Woman Goes to Jail for Not Mowing Lawn

[Zodiark1593]

How bout I grow a bona fide jungle in both my yards, paint my house a very bright blue, but have the interior be as clean and orderly as a Museum? Long as I'm not breaking ordinance, nor in a Homeowners Association, I'm well within my rights to do just that, and snicker to my lonely self as I see property values around me plummet.

Worried about property values due to neighbors, find an HOA that cares.

 

[The Merg]

This thread reminds me of this story...
http://m.aol.com/article/2014/10/17/neighbors-call-police-over-mans-halloween-lawn-display/20980060/

- Merg

 

[Pipeline 1010]

Your insults change nothing. This isn't the state deciding what's right and wrong, this is the will of the people. Suck it up. Hell, a lot of the time the ordinances are voted on directly by the people.

If something is wrong, it doesn't matter if it is the will of the people; it is still wrong. At one point in time slavery was the will of the people. The correct response to slavery being the will of the people isn't "suck it up". The correct response to extortion isn't "suck it up".

 

[theeedude]

She really should keep it trimmed.

 

[tgferg67]

Those ordinances are not just for cosmetic purposes. High grass and debris are a breeding ground for rodents/rats.

 

[OutHouse]

The "city" has no Rights. It's legal fiction and nothing more. Again as I have said throughout this thread you cannot legislate away extortion. No not even you.

Does legal authority work better for you?

 

[Darwin333]

They should because it is good business and people like me who care about tidyness are who pays the taxes that keeps thing running. I wont buy a property (or keep one, I will look to sell it) if the neighborhood goes to shit.

Money talks and it makes good business sense for the state to step in and assess fines and protect my sense of vanity.

Oh the irony. If the state funds half of your neighborhood with section 8 (as in 50% of your neighborhood is section 8 housing) will you be happy with that? If you say yes you are a liar if you say no you are a hypocrite. Take your pick.

 

[Darwin333]

My in-laws sold their house a few years ago (2010, IIRC) and had problems with a neighbor across the street who wouldn't do ANYTHING to their lawn to keep it up. These folks were REALLY trashy and one day, just drove their van over and parked in my in-laws driveway without even asking and left it there! And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Anyway, the lawn was at least a foot tall and my father-in-law went over and said "Look, I'm trying to sell my house and would appreciate it if you could help me out the next few weeks by keeping your lawn cut." He just got a blank stare and nothing was done. Finally, he literally got on his lawn mower, drove across the street, and cut the lawn himself because these morons were too lazy.

People who don't take care of their properties really piss me off. I just don't understand the logic of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a house just to let it fall into shambles -- tall grass, gutters falling or having plants grow in them, etc. Seeing how bad some houses are kept only makes me wonder how bad the insides of these homes must be.

Nothing wrong with that. He was concerned with his property value and he did something to solve it. No harm no foul in my book.

It is not your neighbors job nor duty to ensure your investment in something that was never meant to be an investment. Its a place to live not stock options, this was proven quite harshly very recently.

 

[OutHouse]

If something is wrong, it doesn't matter if it is the will of the people; it is still wrong. At one point in time slavery was the will of the people. The correct response to slavery being the will of the people isn't "suck it up". The correct response to extortion isn't "suck it up".

So not mowing your lawn is now equal to slavery? Okayyyyy|

 

[Subyman]

I prefer the term Voluyntaryist.



Count me as floored that there is another person with enough intellect and self respect to admit the above on this forum. You get kudos for that and a huge amount of respect from me.

For whatever reason you are willing to overlook these acts of aggression. Personally I cannot resolve the conflict that that creates within myself. I would not rob, steal or extort my neighbor and therefore cannot endorse another doing the same. The State deserves no exemption and neither does any common man.

Lol, that's what I said three pages ago. Taxes are "extortion." I don't know what your fascination with that word is. The same as capital punishment is "murder" or jail is "kidnapping."

 

[Darwin333]

:thumbsup:



The line needs to be drawn somewhere so there will be quibbling about where but there still needs to be a line unless you think anyone should be able to do anything with their property regardless of how it affects other's property.

Personally I think an unsightly lawn is a bigger issue than shingles or number of bedrooms. Shingle colors don't show a lack of care and consideration for a property just a stylistic choice. Number of bedrooms on the house behind you will have less impact on your property value than an overgrown mess of a yard

I think you would be hard pressed to find a potential owner who would be willing to pay the exact same for the same house that backs up to an overgrown mess of a yard as a house that backs up to a well manicured yard.

I think you underestimate how creatively ungodly ugly I can mix and match shingles and paint.

I can personally clear my neighbors yard at relatively little cost to reclaim whatever value I think I lost. Refoof and repaint their house, not so much.

Yet in my area no codes exist for shingle or paint color and obviously it can have dramatic effect on your "value". GAF makes a rather bright red shingle, I can even spell out "value losing" phrases on my roof as long as they aren't profane.

BTW, the assholes that DID cause almost everyones property value to plummet didn't spend an hour in jail yet this lady did, why aren't you after the real assholes? This lady didn't cost you a damn thing, the others either did cost you something or cost someone you know quite a bit. Why is that not your priority versus some weeds?

 

[Darwin333]

Nah.

Basically, if you can't mow your lawn in a residential area, you probably shouldn't have a home. If a lawn is poorly maintained, it basically means the entire property is.

I have a 70+ year old neighbor that is the original owner of his 40 year old home that completely disagrees with you. But hey, if he is the reason you might lose .025% of your sale price, by all means kick him out and put him on the public dole.

