5 Ways to Avoid a Ticket Due to Noise Complaints in Fort Collins
Ever been out at an absolute rager of a party and just as it hits its peak, the cops roll it?
Ever been the host of said rager that gets slapped with a five-hundred dollar ticket, when all you wanted to do was be a good host?
Ever been under 21, leaving said rager and gotten hit with a Minor in Possession (MIP) charge; even though you explained to the officer that you have never drank before and it is your friends alcohol?
If you live in Fort Collins and don’t spend every weekend at home, odds are you or a friend answered yes to at least one of the above questions. The fact is, cops are not out to get you and there are plenty of ways to avoid getting these tickets while still having a good time.
Noise complaints do not just happen, there is a process. Someone, most likely a neighbor, calls into a hotline to complain about your noise level. An officer then goes to inspect the noise and if they deem it too loud, then you become the proud owner of a ticket and a date in court.
Easiest way to avoid being too loud: don’t be too loud. Put the music on and go outside your house. If it sounds like Drake is playing a personal concert in your house, it is probably too loud.
Yes, I realize it makes no sense. Tell the police about your party, so the police don’t show up at your party. But, it actually works!
The entire process of getting a noise complaint changes. Instead of having a police officer show up at your house when you receive a complaint, you will get a personal phone call and will be kindly asked to quite down. If you receive another complain, you will get another call and be kindly asked to shut the party down and be notified that the cops will arrive no sooner than 20 minutes from the end of that call.
So, you pick: ticket or friendly phone calls.
3. Have a Relationship with Your Neighbors
If you really want to avoid noise complaints, then ensure no one will be making a phone call to turn you in. In other words, talk to your neighbors.
Have you ever walked around Fort Collins? Everyone here is nice! If you build a relationship with the people around you, then odds are they will be willing to call you instead of the cops when you get too loud.
This is as easy as knocking on every front door and saying hello. And if you really want to avoid the ticket, invite them to the party! Who knows, maybe they have been calling the cops out of pure spite!
4. If the Cops Do Show Up, Get the Most Sober Homeowner to the Door
Everyone should at some point have to be the responsible one who takes care of all the drunken idiots and to be honest it can be somewhat entertaining. But, imagine doing that every night.
That is what the cops deal with on a regular basis come night time in Fort Collins. Slurring your words, making dumb comments, and arguing with the officer standing at your front door is a one way ticket to being five-hundred dollars poorer.
Will they let you off just because you are sober and not an ass? No. But you have a lot better chance!
So, the noise was too loud, the party wasn’t registered and the cops are sending everyone home. DO NOT BE AN IDIOT!
If you are not 21 and the cops catch you with alcohol you are going to get an MIP. The last three dollars of your Mango Burnetts is not worth risking a ticket and the potential to spend a night in jail.
Chug down whatever you can manage, say goodbye to what you cannot and kindly thank the officer who obviously has no appreciation for bangers.