I guess I'd have to go to prison..what about you?

NCWayne

Well-known Member
I just read several articles that show just how ridiculous things have gotten now days. It looks like this lady has somehow gotten under the skins of the local leaders and didn't keep her yard as nice as they'd like. Oh, yes, she's also been cited several times in 12 years, so she is a habitual offender...... So, this time she was given a 5 day jail sentence for her messy yard. Granted, according to the article (and there are quite a few from different sources) it was reduced to 6 hours, but to me it's still ridiculous.

The way I see it, that's simply 6 hours she could have had to work on the yard, to make it as pretty as they want it, that they took from her.

I guess with all of the stuff I've got laying around these folks would throw me under one of the maximum security prisons if I didn't clean up to suit them....

I don't know about ya'll, but with all of the real crime we've got now days I think they need to take the judge in this case and throw him as far from the bench as they can possibly throw him. I mean even the thought of sending someone to jail, over what someone else considers a messy yard, is about as stupid of a move as I think an official could ever pull. Anyone that stupid doesn't need to be in any position of power. In fact that level of stupidity makes me wonder how he even had the brains to stand, and walk erect, much less become a judge...... But that's just my .02....
Poke here
 
People who tend to mind their own business and don't want to others sticking their nose in their business don't very often get involved in politics and the law though. They just get as far away from society as they can. Be it physically far away or mentally.
 
I own(ed) a piece of rental property (2 bedroom, 1 bath home) in a local city.

I got tired of dealing with renters not paying rent, damaging home, etc... So I left it vacant.

I went in to check on the house. The house was gone! The lot dozed.

Find out later the city has an ordinance that if the water is turned of from a home for more than 30 days they condemn home then demolish it, quickly.

I had no notice sent to me from the city.
 
Federal Judge Ritter from Utah at his death had the record of sending over 400 prosecution witness and prosecutors to the federal detention cells for contempt of court, about 200 defense lawyers and witness's--and had the shortest case backlog of any federal court in the US, least amount of contempt citations overruled by appeals courts. RN
 
Sounds to me like she was given more than enough warnings to clean the place up. If you're going to live in a city, then plan on complying with the city ordinances. If you don't like them, work to have them changed or move.

I don't think the 6 hours she wasted sitting in jail were going to be spent cleaning up her property so maybe she got the message.
 
Sort of reminded me of a recent incident with Homeless people that were required to move their place of residents, I think they were living under an overpass.
They were warned that if they didn't leave, they would be arrested and jailed???
Now don't that make a lot of sense, feed them and give the a place to stay?? Even bet they would have a TV!!!
 
I dunno, I kinda subscribe to the "broken window" theory of societal degeneration. It's a shame that the aesthetic of a neighborhood is established not by the nicest, neatest residence, but by the one belonging to the biggest slob. Individual rights ideally should be paired with individual responsibility regarding commonly accepted standards and values.
 
Wayne you seem like a pretty good guy but I been somewhat on the other side of this issue.Do you want people coming to your town and the first thing they see is delapitated houses and junk cars on the lawn??? We had a collective horder that blocked 1/2 of a road and the state/town had to clean it up. Do you want to build a $400,000 dollar house and have a ghetto start up next door and your property is only worth $200k??? some rules are necessary.
 
everyone and everything has its place, so people should chose a neighborhood to suit them, and the neat could be with the neat and the not so neat be with there own kind.simple
 
Personally if they paid for their own property, so be it. Maybe people should be busy looking at their own lawns rather than others. But it's why I moved out of the city. Personally, I like old machinery, even sitting in someone's backyard. One person's junk is another's treasure.

For me, having to live somewhere where I can't work on my car in the driveway or have to mow my lawn every Friday is a negative or face fine is not a positive and drops the property value for me. You couldn't pay me to live there and if given the house, I'd sell it.

But I am also content with different people having different areas to live in. If someone desires to live in an addition of house clones with a covenant, so be it, but don't expect me to support such ideas in my own area.
 
I subscribe to the mentality that you do what you want on your property and leave me and my property the hell alone. Why neighbors get their tidy white's in a knot about their neighbors house really gets to me. The pictures of the front of that house did not look that bad, as for the back yard, well, who cares, that is not even visible from the street. Overgrown trees and one parked vehicle is not like the yard of a hoarder, when there is obvious piles of garbage piled, I agree something has to be done, if someone choses to live "organically" so what, that is thier choice.
 
