance, thank Barrie Tilghman, Gary Comegys, Shanie Shields and ex-chief Webster, who all pushed for it, and, in Webster's case, lied to the public about it so that it would pass.
Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen each voted against it... just so you know who it is that's really looking out for the neighborhoods.
It would be nice to think that a college student realizes, without being told, that they are being annoying PITA's. The noise may not bother you but would hope that even with a small amount of gray matter, it would dawn on you that there are other people in this world. Not to say that some of my actions, during my youth, were not a bit deplorable lol jackkcharl@aol.com
Good point 8:55 AM. I think they should be patrolling the neighborhoods with known drug/gang violence. This is a college town and noise comes with that fact, however, as young adults I think the college population can be a little more responsible so the police are not constantly on their case to tone it down. The crime in this town is rampant and police efforts need to be directed toward that and not the noisy college neighborhoods.
Good comment, Bob.
Maybe you would consider following the laws so the police can do their job against crime instead dealing with self centered youngsters.
To Bob at 9:30 a.m., THANK YOU!
Here's my story:
I don't live in Salisbury, but my mother does. She was kept up until 3 in the morning by the noise. Then she saw drunk students get in their cars and drive off.
Mom had it so bad with one crew a few years ago, her health suffered. Complaints would get it quiet for awhile, but then back at it.
I'm glad this student recognizes a need for the law. But he needs to spread the word to other students if wants police to work on bigger problems.
Bob's comment is so on target. A little thing can lead to really bad things.
The fines are supposed to make you obey the law, or penalize you if you don't. Be responsible.
Imagine how much better off everyone, including students, would be if they behaved and didn't take police away from bigger problems or peace away from their neighbors who were here long before they were.
Back when I lived in Salisbury, I knew plenty of nice students. I'm sure there are still those kids, but a rowdy portion of them have really hurt the city.
Spd often has overtime available for this, therefore the officers main mission for the night is to patrol college neighborhoods. This is so the officers assigned to work that shift can patrol the drug areas or what not and not have to respond to all the calls that come in about parties etc.
I agree with 9:50, but their comment about Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen doesn't sound right.
Campbell and Cohen do care about the noise in the neighborhoods, but they recognized a bad law and a political ploy when they saw one.
I'll never forget the former Chief Webster going on and on about students at loud parties being disorderly and urinating on bushes.
Cohen asked if they were urinating loudly. (Funny!) In other words, Webster was trying to treat all noise violations as lumped in with other bad behaviors.
Where my cousin lives, they have a law against loud parties and disorderly houses, separate from the noise law. That might be something Salisbury should look at. My kid used to have his music up too loud and I'd have to remind him to turn it down. That's a lot different than a loud out of control party.
Go party somewhere else. And the citations are written cause you still have not learned.. next step is efvery party police will bring you to jail will you learn then . Go party on campus.. let the such police deal with u.
Funny how you are so critical of college students when their business along Route 13 probably keeps several places afloat.
Breaking the law is breaking the law. I can say without hesitation that many times it is another student who makes the complaint about a loud college party in a college housing complex because they can't sleep or study. It is not unreasonable to expect quiet enjoyment of ones own home no matter who the rowdy law-breaking neighbor is?
anonymous 10:45, Momma never taught you how to make your own samich?
Bob, please do not make such ridiculous accusations about people who pay rent. For the people who agree with him, we live in America. If you don't like what the people around you are doing, move out and pay rent somewhere else. The world does not revolve around you. If you cannot afford to move away, according to Bob, you are financially irresponsible. Anyone who thinks more laws solve social problems do not know the true meaning of freedom and should not vote. Boom, roasted. I am a college student who pays rent, I also have a job.
I agree with 11:56... I, like many people, am an honest, hard-working, law-abiding citizen who has often held two jobs and would never resort to "selling dope" or any other illegal activity. I choose to rent because I can't make a 30 year commitment to a house at this point in my life. If lawbreakers and thugs move into my neighborhood and start causing trouble, its not my responsibility to move away from them, its the POLICE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO GET RID OF THEM!!! I'm tired of innocent people becoming victims then being blamed for their predicament for being "financially irresponsible". Very few people are financially capable of moving on a whim, I would think more-so you holier than thou home-owners should understand that. Who's gonna buy your house in this market so you can move out to the quiet country?
Rob S
Well it would be one thing if the cops being used to patrol drug and gang areas were doing their job. Whereas the cops patrolling college party areas are doing their job, a job that is publically opposed by a majority. Mabye a switch is necessary? When they have the shooting and robbing aspect of crime more under control and you dont have frequent robberies of college students, then maybe more in depth patrols into parties would be worth it. I am a college student and a local of salisbury. Our cops dont have their priorities straight.
