Ohio Town: Mow Your Lawn Or Go To Jail (Canton: contractors, law)

[MrTudo]

Ohio Town: Mow Your Lawn Or Go To Jail

Canton Votes For Fines And Jail Time For Homeowners Who Let Their Grass Grow Too High

CANTON, Ohio, June 3, 2008

AP) City council members in Canton have approved a measure that's grabbed widespread attention in recent weeks.

Homeowners in the northeast Ohio city who don't mow their grass now face stiffer penalties - including a possible 30-day jail term.

Ohio Town: Mow Your Lawn Or Go To Jail, Canton Votes For Fines And Jail Time For Homeowners Who Let Their Grass Grow Too High - CBS News

[BeVeryWise]

Just post a no trespassing sign. One may want to create a more specific sign though, including words like no peeping, spying, eavesdropping, intrusion, harassment, etc.

This so-called law can also easily violate one's religion.

Further, if someone doesn't like high grass, then they shouldn't look.

[GeminiGal]

This kind of stuff has been going on in areas like metro Atlanta for quite some time. You can get fined for tall grass, disabled vehicles, indoor furniture on front porches, you name it ...

[NEOhioBound]

People complain Canton is a dump so when the city does something about they still complain?

And how can this so-called law violate one's religion BeVeryWise? As far as not looking, it does create problems that effect others. Tall grass that isn't cared for can bring in vermin and bugs who will eventually destroy your neighbors property. Besides, it looks tacky too

[NightBazaar]

Fines I can envision. The article says "up to $250". There's no revenue in locking people up. Are the jails THAT empty in Canton? I think that's added mostly as an extra 'nudge' to get some people with vacant lots to clean up their property and mow down the weeds. The jail term more than likely would amount to community service mowing the weeds of vacant lots. LOL!

[smurf_goddess]

That's disheartening. I can't stand the sound of lawn mowers. I was hoping we were going in another direction- like away from grass and into vegetable gardens. Can they make everyone use a push mower too?

[NightBazaar]

Originally Posted by smurf_goddess

That's disheartening. I can't stand the sound of lawn mowers. I was hoping we were going in another direction- like away from grass and into vegetable gardens. Can they make everyone use a push mower too?

Electric mowers are a lot more quiet than gas engine mowers. How about goats? Veggie gardens would be nice, but the weeds still have to be knocked down first. Then too, if the residents aren't too ambitious to mow in the first place, they probably wouldn't clear out weeds from a veggie garden either.

CNN Headline News had a clip today about the Canton issue. From the looks of what was shown, some of the yards (these were NOT vacant lots) will need an army of weedeaters to knock down the forest of weeds and overgrown grasses.

Regardless, I doubt many (if any at all) offenders will receive anything more than a stiff fine. And (just a guess) if any outside contractors are required to cut it down, the residents might be billed for that too. Sooner or later, the fines and bills would end up becoming so expensive that the residents would like choose mowing their yard rather than face having to pay more fines.