This is a picture of a "building" next to my place. When I bought my place, every spring the guy would go out and burn off the weeds between small drives he had through everything. One spring he said to me "I don't know what to do with that, maby I should tear it down". I told him I could tell him what to do with it. He said, "What, throw a match in it?" I said "Yep", he never burnt anymore or said anything about it again.
a171671.jpg
 
You have no say in the matter if someone moves in next to you and fills the yard with junk. Then your house is suddenly worth HALF of what it was before because you live in an "undesirable" neighborhood.

Good, bad, or indifferent, that's what will happen. You are not going to change the way people think.

Would you be willing to take that financial hit in the name of "freedom?" My guess is that money talks to you every bit as loudly as anyone, and you will be looking to your politicians to "throw the book" at your messy neighbor.
 
People like him will never change. There was a junk pile on the back of my place when I bought it, I told him for years I would like to get rid of it. Finally had a friend come over and take the scrap, bury the rest. Neighbor told everyone he was going to call the county on me for having the rest burying it. Havn't talked to him since.
Don't bother me, I don't bother him.
 
Don't judge the Judge too hard as he is bound by the laws passed by the town board, and he has to comply with the specified penalties.
 
The reason I would rather live in a chicken coop and pick crap with the chickens rather than live in town.

I lived in town for one year when first married and we had a neighbor that would knock on the door and tell me I had parked to close to the side walk. What ever time of day it was if you didn't go move your car an inch or two the cops would knock on the door and say they had a complaint and I needed to move my car back an inch or two. If you were to far in the street it was the same thing. We had to angle park to make room for everyone in the apartments.
I don't care if the neighbors build a out house in the front yard and use it.
 
I guess since I have no intention of selling my
place, I would be happy if a neighbor made my
place worth half, then at least my fricking taxes
would go down right? If it is only worth half,
should only be taxed on half. I hear that
argument about property value all the time, who
really cares other than those that either want to
sell immediately, or ones that like paying way too
much in taxes.
 
(quoted from post at 20:55:28 10/16/14) You have no say in the matter if someone moves in next to you and fills the yard with junk. Then your house is suddenly worth HALF of what it was before because you live in an "undesirable" neighborhood.

Good, bad, or indifferent, that's what will happen. You are not going to change the way people think.

Would you be willing to take that financial hit in the name of "freedom?" My guess is that money talks to you every bit as loudly as anyone, and you will be looking to your politicians to "throw the book" at your messy neighbor.

And if someone moved in next to me and through litigation "made" me match his idea of "beauty" by getting rid of my "junk tractors and equipment" my property would be worth less than half to me. I have no intention of selling my land and it's a home, not a part of my financial portfolio. It's not purchasable with money.

Undesirable is matter of opinion. The old shack in the picture above is picturesque to me, not an eyesore.
 
Well.....If it was me being thrown in jail I would accidently bang my head on the bars then sue them for the bars being made out of steel instead of silly putty. That would make then think twice about locking me up for something as dumb as this.


I have a POS neighbor that told me that my home and landscaping was not as good as it should be.......I looked right at him and told him "Don't ever cut down one of my trees" (all wooded acreage lot by the way) I gave him the look of death when I said it too. This guy cut down almost all his trees so he could have grass to mow.......WTF?
 
There has been friction between us and one of our Dallas neighbors for nearly 20 yrs.

Although he's a renter and doesn't own anything, he has always behaved like the right of ways between the street and the fence line were part of his rented property regardless of which side of the street. The right of ways can't be used for personal use.

This year, he got in a real snit when I fenced off the right of way on my side of the street with t-posts and STRING to keep someone (guess who) from mowing the bluebonnets down.

He filed a complaint with code enforcement that the fence (remember, made with string) was hazardous. Children riding their bicycles could get hurt (real joke, no children in our neighborhood). But it was a violation, so I did have to take it down eventually.

He filed another complaint later in the year because the weeds in the right of way had gotten tall. The owner of the land next to the right of way is responsible for maintaining (mowing) the right of way.

Since James and I were very visible in the installation of security cameras on the barn which covered the right of way, we haven't had any more trouble. Although he did call the cops about it, there's nothing he can do. I have a right to protect my property.
 
(quoted from post at 17:38:54 10/16/14) There has been friction between us and one of our Dallas neighbors for nearly 20 yrs.

Although he's a renter and doesn't own anything, he has always behaved like the right of ways between the street and the fence line were part of his rented property regardless of which side of the street. The right of ways can't be used for personal use.

This year, he got in a real snit when I fenced off the right of way on my side of the street with t-posts and STRING to keep someone (guess who) from mowing the bluebonnets down.

