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View Full Version : Fines in Boston for improper snow removal.




Anti Federalist
12-30-2010, 01:09 AM
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/12/29/snow_police_on_patrol_in_hub/

In a city where there is too much snow and no place to put it, Sergeant Steven Tankle enforces the rules.

He fines the shovelers, the snowblower operators, and the private plow drivers who push unwanted snow into a freshly cleaned city street. And if you don’t shovel your sidewalk, prepare to receive a ticket.

Tankle works for the Boston Code Enforcement Police, officers who troll the streets looking for violations of city ordinances. After blizzards, that means they look for illegal snow dumping and unshoveled walkways. Think of them as the snow police: They wear badges, carry handcuffs, and make meter maids seem popular. Run afoul of them and face a fine of up to $200.

This month’s blizzard has brought a flurry of tickets, 173 yesterday alone, compared with 20 issued in all of December 2009. And officers are out today looking for more violators.

“If I find a violator, I’m going to write a ticket,’’ Tankle said Monday, as he patrolled South Boston in his truck. “I guarantee it.’’

The intensified ticketing follows a recent Supreme Judicial Court decision that holds property owners accountable for injuries linked to snow and ice on their land.

Some legal specialists say that means City Hall bears responsibility for injuries that occur on those sidewalks, so the city has a financial and legal incentive to enforce its ordinances and avoid lawsuits. Chief Michael Mackan, a 20-year veteran of the department, said that the large amount of tickets issued for this storm was a result of the heavy snowfall, not a change in enforcement as a result of the decision.

He said inspectors watch for violations and get tips from public works employees about problems. They also respond to residents’ complaints.

In some cases, they rush to catch a snowplow operator in the act. If they arrive too late and find only evidence of a problem — for example, a pile of snow plowed into a street — they photograph it and mail a ticket to the property owner. That fine, if not paid, can be attached to a homeowner’s property taxes.

“It’s a challenging job,’’ said Mackan, adding that there are “so many miles of sidewalk in the city of Boston to cover.’’

HOLLYWOOD
12-30-2010, 01:55 AM
He said inspectors watch for violations and get tips from public works employees about problems. They also respond to residents’ complaints.

Oh those Socialists and their collectivism in Massachusetts... turn citizen upon citizen, government control and theft, all according to plan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_iQZiVD_zA

RideTheDirt
12-30-2010, 03:13 AM
I'm glad it doesn't snow in southern California, because I'm sure the police would love to ticket people for that. I knew a woman who was fined for a stick (from a tree) on her lawn:mad: I believe a city council member helped her out.

Vessol
12-30-2010, 03:34 AM
How do these people sleep at night?

Travlyr
12-30-2010, 11:14 AM
How do these people sleep at night?
By counting their new coins.

Dr.3D
12-30-2010, 11:42 AM
Some legal specialists say that means City Hall bears responsibility for injuries that occur on those sidewalks, so the city has a financial and legal incentive to enforce its ordinances and avoid lawsuits. Chief Michael Mackan, a 20-year veteran of the department, said that the large amount of tickets issued for this storm was a result of the heavy snowfall, not a change in enforcement as a result of the decision.
Since the sidewalk belongs to the city, perhaps they should remove the snow and ice from them, or allow the property owner to remove those from their property so they don't have to remove the snow from them.

coastie
12-30-2010, 11:46 AM
Since the sidewalk belongs to the city, perhaps they should remove the snow and ice from them, or allow the property owner to remove those from their property so they don't have to remove the snow from them.

Because that would just make sense? Just guessing.

I see why my dad left Boston(via Vietnam) and his 6 siblings, and never looked back. I lived in NH while in the CG and dreaded going to MA, for any reason whatsoever.

Aratus
12-30-2010, 12:37 PM
mitt romney when governor had fired some state officials
when two high school kids were killed by a driver because
there were no shoveled sidewalks at all after an earlier storm!

ivflight
12-30-2010, 01:05 PM
Part of this is actually reasonable. If you're dumping snow (or toxic waste or whatever) without permission onto property that is not your own, you should be fined/sued. I'm not in favor of public resources but when there are public resources like roads we should probably democratically decide to use them for driving on rather than snow storage.

No one should be forced to shovel their own sidewalk. If the neighbors don't like it, they can pickup a shovel and do it themselves.

pcosmar
12-30-2010, 01:25 PM
How do these people sleep at night?

I had my own "Code Enforcement " nightmares in Florida. (on of the many reasons to sell my home there)

I am convinced that being an asshole is a job requirement. Being a sadistic asshole is a plus.
:(

ItsTime
12-30-2010, 01:29 PM
So the city owns the side walks, shovel them to avoid the fine and send the city a bill for clearing their property.

