Lawn police trim $30,000 from Florida man who violates the 10-inch rule

[TexasTowelie]

Don’t mess around with code enforcement.

A Florida homeowner found out the hard way this week when a federal judge, in a 61-page ruling, found that code-violation fines totaling nearly $30,000 for his overgrown lawn wasn’t a violation of his Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment.

Jim Ficken, 71, has been fighting with the city of Dunedin in Pinellas County for six years over fines accrued from his lawn.

The city has claimed that allowing grass to grow over 10 inches long “draws snakes, rats and other vermin” and may impact property values in the neighborhood.

Ficken’s problems began when he left the state in 2015 to take care of his ailing mother in South Carolina.

Read more: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/columns/2021/05/01/cerabino-30-000-fine-not-excessive-mans-10-inch-lawn-court-rules/7411635002/

[Maraya1969]

1. Florida is filled with lawn care companies. They don't cost that much. I pay

$75/month and he cuts and prunes and basically keeps the place looking nice. I feel like I owe it to myself but also my neighbors. A ratty looking lawn makes everything around it look ratty.

The fine does seem excessive though

[TexasTowelie]

2. The man did have some extenuating circumstances.

While he was away to take care of his mother's estate, the person that he hired to mow his lawn during his absence died unexpectedly. I agree that code enforcement is necessary since some people won't be bothered to maintain their lawns, but at the same time there should be some latitude to waive or lower the fines when the circumstances warrant it. They should also cap the fines at an amount such as $5,000 or $10,000 so that things don't get out of hand.

[hlthe2b]

3. Yes. I think those circumstances should have resulted in some reduction in fines.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

4. I hate lawns

Lawns suck and it's ugly.

If I had my way I'd rip out all the grass.

I think a yard with no trees and just bare lawn sucks.

I hate lawn"culture"and how when one mower starts in a neighborhood

they all start throwing tons of grass pollen and keeping me inside with shut windows for the day because of allergies.

Lawns are ugly.

There are ground covers that do not grow tall. And they are pretty,some have flowers.
So you never have to mow it. There are other plants than stupid grass.

Lawn mowers are loud stinky and obnoxious machines.

Do something useful if you have to have a damn lawn,feed a goat.

We started having lawns because it was fashionable to ape the rich who could afford a lawn. Lawns became status symbols.

Before that insanity started nobody freaked over tall grass.

It's all so petty and stupid.

Animals exist. Get the predators of the vermin that live in grass and give them a home.

Fighting Nature
Is pointless. Work with it. I had tall grass and there were no mice or rats because a black snake lived under the shed. The hawk kept the blacksnake population under control.

Before the snake my mom kept the lawn short and fucking moles would fall into the step cellar and die and it would make the basement reek of death.

The snake came because I let the grass grow there were no more moles in the yard or dead in the drain.

My mom put potting soil on the trimmed lawn too close to the house and we had an earwig infestation .

How did I handle that?
Caught a few toads and let them loose in the basement.

The earwigs were gone in a week. The toads got back outside and lived in the window wells.

When I grew out my lawn I had zero problems with rodents or bugs. Go figure..

Had rabbits, birds and
all over the place .A hawk and an owl lived in the trees. It was awesome.

Don't get me started on fucking homeowner associations.

As far as I am concerned they are bullshit,and controlling.

I would never buy a house that was subjected to one,ever.

Besides,thankfully grass is going extinct.

[jimfields33]

5. I kind of agree with you

We are required to mow once a week. I pay 60 bucks month to have it done. And we have to water twice a week. We have under ground irrigation system so trust me they know when the waters on and it better be. Oh my water bill is second highest after my mortgage. Go figure.

[onethatcares]

6. there's the rub

the water usage to maintain a green lawn here in west central floriduh is obscene.

for 40 years we lived in the same house in st pete, planted trees, bushes, a veg garden and had compost piles and rain barrels.

I cut the sand spurs when they got too high but never put in sod. Sold said house and bought a smaller model. Same sandspur grass and plan.

the old house was bought by a couple from out of state. first item of business: tear out sandspur lawn, install reclaimed water sprinkler system and lay sod, cut grass every week.

Sod dies within 2 years

next item of business: pull out dead sod, replace with new, cut lawn every week. As of this day 3 years after buying home the sod is beginning to die.

I don't think they realize that the 70 year old oaks will take every drop of water available to them from trunk to the tree line.