Holloway says she’s been cited by code enforcers in the past, while her husband was serving overseas in the military. She says she fell behind on the yard work again this time because of personal, family issues.
Code enforcement officers directed all questions to Police Chief Don White, who oversees the department. He did not immediately return calls from Local 8 News.
Judge Vann set a follow up hearing for November to check up on the progress. He suggested he might add on more jail time if the city isn’t satisfied with the clean-up.
Sounds like this city needs some new leadership.
The trouble is all the arrogant people voting for and supporting the nanny state.
You will find many so-called conservatives supporting onerous rules on property as a way of keeping away the “undesirables”.
I did just read the article. Code Enforcement should never be put under the Police Department it has too much potential for abuse. I do know some cities do have such an arrangement but a person still has a right to appear a hearing before a code enforcement board to plead their case. Compelling her to appear before a judge with a possible levy of jail time is way overboard.
I don’t know about Tennessee but in Florida code enforcement boards are quasi judicial, with those appearing before it being given due process rights such as being permitted to submit or examine evidence and cross examine or call witnesses. The accused party also has the right to appeal the findings of an administrative board such as a code enforcement board to a court of law. So their rights are taken in to consideration through out the proceedings.
So are those same rights given to a person who is told to appear before a municipal or circuit court judge for a violation of a property maintenance ordinance? Is a person given a chance to respond and defend themselves? Or is it handled as though no finding of fact is needed and the only question being how the law is to be satisfied?
I can see the potential for overzealous police and judges to really go overboard if it is the latter. I call jail time for an overgrown yard overboard. But I also think throwing people in the hoosegow for an overdue library book is a bit much too.
Before this, I've always lived on wooded property. In my mind, nature is much better looking than artificial landscaping. I keep mine as natural as possible, and pay someone to hack down the grass (probably weeds) every week. My point....if you know your surroundings, you can figure out if the rules are okay for you. This family has kids...why couldn't they do the lawnwork?
IF her story is true and her husband is indeed deployed and I lived in that town, I'd be more than happy to take care of the ground work for her until her husband returns...........
I'm surprised that there isn't any veterans organization offering her assistance.......