Seraphim
12-30-2010, 01:36 PM
My company is the property management company for TD Banks all across North America. I have had our clients call in from numerous States saying that the police have cited them with fines. I just got a call for that for a TD Bank in Connecticut TEN MINUTES AGO.

Anti Federalist
12-30-2010, 02:25 PM
How do these people sleep at night?

On a large bed filled with money, with many beautiful ladies.

Ha!

acptulsa
12-30-2010, 04:45 PM
I'd get a great big heat gun.

The frozen up storm sewer would, of course, be Somebody Else's Problem.

Tennanja
01-01-2011, 07:14 PM
The intensified ticketing follows a recent Supreme Judicial Court decision that holds property owners accountable for injuries linked to snow and ice on their land.

Some legal specialists say that means City Hall bears responsibility for injuries that occur on those sidewalks, so the city has a financial and legal incentive to enforce its ordinances and avoid lawsuits. Chief Michael Mackan, a 20-year veteran of the department, said that the large amount of tickets issued for this storm was a result of the heavy snowfall, not a change in enforcement as a result of the decision.

Well according to how I understand it (and how my homeowners insurance does too) where I live (MN) even though the city sets the rules for the sidewalks, where there are, how they must be maintained, etc (i think they pay for initial construction), if a person is injured on my sidewalk I can be held responsible for it and my homeowners insurance covers accidents that occur on it.

With the heavy snowfall this year (42+ in) I have been thinking, if the city is setting the rules then shouldn't they be responsible, and then cover snow removal themselves, as they do with our roads, or if they are not responsible then what logic can be used to truely justify why I must have sidewalks, or shovel out the snow for other people. Although I suppose if the government says it owns the sidewalk then i am really being enslaved to do their bidding whether I shovel the snow myself or if I am taxed by them to pay someone to clear the snow. What further angers me is that one of my sidewalks (i live on a corner) is rarely* used but if it is not cleared then I face punishment.

In addition, it strikes me a terrible waste of utility to make every home owner cover clearing snow when it is more efficient to have a small group of snow removal people who will plow all of the sidewalks, not to mention the fact that now everyone here owns their own snowblower, which is a needlessly costly when just a fraction of those would be needed to clear the snow if a small group of plowers were used, i question why there is no real market in snow blowing for residential areas that could benefit from getting large numbers of people in a small area to subscribe to the service thereby reducing typical time costs (set up, maintenance of blower, etc) Maybe I'll look into the regulations concerning snow removal and see if I can set up a business to capture this market.

* The side walk has maybe two or three people outside my family use it a month during the winter months because it doesn't go anywhere that people are willing to walk to in 0 degree weather when they can just get in their car and drive there and avoid the wind. My other sidewalk is more used because it is a major road. However the most mind boggling thing about this whole scenario is that the postal worker who delivers the mail find it to be too much of a hassle to walk back out to the sidewalk from everyones mailbox that he just walks through the snowdrifts in everyone's front yard.

Fozz
01-01-2011, 07:18 PM
What about a poor, elderly man with heart problems? Should he risk his life by shoveling his sidewalk, so he doesn't get fined/imprisoned?

GunnyFreedom
01-01-2011, 09:01 PM
What about a poor, elderly man with heart problems? Should he risk his life by shoveling his sidewalk, so he doesn't get fined/imprisoned?

Yes, apparently that would the assachusetts method for reducing Medicaid disbursements.

muzzled dogg
01-02-2011, 12:16 AM
Great story

Cowlesy
01-02-2011, 12:41 AM
Wonder if NYC Residents can ticket the Union Workers who muffed the snow removal causing at least 4 people to DIE waiting for emergency services.

Michael Landon
01-02-2011, 08:45 AM
If the sidewalks are public property, then the city should remove the snow. If the city removed the snow, then the city would have to come up with the finances to cover the snow removal. To come up with the money to remove the snow, then the city would raise taxes. That's one option... raise taxes for everyone and have the city remove the snow.

There's another option, that is to pass an ordiance to have people remove the snow themselves and if they don't, they'll be fined. I prefer this option because then I don't end up paying higher taxes to cover the snow removal for everyone.

It's a catch-22. Either pay every day with higher taxes and cover everyone or only pay if you don't feel like shoveling.

On topic but a different issue within the topic, does anyone have issues with WHY these ordinances are in place? Meaning, does anyone on Liberty Forest feel that walking in the street is a safer alternative to walking on a sidewalk? I would be interested in hearing the arguments regarding that issue.

- ML