Posted on 12/28/2009 3:15:11 PM PST by SmithL
Another holiday. Another sweep of smoke scofflaws.
Bay Area air pollution inspectors found 47 homes where wood fires were on Christmas Day during a Spare the Air alert when cold, unhealthy air was forecast.
The tally was more than double the 22 violators detected on Thanksgiving Day when the Bay Area Air Quality Management District also called a Spare the Air alert.
Violators get written warnings for a first offense and $400 fines for a second offense.
While critics have bashed the air district for intruding on a holiday burning tradition, a spokesman for the agency on Monday defended the Christmas crackdown as protecting public health from soot that can trigger asthma attacks, and aggravate other respiratory and heart problems.
"We know a lot of people like to burn on this holiday, but it's our duty to protect public health," said Ralph Borrmann, an air district spokesman.
Ten air district inspectors patrolled the Bay Area on Christmas to watch for and sniff out burn violators.
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
They didn’t catch me and I burned a crapload of wood.
Bastards.
a burning tire around the neck of a few “inspectors” would do wonders
Hey, you elect these people that make these idiot laws. IMHO, you got exactly what you deserve.
So. In addition to dictating what kind of toilets we can have in our homes, and what kind of light bulbs we can use, the government bans burning wood in your own fireplace.
Light up those fireplaces. Wonder if any of the inspectors special people could have a fire?
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Isn’t burning firewood pretty much, like, you know, carbon neutral?
yet another reason, as if more are needed, NOT to live in the bay area..
(posting from the sf bay area)...Is it just my imagination, or have the only “spare the air” days lately been Thanksgiving and Christmas?
Detroit fell, san francisco is next.
I think a ticketed person should challenge this law. Laws should be permanent. You shouldn’t have to call the Air Quality Board to see if a fire is prohibited on a particular day.
Coming to a neighborhood near you....
Bay Area Air Quality Management members are NOT elected, as I recall. They are appointed and when I had to deal with them they sometimes acted like the Gestapo. As I see it the California politicians have no control over their actions.
Perhaps that is why I left California 15 years ago
“but it’s our duty to protect public health,” said Ralph Borrmann, an air district spokesman. “
Fascist’s...
And, of course, the “public servants” who uncovered these lawbreakers collected double overtime and probably holiday pay. CA-CHING!!
It’s the soot&fine particulate matter, yaknow.. firewood, diesel trucks, charcoal grills.. sad, a bunch of over degreed idgiots ram it to ya, all for the ‘ public health ‘ ..
What a country.
HapPy HoliDay!
Dear Kalifornia, when the "big one" hits and you all slide into the Pacific (making Phoenix prime beach front property), I am not going to shed a single tear. Not one.
I had a fire going one evening last summer and had some neighbors over, town inspector knocked on my gate and questioned the smoke he claims he saw, cited some local ordanance and asked to come in the yard for a look see. I asked him for his warrant. He said he didn’t need one. I insisted he did and wouldn’t let him in. He said he’d come back with the police. That’s fine I told him. He returned about 45 minutes later with an officer who asked to come in. I asked him for a warrant. He said he didn’t have one, but didn’t insist he didn’t need one. After a brief discussion, they went on their way with the townie whining the entire time.
This is where they'd really like to go. And they'd do it by means of the Cass Sunstein 'nudge'.Forbid all wood burning stoves or other independent means of staying warm so that you have to accept and use ONLY the governmet approved methods of energy consumption to stay warm. It would be a dagger in the heart of rural America. It would be just their way of saying, 'screw you, rural America - you bastards'll just have to shiver in the dark...'
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.