1st, I believe the student was referring to "college neighbors" such as the zoo where local residents do not live.
2nd, If you were a cop, would you rather patrol through violent neighborhoods with drug dealers, prostitutes, murders, robbers and gangs or... patrol through a college neighborhood with drunk college women and men who are weaponless and not threatening?
How about awarding the cops who are responsible for major arrest instead of noise citations.
FYI to the college anarchists, the money from the fines does not go to the police dept or even the city. The police would love to work on other areas of crime but that's hard to do when the phone is ringing off the hook in dispatch from people trying to sleep but can't because there is a house party with 200 people next door to them. The police can't simply tell them, sorry, we're only after drug dealers tonight.
Maybe if the college students would obey the laws then the police can go where there is violent crimes. It is wrong to put this on the shoulders of the police. Residents that live in the college area year round should have peace and quiet at night. So why don't you talk to your fellow students about acting like adults or better yet join the police department and you just might see that there is a little more to it then what you think.
I find it so ironic that Salisbury would look like Flint Michigan if it were not for the very college students the locals rail against...
sweet sweet irony.
Part of the reason I moved from Salisbury,certain neighborhoods in town its not just the cars but the houses vibrating too.Too bad they cant pick better music to blare.
Folks....I would politely ask some of you to work a little harder on your reading comprehension. For those who think I am jumping on the backs of all people who are renters, please read again paying particular attention to:
"Many people who rent (NOT ALL)........"
And ..."Now the people who are responsible and choose to rent becuase they don't want the responsibility of home ownership (not a bad thing, just a personal choice)......."
If i was a salisbury police officer making less than 30k a year i would be doing the same thing. They do not get paid enough to put their lives at risk dealing with serious and violent crime. It is easier to bust college kids and they are not going to shoot you.
I'm a full-time resident and I own a home in a college neighborhood. Since the noise ordinance within the city was put into action, quality of life has increased 100%. No one wants to put up with a bunch of yelling drunken students, their loud music and trash, not to mention parking in front of your house and starting up that car at 2 am. When I was in college, I never drank during the week and when I did, I went out to a bar.
2:07 PM
What an assinine statement.
2:35, there always was a noise ordinance. Webster just didn't enforce it.
Students who are here for 4 years who think everyone else should move if they don't like students screaming, blaring music, driving drunk, puking and peeing on lawns, throwing 2x4s through windows and setting couches on fire should go home and do it in Mommy and Daddy's neighborhood.
Stop talking about how you are saviors to the local economy. This town has gone way down hill since the university got big. That Rt. 13 you talk about is barely more than fast food and gas.
In short, grow up and get real.
Unfortunately, this wasn't written to raise hell between locals and students. It's already aware to us that you all feel more strongly about your animosity towards college students than the gang members floating south from ECI. If you are worried about property value decreasing, you are most likely not even living close to the areas that need patrolling because they're property value is already so low, college students could not bring it down more. This town did not start "getting bad" because of college students; this town started to "get bad" because of all the burglaries and robberies, none of which were committed by college students. The reason for this letter was to find out information about how the police patrol the town and what could be done to change it. Believe it or not, I'm more interested in why the children growing up in this town aren't able to find safety in the police. Why they aren't seeing the police as a presence on Hemlock, Church, or the place known as the Reservation. You all can bash on us college students now, however, the more the crime becomes a problem in this town eventually you will have to come to terms with the fact that, while obnoxious, our noise does not contribute to the gang, drug, prostitution activity in this town. And if you are so naive to think that college students are the biggest problem this town has, you are way too sheltered and need to open your eyes.
I am a former SU student and a resident of this area as well. I lived in a "party house" all throughout college and we rarely had encounters with the Salisbury police because we kept the noise level down, and did not leave trash and the remains of our party in the neighborhood, we respected our neighbors and cleaned up after ourselves. We had encoutered several people in our neighborhood, many of which who were okay with what we did as long as we didn't bother them and leave our trash lying around everywhere. This is a message for all people, get up off of your a** and make an effort towards cleaning up after yourselves. College students, unfortunately you are still going to encounter people who hate you just because you are college kids. It's going to happen, but don't give them a reason to hate you. Be a good neighbor and respect your own property and the properties surrounding you. And to the people of Salisbury who can't stand college students just because, give them a chance, you were young once too but it is apparently obvious that you forgot what it is like to have fun.
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