Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

that was the day my dead pet returned to save my life!

As a semi-active participant in community improvement for communities in/near bad neighborhoods, I think I speak with athority on this one. The above, well-described behavior is typical of cities that have a slum/drug/illicit activities problem(s). The honk rather than ring bell or park was initially a behavior developed to make drug drops quickly and efficiently. Parking or using a doorbell takes more time and leaves you more vulnerable as to the nature of the illicit activities - hence too much of a potential cost (police/community arrest) versus benefit (uninterrupted continuation of the ilicit business). As an upstanding citizen, Glen has the reverse - cost (noise/annoying community member/creating traffic problems/risk of car or personal damage) versus benefit (small savings in time).

Once the ilicit/drug culture or businesses have taken hold, the learned behavior is retained and utilized at other times - and at less cost since annoyed neighbors and potantial damage are no threat to a disfunctional community member. Then others who are not part of the business (or at least not directly) will copy the behavior because it is what is expected and/or it is what the more successful (money/car/"prestige"/time) community members do. The ilicit businessmen/disfunctional community members will encourage this behavior because it camouflages their own ilicit activities.

Solution (I've seen this in action): Community members and police cooperate to investigate any individual who honks their horn rather than use the doorbell or who parks inappropriately. Use direct language and everyone follows the same protocol as outlined in connunity newsletter. All the neutral to upstanding members read and notice and go out to confront the honkers (if they know who they are) and ask them what they are doing. Explain that this is drug culture behavior and that the community organization and police have agreed that the behaviors will stop in order to improve the community (make it safer/drive out the crack houses/etc.). If you don't know them call the police, give them a description of the car or it's liscence plate and launch a complaint.

Having lived in Baltimore - I doubt this would happen anywhere but in Gilford or maybe North somewhere near Towson or West near Columbia. I think the police have too much to do to participate in a program like this and the drug thugs are smarter and more dangerous. SO I think the most you can do is tell your neighbors that it's annoying and is a sign of a drug drop and ask them not to do it (if you see them doing it) or just have an agreement with them that this is unacceptable behavior and maybe they will repeat the behavior (tell another person that it's drug drop behavior and people are calling the police, etc.) and eventually it may reach the ears of the offenders that people think they deal drugs because of that behavior and some people are probably calling the police to tell them that. It worked in Peoria - will it play in Baltimore?

Ru