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barstoolguru wrote:that lawn is not bad at all, there are some houses around here that is worse

Until tonight, we haven't had enough rain for my lawn to get that tall. We got about 15 minutes of hard rain earlier tonight. It was nice, but not enough.

C-dub wrote:

barstoolguru wrote:that lawn is not bad at all, there are some houses around here that is worse

Until tonight, we haven't had enough rain for my lawn to get that tall. We got about 15 minutes of hard rain earlier tonight. It was nice, but not enough.

We've had enough rain for grass to grow. There's a house down the street that let their grass get about 15" high (I think they're out of town for the summer) before someone finally gave up and cut it for them.

Either way, a shoddy lawn may warrant a visit from code enforcement. It does not warrant entering a private residence uninvited.

I don't know if anyone here remembers this but the BTK (Bind, torture, Kill) killer was a compliance officer. After he was caught, they verified that he had had similar encounters with people throughout his career.

No one else mentioned this so I thought I would point this out. Maybe somebody should be following, or otherwise watching, that guy now that he has lost his job. Could this be the stressor that pushes him over the edge like BTK?

Kawabuggy wrote:I don't know if anyone here remembers this but the BTK (Bind, torture, Kill) killer was a compliance officer. After he was caught, they verified that he had had similar encounters with people throughout his career.

No one else mentioned this so I thought I would point this out. Maybe somebody should be following, or otherwise watching, that guy now that he has lost his job. Could this be the stressor that pushes him over the edge like BTK?

That was the first thing I thought of when I saw Compliance Officer. The BTK killer also has the same name as a high school classmate of mine.

Hoosier Daddy wrote:I don't know what a compliance officer is allowed to do in Georgia. If the door was closed but unlocked, is that like a Texas game warden opening a closed gate to look for game law violations on private property?

In my fair city, they just passed an ordinance that says a compliance officer can enter your property to look under a tarp to ensure a vehicle is operable - no probable cause needed. All they have to have is an "administrative warrant" (which means their boss rubber stamps an OK).

We regularly allow our rights to go by the wayside for the sake of "property values" and "community standards"'

Walking onto your property to look under a tarp is bad. Walking into a woman's bedroom....FAR worse.

ScooterSissy wrote:

Hoosier Daddy wrote:I don't know what a compliance officer is allowed to do in Georgia. If the door was closed but unlocked, is that like a Texas game warden opening a closed gate to look for game law violations on private property?

In my fair city, they just passed an ordinance that says a compliance officer can enter your property to look under a tarp to ensure a vehicle is operable - no probable cause needed. All they have to have is an "administrative warrant" (which means their boss rubber stamps an OK).

We regularly allow our rights to go by the wayside for the sake of "property values" and "community standards"'

There are those who have almost a maniacal bent to control other peoples lives. I've met quite of few and many of them were elected to HOA boards.

Our Town has recently started requiring permits for roof replacements. They did this because during some of the roof work, furnace and gas hot water heater flues were dislodged or disconnected. The inspector has to come out to verify that those are still in place. The problem is that while the inspector is there, they can "observe" anything else that they don't like and can issue you a citation. It is like a license to go through your property. A lot of the codes are pretty iffy and subjective. The amazing part is how the town seemed to have gotten along without all of this inspection "help" before.

Some of the engineers on our Town's inspection program have about the same kind of a mentality as the compliance officer in the OP. While it was not the smartest thing to leave a front door unlocked, the mind set of someone who would step inside because if it needs to be as far away from a public post as possible.

chasfm11 wrote:Our Town has recently started requiring permits for roof replacements. They did this because during some of the roof work, furnace and gas hot water heater flues were dislodged or disconnected. The inspector has to come out to verify that those are still in place. The problem is that while the inspector is there, they can "observe" anything else that they don't like and can issue you a citation. It is like a license to go through your property. A lot of the codes are pretty iffy and subjective. The amazing part is how the town seemed to have gotten along without all of this inspection "help" before.

Some of the engineers on our Town's inspection program have about the same kind of a mentality as the compliance officer in the OP. While it was not the smartest thing to leave a front door unlocked, the mind set of someone who would step inside because if it needs to be as far away from a public post as possible.

Excuses, excuses, they passed the permit ordinance to collect fees, and their enforcement personnel are LEO wannabes who are badge heavy and self-important. The other day my wife was watching one of those hour long ads for SPCA/HSUS, Animal Cops and I was amazed to see an "Animal Cop" (he had a badge, but was not a cop) invade a property: "For the welfare of the animals."

OK, I'm all for defending the animals, but there are rights involved, constitutionally guaranteed rights that are not allowed to be trampled by anyone for any reason.

