Too Tall Grass $1000 a day in FL

JUPITER — An overgrown lawn could cost a homeowner $1,000 a day.

A plan to quadruple the penalty from the current maximum of $250 per day for a first violation is scheduled for consideration at Tuesday night's town council meeting.

A repeat violation by the same person would be boosted to $5,000 a day maximum from $500 per day.

If the code enforcement board finds that the violation is irreversible — the unapproved removal of an historic tree, for example — the violator would face a maximum fine of $15,000. The current maximum penalty is $5,000.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/64319.html

How are they going to collect from the banks that own the vacant houses? The banks are NOT going to pay these fines, period.

 

Jupiter is a tad different than Miami...

 

Banks are protected in Florida. The locals need to read up on state laws. They will never collect.

 

And non-locals need to get familiar with Florida's zip codes.

Jupiter is not Miami or any of the others that are drowning in foreclosures.

 

If the homes are bank-owned, then the banks will eventually have to pay the fines, or the municipality can file suit to foreclose their lien.

If the properties are not bank-owned then the municipalities are screwed. The mortgages will have been recorded first, and will take precedence over the muni liens at the bank's foreclosure sale. Also, if the properties are homesteaded, the liens are unenforceable until such time as the homeowners abandon the property.

 

Local governments are strapped for cash. Homeowners will have to foot the bill one way or another.

 

Banks would just tear the homes down.

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So the next step is the local constabulary showing up at our doors and demanding money at gunpoint?

 

Last year Jupiter's seven-person Code Enforcement Division collected about $39,000 in fines, according to town records.

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I's say they have too many code officers.

Maybe they could mow the taxpayers lawn and add the mow price to the tax bill.