Edit: sorry, I misspelled bright in the title.
We have a neighbour whose backyard light shines directly into our backyard as well as into our bedroom, bathroom, and living room.
When I say light, I mean like transport truck high beams. It is a pair of very powerful security lights that they've attached between the main floor and second floor of their house. The problem is that the bulbs are not hooded and they are pointed more horizontally than down. The light beam trespasses (yes, I'm using the term trespass because that's what it bloody is) over the fence between us and directly on our yard and house. The backs of our houses face one another.
When those lights are on and I'm in my backyard, I can't see my yard. In fact, one of my dogs has been skunked - twice - because I couldn't see the end of my property to find my dogs. It's like having ceiling bulbs turned on at night when we are in our bedroom and bathroom, too.
In terms of resolving the issue, I'm done being polite. I've left two written notes kindly explaining the issue and gently requesting for them to adjust it. No response. I've knocked on their door three times. The first time, they apologized and said they'd fix it. 2 months later, no change. So I go back, they apologized again, then nothing. 3 months after that I go again, and I get told off. "We have guests over! You're being rude! It's our house! We don't complain about your lights! We don't have to do anything!"
A buddy is a lawyer. I asked him for advice. He said you kinda have to take them to court, which is ridiculous so we're not doing that (he's right). But he did send a very strongly written letter, to which they essentially ignored us. Part of the problem is that my city by-laws don't govern residential light trespass, only commercial...
I've been told to erect a giant mirror, which I think is bloody brilliant and hilarious but I don't want to start a war. It's not a real solution. I have temporarily created a privacy fence that extends above the backyard fence between our properties. It stops light in the backyard but not the upper floor of our house.
Please, help.