He filed a complaint with code enforcement that the fence (remember, made with string) was hazardous. Children riding their bicycles could get hurt (real joke, no children in our neighborhood). But it was a violation, so I did have to take it down eventually.

He filed another complaint later in the year because the weeds in the right of way had gotten tall. The owner of the land next to the right of way is responsible for maintaining (mowing) the right of way.

Since James and I were very visible in the installation of security cameras on the barn which covered the right of way, we haven't had any more trouble. Although he did call the cops about it, there's nothing he can do. I have a right to protect my property.
est thing about county vs city. But.... With the people in power that want to CONTROL everyone else to their liking, the Feds have made grants to our small county to pay for an "environmental officer" and the sob prowls everywhere & has made farmers get rid of non-operable equipment! Spare parts! It is getting bad folks! At least I have enough acreage that they need to fly over to see my 'stuff'. :cry:
 
If you live in an area with an HOA, they will fine you if the yard gets too messy. If you don't pay the fine, the amount is added to the HOA fee. If you don't pay your HOA fee they can file a lein or eventually take legal action to seize the property.

In some areas, the local governing board will hire a contractor to clean up the mess and put the bill on your taxes. If your doon't pay your taxes, the county can sell your property at auction.
 
(quoted from post at 22:50:58 10/16/14) If you live in an area with an HOA, they will fine you if the yard gets too messy. If you don't pay the fine, the amount is added to the HOA fee. If you don't pay your HOA fee they can file a lein or eventually take legal action to seize the property.

In some areas, the local governing board will hire a contractor to clean up the mess and put the bill on your taxes. If your doon't pay your taxes, the county can sell your property at auction.

We've had to fight such laws locally. It's a dangerous thing to take root. Fortunately the horrid economy has cooled a lot of this.
 

Laws are passed, laws are obeyed until they get changed. Repeated violation of laws results in consequences. Most people learn this at an early age from their parents. Some need help from the judicial system to figure it out. It is very basic civilization.
 
A local fellow who lived in a development of nice new houses had such a messy yard, and had been cited so many times, the city went in with a bucket loader and a couple of dump trucks to clean the place up. The truck drivers kept their windows shut because there were snakes dropping out of the bucket on the loader.

If you lived in a rather new house next to that mess, how would you feel? What did it do to the values of the surrounding properties?
 
Wow. Now I live in MA, which has the reputation of being a high tax, tree-hugging socialist haven, where them darn lefties tell you what to do and what not to do, how to live and so on. Well let me assure you, there's not a person in my town (except maybe me), private citizen or government official who gives a rat's a$$ if there are branches "growing into my porch".

And so I read these stories from the "free states" about fining people and sending people to jail 'cause they don't mow their lawn and I just shake my head.

Now there are some places around here that have a HOA or the like, and if you buy in those spots you know the rules going in - don't like it, don't buy there. But in the vast majority of this state, and most of NE I think, if someone stopped came in your yard and told you to mow your lawn or trim your hedges they'd get shown the way to the street in a hurry, with a quick lesson of "Mind your own d**m business…"
 
I say do what you want on your own property. If you don't mind being thought of as "white trash" then bless your heart dump whatever you want out there. I will defend your right to be what ever you want. LOL
 
Junk vehicles setting for years lawn needing cut and trees trimmed --maybe??
But I have no sympathy for owners that allow lawns with garbage, pop and beer can, and such scattered around!!
One neighborhood near a friend, has these people on a road that goes to his subdivision.
I usually do as he does and go the long route.
A few days ago, I went through there and saw one of them setting on a porch and he throw a beer can in the yard, with other items.
I have no liking for people like this, and cannot understand their lifestyle!
 

If YOU built and moved in by this long-time resident, WHO are YOU to complain.?
He was there long before YOU showed up..
I hear it often.."Why do these guys run their equipment all night long, I can't sleep", or "Jerks holding up traffic"..
Screw them (and maybe YOU, too)..

Ron.
 
Where are the under employed lawyers when you need them? Seem some civil rights infringements can be argued or the owner could plead poverty and request the city reduce taxes so she can afford to comply with the court's orders. Don't get me wrong if you're a homeowner or even a renter I feel you do have some obligation to the neighbor's to keep your house and grounds in reasonable order. I suspect the real reason is she didn't vote for the right person and maybe even spoke out against them or refused to kiss the great hinney of the American Federation of Sate County and Municipal Workers (AFSCME) and subvert her personal beliefs to that of the great union deity (do you know they take "Union Vows"?).
 
