City Code Enforcement Gone Wild!!

[Todah Tear]

A friend called me yesterday to tell me that his brother had been carted off to jail He was stopped for an expired inspection sticker and the police ran his license. It turned out that the city had a warrant out for his arrest for having trash in his backyard. He was shocked because he had not received any prior notice (That part of the story was familar to me because - read on!) and he did not have trash in his back yard.

The man is old and has a bad back. The police had to help the guy out of his car and help him into the police car. He was taken to jail, but the did not keep him over night because he complained that he didn't have his back medicine with him and was in pain!

This past spring, I (and 100's others with various code violations) was halled off to court for parking my car on my grass in my back yard. I expressed to the city attorney that I took issue with the bogus claims on my docket that said that they had summoned me to court twice and that I did not show up. I hadn't recieved any such notices and if I had, I would not have ignored them since they threatened to fine me $500 and put a warrant out for my arrest. I said that I would not sacrafice my freedom for parking my car on my grass, and that I took issue that they would threated my freedom for such an issue. I told her that I was just grateful to God that I had not been picked up. I wouldn't have even known why. She said that the warrant part didn't really mean anything since that statement goes on all court notices. Citizens are now noticing that her words are not true. I ended up having to pay a $304 fine for parking on my grass in my yard because of pictures that code enforcement took while standing in my yard.

This is ironic since the city has used tax payers' money to build a pavillion for day laborers to sit under while they wait for people to come by and solite workers. Many of these people are not paying taxes on their wages. That's illegal, yet the police don't arrest them, just the tax payers.

Keep a watchful eye on what your City Council is voting on; this could happen to you!

Todah

[BILLYL]

Todah-

This sounds like one of IRA's post.


I had a similiar thing happen several years ago - seems the local government doesn't know how to use EXCEL and wanted to fine me about 3x the proper amount.

It is getting strange out ther............

Bill

[Todah Tear]

Yes, I remember Ira's thread. I was angry about ordinances back then too...no one had gone to jail yet.

A fine is one thing, but when they cuff and take to jail, your Real perminent record gets impacted seriously. If you apply for a job, to volunteer with organizations, they ask whether you have ever been arrested.

Todah

[Ira]

Holy crap!!! What a story--that's RIDICULOUS!

As nutty as Coral Springs' code enforcement can be, I've never heard it taken to this level.

ARRESTS!?

You had GW, we had Jeb, so I guess that explains it. And state law has a LOT to do with what local municipalities try to pull.

[Todah Tear]

[quote="Ira"]Holy crap!!! What a story--that's RIDICULOUS!

As nutty as Coral Springs' code enforcement can be, I've never heard it taken to this level.

ARRESTS!?

quote]

I asked my friend whether his brother was actually finger printed and had his photo taken. He said that he wasn't certain, but he thought that he did (At that point, my friend hadn't spoken with his brother personnally. His info was 2nd hand from his mother.)

[quote="Ira"]
"You had GW, we had Jeb, so I guess that explains it. And state law has a LOT to do with what local municipalities try to pull."

I guess we are going to have to stop our City Council from attending state conventions if this code enforcement practice is what they are learning. Its really a fund raiser. The day that I went to court there were about 100 or so people there. Some had no idea what the enfringement was others were there for just a basketball goal in their driveway.

Todah

[Mary K]

This pisses me off so Bad, I can not even comment on it.

I feel for ya Todah.

MK

[cguardsman]

That is why i live in the country on acreage. They can kiss my baskside

[martha24]

I would have expected that sort of thing in California not Texas.

Need to throw those bums out of office & put people in there with some common sense. Is that just your town or is something happening to Texas?

Can you imagine being arrested for that?? Then having to check the box of having been arrested & saying I got arrested for parking my car on the my grass. Who would believe it unless they had seen it happen.
Good grief!!!!

[Eunice]

:? I would have expected that sort of thing in California not Texas.
Good grief!!!!

I live in California and I have way tooooo many vehicles sitting in my yard (grass) plus 3 riding mowers and a bunch of other stuff. It isnt an issue here.
I am confused though...if you have a two car garage and have two cars and maybe a tear and a boat or vintage trailer, WHERE are you suppose to park them "cept in your back yard. Is there more to this story?
Eunice

[Ma3tt]

If you are not for Code Enforcement, you are supporting terrorism!
Mission accomplished!

[Sonetpro]

That is why i live in the country on acreage. They can kiss my baskside

ME TOO.

[Bobgorilla]

We have drought levels of water and water restriction since May and code enforcement has been writing fines for having a brown lawn. I happen to work for the city and talked to one of the guys yesterday, he said the usually the director of the department puts these codes on hiatus during water restriction but they have a new director who's trying to make a name for himself.

[len19070]

Heh...I just got a summons for advertising, that I do Plumbing, on RV's and for not being a Registered Residential Plumber.

This is going to be a real 3 ring Circus.

I got a Code enforcer trying to bilk me for a $500 fine, and I have to plead my case to a guy who probably doesn't know what an RV is let alone the concept of being "Self Contained" and mobile.

Now I have 2 choices.

1. I can go through the courts and probably loose, after all the code enforcement officer and the Judge are Known Buddies.

OR

2. Give my Republican ward leader a $100 donation for something and it will all go away.

Say what you will about Republicans, but they do get things done.

Happy Trails

Len

[mandy]

Here in Albuquerque we have 2 stupid ordinances that just passed with in the last year. 1. is the heart ordinance, which states that all pets in the city limits must be spayed or neutered and they must have a microchip implanted no exception. 2. the No smoking ban in all bars and resturants. ( I am not a smoker but I am kind of bothered that they can infrenge on peoples personal libertys like that) come on the bars? It's getting to become a hand holding state, where you are going to have to hold the hand of a police officer before you can cross the street.

[eamarquardt]

I live in Simi Valley, Ca. and it is illegal to park a car on dirt here. I met with the mayor, city attorney, and city manager about their refusal to allow me to put up a 50 foot tv antenna (contrary to the FCC OTARD rules). They eventually read the law, contacted the FCC, and figured out that I knew more than them and consequently wrote me a letter saying I can do any D@## thing I want as far as putting up a TV antenna and that the Federal laws prevent them from doing much about it (they can petition the FCC for a waiver). I digress, I asked them during our TV antenna discussion why you can't park a car on dirt and that I saw lots of people doing it. Their response "we're going after those people". No explanation. Shortly thereafter, my neighbor (a Chevy Dealer) was required to move all of new cars off of dirt behind his dealership (his land). They won't answer the question, but clearly have thier own agenda.

Buy the way, it took two months to get City Hall to get off of their collective butts and figure out I was right on the antenna law. The city attorney hung up on me when I insisted that he commit to a date when his outfit would answer my questions. I called the mayor's offine and the CA called twice in the next half hour to appoligize.

Your ignorance is thier power (not a "Gus" original but I like it).

Cheers,

Gus

Cheers,

Gus