The new owner from the auction will most likely rent it out section 8 so he can move right back in and have the .gov foot the rent. At least the grass will be cut, right?

 

[Veliko]

Not true I can think of 3 houses we didn't even enter to look at based upon the neighbors yard/what was in the yard. There were probably around a dozen more that we weeded out by using google street view. Yes it was 2011 and there were plenty of properties to look at but you cannot fix or upgrade your neighbor.
Maybe a fine would have been more appropriate. I'm assuming it was in disastrous condition. Also keep in mind extremely unkempt grass attracts ticks which is a nuisance for everyone.

You say "not true" yet nothing in your post actually goes against anything I said in my post:

What an utter load of shite.

If the value of a property is so dependent on something as fleeting as the condition of a neighbour's lawn, it means the entire market is based on a house of cards.

That's not to speak of why you think you're entitled to demand things of others just so your house might be worth a bit more.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Seems like an awful lot of

I, me, mine!

I, me, mine!

I, me, mine!

behind at least a few of the comments here.

 

[OverVolt]

Overgrown bushes and trees should be a criminal offense imo. It can be a problem to others, it can impede vehicle passage through alley ways and cause problems for utility workers. It also grows through overhead lines, up telephone poles, through fences...etc, etc.
I would seriously love to bust some people in the mouths for the BS i've had to go through at work because some lazy ass doesn't want to keep their stuff pruned to a respectable size. The worst is having to hack through heavy poison Ivy growth just to get to where I need to work.

Lol busybody spotted **alert alert** we got a fucking complainer over here.

 

[Matt1970]

Seems like an awful lot of

I, me, mine!

I, me, mine!

I, me, mine!

behind at least a few of the comments here.

More like. We, Us, Ours, seeing as how it's the vast majority of the population that supports these ordinances.

 

[Matt1970]

If something is wrong, it doesn't matter if it is the will of the people; it is still wrong. At one point in time slavery was the will of the people. The correct response to slavery being the will of the people isn't "suck it up". The correct response to extortion isn't "suck it up".

We are really going to compare slavery to a municipality ordinance for lawn mowing?

 

[Veliko]

We are really going to compare slavery to a municipality ordinance for lawn mowing?

It's the same justification that would have been used to continue using slavery.

"It's always been that way" simply isn't a very good justification for something.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Nothing wrong with that. He was concerned with his property value and he did something to solve it. No harm no foul in my book.

It is not your neighbors job nor duty to ensure your investment in something that was never meant to be an investment. Its a place to live not stock options, this was proven quite harshly very recently.

It is your neighbor's duty not to live like a hillbilly and to have respect for his/her neighbors. As has been pointed out, there are many other reasons why these rules exist. The town doesn't generally give a crap about your sale price; they have other concerns.

Furthermore, in areas with ordinances or by-laws, there are consequences to living like a slob. Don't like it? Move where no such rules exist. These ordinances or by-laws are known when you buy a house and aren't hidden. Like many rules or laws which exist in society, there wouldn't even be a need for such rules if people behaved like adults, had respect for others, and took care of their properties. If you can't mow your lawn once a week or paint your home's trim once every few years, you shouldn't be buying a home.

 

[Matt1970]

It's the same justification that would have been used to continue using slavery.

"It's always been that way" simply isn't a very good justification for something.

Ok, I think I will use slavery as a comparison then.

Abolishing slavery was the will of the people, so is a lawn mowing ordinance.
Slavery is just wrong, so is not mowing your lawn.

 

[Veliko]

Ok, I think I will use slavery as a comparison then.

Abolishing slavery was the will of the people, so is a lawn mowing ordinance.
Slavery is just wrong, so is not mowing your lawn.

Derp derp.

 

[Veliko]

It is your neighbor's duty not to live like a hillbilly and to have respect for his/her neighbors. As has been pointed out, there are many other reasons why these rules exist. The town doesn't generally give a crap about your sale price; they have other concerns.

Furthermore, in areas with ordinances or by-laws, there are consequences to living like a slob. Don't like it? Move where no such rules exist. These ordinances or by-laws are known when you buy a house and aren't hidden. Like many rules or laws which exist in society, there wouldn't even be a need for such rules if people behaved like adults, had respect for others, and took care of their properties. If you can't mow your lawn once a week or paint your home's trim once every few years, you shouldn't be buying a home.

If you are so sensitive that you take the sight of an unmown lawn as a personal insult, then it should be you who moves away.

 

[Matt1970]

Derp derp.

What's derp derp is your whole argument. Just mow your damn lawn.

 

[Matt1970]

If you are so sensitive that you take the sight of an unmown lawn as a personal insult, then it should be you who moves away.

All your other neighbors would disagree.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

If you are so sensitive that you take the sight of an unmown lawn as a personal insult, then it should be you who moves away.

Except for the fact that the town is on my side. Sorry, you lose!

(Also, to be clear, I am not talking about some guy letting his lawn mowing slip a week every once in a great while. I am talking about people who let their lawn regularly look like a jungle).

What's derp derp is your whole argument. Just mow your damn lawn.

I always laugh at these threads on AT. You usually have a group of people who don't even own homes up in arms about rules like these. Trust me, they'd change their mind if the neighbor from hell moved in next to them and all sorts of vermin, insects, weeds, etc. moved into their lawn from their neighbor's lawn. These guys act like mowing a lawn once a week is like landing men on the moon.

Again, if they don't like it? Move where these rules don't exist. It really is that simple.