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Schwarzenegger orders fines for overgrown properties
AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 5/9/08 | AP

Posted on 05/09/2008 1:13:39 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is instructing state fire officials to begin fining rural homeowners who fail to clear their properties of brush, trees and dry grass.

Schwarzenegger says clearing around homes is particularly important because of this year's dry conditions throughout the state.

A 2005 law required that homeowners who live near forests or grasslands increase the so-called "defensible space" around their houses from 30 feet to 100 feet.

State Fire Marshal Kate Dargan says inspectors have issued few citations to homeowners who ignore the law.

Instead, firefighters have focused on educating them about the dangers of overgrown properties.

During a Capitol news conference on Friday, Schwarzenegger said he is ordering inspectors to be more strict about citing homeowners who don't act.

Fines can range from $100 to $500. If homeowners still refuse, officials can clean up the property and send them the bill.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; defensiblespace; fines; overgrown; properties; schwarzenegger; wildfires
No more Mister Nice Gubby.

Every fine likely will help towards paying off the massive deficit and debt, more p***ing into the full force of a hurricane.. or Rome as it is burning befoire our very eyes..

1 posted on 05/09/2008 1:13:39 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

Doesn’t he know how much CO2 is locked up in those weeds?


2 posted on 05/09/2008 1:17:42 PM PDT by Doomonyou (Let them eat lead.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is instructing state fire officials to begin fining rural homeowners who fail to clear their properties of brush, trees and dry grass.

I can see it now: the State fines you for trees and brush the County won't let you remove.

3 posted on 05/09/2008 1:18:20 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (We have people in power with desire for evil.)
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To: Carry_Okie

The prefect squelch.


4 posted on 05/09/2008 1:19:34 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: NormsRevenge
Hey, people can just pay off their fines with the economic stimilus check they get from the federal gubmint.

Schwartzenegger is such an a$$

5 posted on 05/09/2008 1:22:56 PM PDT by atc23
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To: NormsRevenge

Wait till they show up to clean up, drop an endangered rodent in the brush, and phone the EPA.


6 posted on 05/09/2008 1:24:06 PM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: NormsRevenge

We need to dump Schwarz and Villa.


7 posted on 05/09/2008 1:35:53 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Vote for my German Shepherds!!!! They're smarter than what's running!!)
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To: NormsRevenge

Alternatively they could not fine people, but tell them that if their property is overgrown firefighters won’t bother to try to save the house, and will only focus on stopping the fire’s expansion to more property.


8 posted on 05/09/2008 1:40:23 PM PDT by Arguendo
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To: Carry_Okie

The double income factor... first you pay the fine for having the over brush then you pay the second fine for removing the over brush.


9 posted on 05/09/2008 1:43:51 PM PDT by InsensitiveConservative
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To: NormsRevenge

Just burn off that overgrowth and claim carbon credits as well as your insurance.


10 posted on 05/09/2008 1:56:59 PM PDT by Steamburg (Your wallet speaks the only language most politicians understand.)
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To: Carry_Okie

“State fines you for trees and brush the County won’t let you remove. “

Hey, it’s the state where women parade in the streets, trying to save the baby seals, or spotted leopards, all while wearing perfume and makeup that cost the lives of 300 innocent animals.


11 posted on 05/09/2008 2:13:06 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (I reserve the right to misinterpret the comments of any and all pesters)
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To: NormsRevenge

Is he also going to help defend these people in court when the federal government or wildlfe groups take these people to court for doing so?


12 posted on 05/09/2008 2:13:17 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: InsensitiveConservative; calcowgirl
Actually, that's not how it works.

  1. Receive fine for brush.
  2. Attempt removal.
  3. Get busted and fined for illegal removal.
  4. Apply for permit.
  5. Wait two years.
  6. House burns down.
  7. Firefighters get overtime.
  8. County goes bankrupt on firefighter retirement and healthcare.
  9. Bankruptcy court reassesses house.
  10. Homeowner abandons house for expensive urban concrete hovel on land acquired by eminent domain.
  11. Illegals squat on property.
  12. Illegals pillage entire neighborhood.
  13. Homeowner jailed for criminal negligence...

    Etc.


13 posted on 05/09/2008 2:42:51 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (We have people in power with desire for evil.)
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To: Carry_Okie

Do you think Arnold will fine the conservancies, too?

Many of the big fires last year began and were fueled on conservancy lands (Orange County and San Diego)

In some cases, it almost looked like a good way for the eco-whackos to chase out the remaining homeowners (a bit of tinfoil, there)


14 posted on 05/09/2008 3:06:41 PM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: NormsRevenge

He’ll try anything to raise money.
I hope The Terminator doesn’t realize that he could use the estate tax to raise money and start killing people.
It’d be like Kodos The Executioner.


15 posted on 05/09/2008 3:08:57 PM PDT by ClaudiusI
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