You ever been past Gate 3? On the inside of Gate 3 if you aren't big, tough, and mean enough you will find yourself combing or braiding some other guy's hair. You don't want to find yourself in that position.

Mark
 
Sounds like people by us... There is an airport in town, a little private one. Lots of people built these huge house RIGHT next to the run way, probably only 100 yards away, and now they are trying to sue the air port because they make too much noise!!

Now, if the homes were there first, and then the airport showed up and "disturbed the peace" then, well, ok... BUT this place has been there for 40 years, and the homes are brand new!! THEY built the house there with full knowledge that they were right next to a potentially noise place, I am pretty sure that is their problem!!

Bryce
 
Around here, and in Wayne's area as well, $400,000 houses are only found in subdivisions which have very tight restrictions. The chances of someone moving into the neighborhood and beginning a trash pile are practically nil, or if not in a restricted neighborhood, it would be built on acreage of the size that the house would not likely be even close to another dwelling.
 
Well, Wayne, let's go fishing. Looks like you opened up a pretty good can of worms! I have always lived in a rural area, by choice. Until the last few years, you had a little more freedom there. I advocate keeping the immediate yard reasonably clean and trimmed, and try to do that. On occasion, it may be necessary to park equipment or a vehicle temporarily but I try not to leave it indefinitely. Now, behind the house, out of sight of the road, that's PRIVATE property, and my collection of lawn mowers and other implements is nobody's business. Unfortunately there is one house to the side and behind me, and although there is a buffer of trees and bushes, parts of my back property are visible in winter. I have received notices from the county three times in the past fifteen or so years that I needed to get rid of parked vehicles, and I feel sure that he has filed the complaint, although he look me straight in the eye and tells me, "It's your property, you have the right to do what you wish." That is why I said that until the last few years we had more freedom, because about sixteen/eighteen years ago, the county fathers passed an ordinance concerning non running vehicles, etc. In a subdivision, or in town, yes, I agree, there is no room on the average lot for excess machinery, but in the country, where you have acreage, and everything is not visible to passing motorists, then for Pete's sake, give me a break! There are two or three moneyed people in our county that have collections of antique vehicles, but they have buildings to keep them in and the are the type who also pay someone else to do the work on them. I can't afford a large storage building and I prefer to do my own work, Is that a sin? (I was going to say "is that a crime", but around here it seems to be one.
 
One point here that has been ignored. People have been told for a very long time now that buying a home is an investment. So people are concerned when someone's home brings down the value of their "investment". Don't want someone looking in your yard? Build a fence!

Now things can go way to far. A town near me passed some really tuff laws regarding property maintenance. They stipulated 3" as the max length of your lawn, no unregistered vehicles in your yard ECT, ECT. Then the people who pushed for these laws would go into yards to measure the length of the grass. Someone caught a couple of them and had them charged with trespass. All this garbage to impress the tourist.

Rick
 
All of you who feel as I do, that a municipality shouldn't have the right to create laws that are ridiculous or spend money they don't need to, should be running for local office. That's the only way we keep things from getting worse.
 
Twelve years is a long time to fight like that, too long, it should be settled, either the town should move or the lady should move.
 
It's not just a simple pile of junk or overgrown vegetation.

What you do to your property can also cause harm to my property next door. Your branches overhanging my yard fall and hit my buildings, knock down fences, etc.. Your leaky junk vehicles ooze toxic fluids (oil, water, antifreeze) which end up in my dirt and ground water. Your garbage pile attracts vermin which take up residence under my barn.

Ideally you should be allowed to do whatever you want with your own property. Ideally everyone would be a good neighbor and act reasonably and responsibly.

The problem with freedom is everyone has a different view of what "reasonably and responsibly" means. Some feel they should not have to tolerate a single blade of grass out of place. Some feel that filling their yard with junk and not mowing the lawn is perfectly reasonable.
 
Be careful when blaming someone that you "feel sure" is filing a complaint, or doing something behind your back. I learned this lesson a few years ago when we had a dumpster in our side yard (re-roofing the house) and someone called the police to complain about it. The actual complainer lived one street away and he couldn't even see the dumpster from the adjacent street unless he trespassed on a neighbor's property. In short, you may ruin a relationship or start a fight over nothing.
 
This exact thing happened in Freeport Illinois. The Race track (1/2mile oval dirt track) was closed a few years ago after being open since the 40's. It didn't help that the owner stopped paying his taxes but the biggest whiner's came from the trailer park across the road that is 40 or maybe 50 years old. You expect to drive past a race track to turn into the drive to your house which is directly across from said race track. What the heck did you think was going to happen?
 

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