Posted on 07/30/2018 6:43:31 AM PDT by george76
LAUREL, Md. — Prince George’s County filed a legal case against a Laurel couple in their 90s over a wheelchair ramp in their own home. To avoid legal trouble, the elderly couple’s son tore down the ramp, trapping the woman in her own home. The county permitting department said the family had no permit to build a wheelchair ramp in front of their own home.
"I don't want my husband trying to lift me now," said 91 year old Evelyn Strahle.
Evelyn Strahle's husband David is 94 years old. "Two people had to put her in a wheelchair and lift her down those steps before we had it,” said David.
A pile of lumber is all that remains of the wheelchair ramp that gave Evelyn freedom to leave her Laurel home.
“It clips my wings. I can't do anything," said Evelyn.
Evelyn's son Bob built the ramp. He's in the construction trades. He didn't want his parents to pay the $5,000 they priced a ramp of this size. Bob bought $1,700 of lumber and built it himself.
"Very well built and I felt very safe on it always,” explained Evelyn.
Then, a Prince George's County inspector came.
“There was an inspector that showed up here twice when I was here and I asked him why couldn't he just inspect it and tell me if there was anything I needed to do to make any improvements on it so that it would fit permitting requirements but he said that wasn't the process and I had to go through the long route,” explained son Bob Strahle.
Bob submitted plans and tried to file for a permit but was denied because he built the ramp before asking county government.
(Excerpt) Read more at wjla.com ...
As you can see, you are not winning in popularity polls among freedom loving folks on Free Republic.
I think your problem is that you are under the naive opinion that the government knows best and laws are always correct and righteous and easy to change if they are not. That utopia does not exist. The idea that “laws are for our own good” is hogwash in many cases. The city of Austin is a perfect example of boot on the neck regulation and I have met some inspectors hired to stalk homeowners here that are a special mixture of stupid and belligerent, not unlike a few TSA agents I have encountered. From your tone, I am thinking you might be on their side. You need to wise up.
“Always get a permit before beginning any construction project. Its for safety reasons.
We have to follow the rules in this country, and we don’t, we pay the price.
Improving one’s home is commendable but procedures have to be followed.”
Actually, it’s not clear that a permit was needed, as this ramp was not permanently attached to the house. In addition, according to a local news report I saw, the county has admitted mistakes were made although they didn’t say exactly what those mistakes were. Prince George’s County is famous for corruption and shakedowns.
$1700 worth of lumber for a wheelchair ramp???
How long is it?
How wide is it?
That seems very excessive.
Time to open up our own forests & cut our own timber for lumber-—Oh, Wait...
the Spotted Owls have priority. Now, that timber AND the Spotted Owls are toast.
The scope and enforcement of the building code has no perspective and, apparently, neither do some freepers.
We’re talking about putting a ramp over some steps not building a skyscraper.
Then there are those only thinking about their own wallets who consistently say you should hire a “professional” to do things like change light bulbs or oil.
If I were in the shoes of the homeowners I would appeal the citation as far up the line as I could without expense. You can at least get to district court that way. True, you may get a judge as irrational as the inspection office but not likely.
Even if they try to fine NO court OR Sherrif will kick the elderly out of where they are living (and I’ve known some who have tried to make that happen much to their consternation).
Always get a permit before beginning any construction project. Its for safety reasons...Improving one’s home is commendable but procedures have to be followed.
Nice dodge/diatribe.
Still waiting on an answer for my two original questions.
People in their 90s do not have a lot of time left to wait on stupid government red tape.
You will submit, or die.
The problem is the fascist requirement for a “permit.” Actually, it’s just so they can increase the taxes.
Property taxes are theft.
The point of all this is, it's where you live and how “progressive” your local government is.
If “Haitham Hijazi, the county inspections director” was any sort of man, he’d have the inspectors from the department out there this weekend rebuilding the ramp...complete with approved permit.
The guy who built her the ramp messed up.
**********
....
Evelyn’s son Bob built the ramp. He’s in the construction
trades. He didn’t want his parents to pay the $5,000 they
priced a ramp of this size. Bob bought $1,700 of lumber and
built it himself.
....
IMO trying to save a few bucks and messed up in doing so.
Bears repeating :
There is absolutely no situation, crisis or disaster a liberal government bureaucrat cannot make even worse...
Amen to that!
My horror story...
California, Central valley.
We had to replace our heater/AC unit after 34 years of faithful service.
There are two of us living in our home, one retired 11 years, soon both to be retired.
Two story house, five bedrooms. Two of the bedrooms are used for storage and one converted to a home office long before I bought the house 18 years ago.
Two bedrooms are in use.
Two hallways.
There was ONE smoke alarm before the debacle began, strategically located at the foot of the stairs, next to the kitchen door and the end of the downstairs hallway. No CO alarm.
Then the fun began.
Of course a permit was obtained to do the installation, and to conform to the current State an local Fire codes.
I live in a community that recently began a program to send a monthly check to every welfare parasite family in the city. But the city budget doesn't allow for a permanent, working, and competent "Building Inspection Department." So the city hires "temporary" retired and other inspectors from all over the State, and even other states, with 15 or more years "experience."
Before they were done with me (and our licensed contractor,) and three (3) different inspections and inspectors, with different interpretations of the same State and local codes, and several trips to Home Depot, we ended up with:
Seven (7) 10-year ceiling smoke alarms. One just inside each bedroom occupied or not, and one in the hall next to each bedroom door. Two (2) 10-year CO alarms.
A $50 expense turned into a $200+ expense,and 3 inspections/inspectors.
These horror stories explain perfectly why Trump won the presidency, and why the Soros/Hillarite/democratics got hammered into irrelevance.
You dont really own your house.
Yup, govt thugs could have shot him and any dogs on the property.
Then would have probably needed a demolition permit.
That’s been obvious for decades.
Probably the neighbors with the great big POD in their driveway.
YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING WITHIN 60 FEET OF THE CENTERLINE OF THE STREET TITHOUT APPROVAL. NEIGHBOR GOT BUSTED!
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