Do I Have a Case? What Should I Do?

Updated on June 17, 2007
A.C. asks from Tampa, FL
5 answers

Hi Ladies,

I have used mamasource for a while now and you all have been fantastic. I usually have questions concerning my daugther (14months already!), however, I now have a a different kind of problem. It is serious and no one (authority) seems to care enough to take any kind of action. I live in a new development behind a "fun station" for kids. I just moved here a couple of months ago with my husband and little girl and we thought it would be great having somewhere she could go play so close.....boy were we wrong. Every Friday and Saturday night the place is opened until 10/11 pm (a kids place!). It is ALWAYS incredably loud (from kids not music). About once or twice a month a fight occurs and the cops come. This usually lasts about an hour or two (flashing lights through my window, sirens, kids yelling, etc.). When the cops come to break up the fight the kids run/walk down the back street (my backyrad runs along the road). They throw things towards my house, they are exteremely loud, the cars race out of the parking lot and down my street at extremely high speeds, and yesterday it was so bad that they were spinning their cars out onto the grass beyond my backyard fence (this goes on all the time...all night till about 12am). The speeding alone is going to get someone killed. Last time I saw tons of cars going about 75/80 (the speed limit is 30). Right after the cars passed a kid layed down in the road to show off or something...i don't even know. It is out of control!!! I'm going to start video taping these things....if someone saw the things me and my husband have seen, I don't see how anyone could ignore this. I've called the sheriffs office last nite and no one came out. By the time i went to call back things started to settle down. How do I go about this? for the safety of my child and the other children who are involved, and just inocent bystanders. It's no longer about the noise or disturbance but the kids lives. If it continues like this someone is going to get hurt or killed, there is no doubt in my mind. I've been willing to put up with alot. I'm not all that old, but I've seen alot in my day, so I'm not being irrational or exagerating...it's got to stop. Anyone with any kind of legal expertise or advice...pleeeaassee HELP?

p.s. I know some were wondering...i live in clearwater. the place is celebration station and it's police are clearwater police.

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So What Happened?

thanks you sooo much! i was begining to think i was crazy for caring since no one else did. Unfortunately, I had to write another (not so nice) letter from myself and some neighbors to the business and i guess it is true what they say....strength in numbers. This time the establishment was concerned about me actually being serious because they "generate a lot of revenue", unfortunately the concern for the safety of the children was absent from the statement. Anyway, as long as they SAY they are going to finally do something I'm okay until I see whether it happens or not. I will continue to video for safety concerns until all settles. and if promises fall through the news idea seems fantastic! I just want our kids safe...thanks for everything!!! :-)

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.L.

answers from Tampa on

A.,

You don't say where you live, so I'm not sure if this will work for you. I live in Hillsborough County, and we called the sherriff's department to ask if there's anything we can do about chronic speeding on our very narrow road. They immediately sent out a community service officer to check out the situation. He saw the problem and was eager to help. He has arranged to have more speed limit signs posted, and to personally visit anyone who speeds frequently. You may make some progress if your town has a community service officer. We were very impressed!
Good luck,
J.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

F.S.

answers from Tampa on

A.,

I can only guess at your frustration!! I would be completly unimpressed as well! Im not sure what you can do legally but I would go with the video idea.

Record what you can and take it to the TV stations and to the county and demand some kind of response. Once things become public knowledge the law has a way of getting involved.

Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from Tampa on

A. C
Hi and How are you? First of all I understand you completey and would not my home surrounded by this type of non-sense, Second of all i could really give you a big spill about what i think!!!!
But short and sweet is what i will make it =) I would have the police to my door each and everytime this happens....this is the only way something will get done because after so many calls and reports they bring it to boards attention and something will be done! the next thing on top of that you can do is write a letter or go have a interview with the owner of this Kids center! This is Totally Non-sense....I back you up 100% good luck sweetie
M.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from Tampa on

You definitely do have a case. What you should do is call your city hall and ask to talk to code enforcement. Tell code enforcement the problems you are having ... I am sure the business is breaking local codes. Also, ask your neighbors ... if any of your neighbors are having the same problem, have them call also. If code enforcement isn't helpful, then type up a letter and send it to your city commission. Have all your neighbors do the same thing ... or you can all sign the same letter. I live in Oldsmar and there's a business nearby that's been getting alot of complaints. When they complained to the city commission, suddenly code enforcement was all over the business and now the problem has been resolved.

PS That's great that your letter to the business has helped. Keep a copy of it, and make notes about who at the business you talked to and what their response was. This will be extremely helpful in case they don't honor their promises to you ... you can show that you have tried to work directly with the business.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from Tampa on

Yup...it's only fun until someone gets hurt (and it's not hysterical then, either.) Be a squeaky wheel; my husband and I had a problem that we brought to the attention of one of the TV channels; within ONE HOUR we had cooperation from the party that was literally giving us fits!! Get some of their reporters on the job of making people aware of dangerous situations. Keep calling BOTH departments and get support from your neighbors...there's power in numbers. Also, has anybody actually called Celebration Station? A signed petition from residents might be a good idea. I'm betting that if more parents were aware that this place isn't all about safety for their young ones, they might not be so happy to spend their money there. It's possible that Celebration might see their neighborly responsibility in a different light if their business suffers from bad publicity.

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