And the "Animal Cop" even stated that he didn't have time to get a LEO out to the scene and get enough information for a warrant, and invaded the home of the person who was "abusing" the animals. Yes, the guy had way too many dogs and cats, and yes, two of the cats in the garage had pretty bad injuries from a recent cat fight, but none of this could be seen from outside, and yet the "Animal Cop" felt it was reasonable to force his way into the home.

Many years ago my wife and I sold our house. Years previous I had replaced a large portion of the supply side plumbing with PVC pipe. Between those times, the city we lived in, where the plumbers' union had a great deal of political power, had passed an ordinance making it illegal to use plastic pipe for supply line. During the public hearings discussing the proposed ordinance, I testified (as a fireman) that the amount of poison gas that would result from the supply pipes burning during a fire would be minimal compared to that given off by the much larger soil pipes and that using the poison gas from burning pipes was merely an excuse to allow the plumbers' union to make more money.

So here I was vacuuming the front hall of the house I had sold the day before, the last room and I was out of there, and this yoyo starts banging on the front door. I opened the door and he shoved a badge in my face and said "building inspector" and pushed past me. He entered the basement of the house, and then came back up seconds later and told me that there was plastic pipe in the house and I could not sell it. It was obvious that he knew there was plastic pipe, and knowing the city government I am sure they sent him out specifically because of my testimony and many letters about the plastic pipe.

I told him I was not the owner of the house and that he was under arrest.

When I explained that flashing a badge that way and entering the house that way were both criminal acts, he started mumbling expletives and left. Never any repercussions.

Hoosier Daddy wrote:

C-dub wrote:

Hoosier Daddy wrote:I don't know what a compliance officer is allowed to do in Georgia. If the door was closed but unlocked, is that like a Texas game warden opening a closed gate to look for game law violations on private property?

Locked or not, it was forced entry. He had to turn the knob and push the door open and that requires some force. Less than if it were locked, but still some.

It still sounds a lot like a game warden opening a closed gate to enforce game laws on private property.

While I agree with you up to a point, I think there is a vast difference between coming onto my property and entering my domicile. A Game Warden can't just walk into my house.

ScooterSissy wrote:In my fair city, they just passed an ordinance that says a compliance officer can enter your property to look under a tarp to ensure a vehicle is operable - no probable cause needed. All they have to have is an "administrative warrant" (which means their boss rubber stamps an OK).

I sure hope they are being escorted by a Constable in uniform! Hate for them to be mistaken for an intruder.

I almost wish that woman would have fired a couple of rounds at that clown when he entered Her bedroom, missing him of course. Bet he would have a quick change of drawers! A t least he was fired.

ScooterSissy wrote:

Hoosier Daddy wrote:I don't know what a compliance officer is allowed to do in Georgia. If the door was closed but unlocked, is that like a Texas game warden opening a closed gate to look for game law violations on private property?

In my fair city, they just passed an ordinance that says a compliance officer can enter your property to look under a tarp to ensure a vehicle is operable - no probable cause needed. All they have to have is an "administrative warrant" (which means their boss rubber stamps an OK).

We regularly allow our rights to go by the wayside for the sake of "property values" and "community standards"'

Sounds like a good reason to keep a dog on a leash right next to the tarp.

ScooterSissy wrote:

Hoosier Daddy wrote:I don't know what a compliance officer is allowed to do in Georgia. If the door was closed but unlocked, is that like a Texas game warden opening a closed gate to look for game law violations on private property?

In my fair city, they just passed an ordinance that says a compliance officer can enter your property to look under a tarp to ensure a vehicle is operable - no probable cause needed. All they have to have is an "administrative warrant" (which means their boss rubber stamps an OK).

How are they going to verify a vehicle is operable (or inoperable) without keys?

Dave2 wrote:How are they going to verify a vehicle is operable (or inoperable) without keys?

You aint lived in The South long, have you?

Dave2 wrote:

ScooterSissy wrote:

Hoosier Daddy wrote:I don't know what a compliance officer is allowed to do in Georgia. If the door was closed but unlocked, is that like a Texas game warden opening a closed gate to look for game law violations on private property?

In my fair city, they just passed an ordinance that says a compliance officer can enter your property to look under a tarp to ensure a vehicle is operable - no probable cause needed. All they have to have is an "administrative warrant" (which means their boss rubber stamps an OK).

How are they going to verify a vehicle is operable (or inoperable) without keys?

According to the mayor, they're looking for cars with flattened/no tires, engines in obvious disrepair, etc.

To me the point is, it's on the owner's property. If you can't tell by looking at it from the street, then it's not an eyesore. How is a vehicle that runs covered by a tarp less of an eyesore than one that doesn't? Besides, it's the owner's property, and one shouldn't be forced to give up their rights by a vote of 7 city council members.