TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Some Tucson residents living near the University of Arizona say students in their neighborhood are getting too loud.
"About two years ago it started," said Nancy Regens, a 40 year residents of Rincon Heights.
Some might say residents should expect the noise if they live so close to a college, but Regens says it used to be much quieter in her neighborhood.
"The problems began developing when they had units with multiple bedrooms," she said.
Over the past few years, Regens says a few older homes have been torn down or remodeled in favor of larger ones that can house more students. It is those properties she says have become too loud.
"Loud music, the bass is just 'boom boom boom' to the point where the neighbors' dishes rattle, the windows rattle," Regens said.
She says they have called police in the past but they do not come immediately. If police find a loud party they can put a red tag on that house.
A red tag is a notice that goes on a property signifying there was an unruly gathering of more than five people there that disrupted nearby residents. The tag is often posted outside the property and comes with a $500 fine for the first offense. That fine increases if there is another incidents within 180 of the red tag being posted.
In 2015, the Tucson Police Department issued 341 notices for unruly gatherings in Tucson. In a month-to-month breakdown you will notice the majority of them happen during months when UA class is in session. June, July, and December have the fewest number of reports by far.
Councilman Steve Kozachik does not think enough has been done thus far.
"Those data paint one picture, the number of incidents show a completely different picture. And those incidents are the ones we're dealing with at the ward office from our constituents," he said.
According to the councilman, his ward office has received more calls about unruly behavior near campus than the number of red tags that have been handed out.
Kozachik and councilman Richard Fimbres brought their concerns to the attention of City Council this week during a study session. They invited landlords, Tucson Police, and the university to talk about this issue over the summer and prepare for students arriving in the fall.
Regens says three properties surrounding her home have received red tags for the unruly behavior.
"Every since they had the red tag, it's been much better," said Regens.
However, like Kozachik she is concerned about the process starting all over again in the fall.
"When we get a new group of people, are we going to start this all over again from scratch?" she asked.
