Leaf Blowers and the Rule of Law
Today the seasonal ban on leaf blowers comes to an end.
Starting October 1st, you can blow your leaves and other assorted detritus, until your heart is content.
But it would be hard to fault someone for being confused as to the beginning and ending of the annual leaf blower ban. That’s because, wander through any neighborhood during the actual ban and lawn service pros and homeowners are happily blowing away, care free, not bothered by the rule of law.
This year my son and his friend started a lawn mowing business. And a number of times I would arrive home and find them (during the ban period), happily using the leaf blower. When I explained the rules–the law–my son complained and asked how this could be because “everyone is using them” (the leaf blowers).
If we have laws, what’s the point if we don’t enforce them? What sort of civic lesson or we teaching our children?
What do you think? Leave a comment below.
“If we have laws, what’s the point if we don’t enforce them? What sort of civic lesson or we teaching our children?”
Exactly Jay. And that’s what next month’s elections are all about. Do we have laws in Rye – or are our statutes now merely “guidelines?” And who gets to choose which are which?
Ted,
Laws?? That no longer exists here in Rye and hasn’t for quite some time.
Guidelines?? Holy S**T, we would be lucky to even call them “Guidelines”!!!
What goes on around here on a day to day makes you wanna cry!!!
If you drove a car through a populated area with a broken muffler or no muffler it would not be long before you get a ticket.
What exactly is the reason for that..?
My view is that the noise and pollution from leaf blowers are a major threat to the quality of life in a residential neighborhood.
“If we have laws, what’s the point if we don’t enforce them?”
Rye City Code: 108-25 Plumbing
B. Water SupplyPotable water from an approved source shall be available at all times in residential buildings. The domestic water supply system of the building shall be connected to such approved source and shall not be subject to contamination. When supplied from a public source, the potable water supply system shall not be connected to private or unsafe water supplies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XWVAi7QiA7M
“If we have laws, what’s the point if we don’t enforce them?”
108-40. Infestation and screening.
A. Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insect, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation. Methods used for exterminating insects, vermin and rodents shall conform to generally accepted practice.
108-43. Responsibilities of owners.
A. Owners of premises shall be responsible for compliance with this chapter and shall remain responsible therefor regardless of the fact that this chapter may also place certain responsibilities on operators and occupants and regardless of any agreements between owners and operators or occupants as to which party shall assume such responsibility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x68VSycQhY&feature=share&list=TLQJ9KY_FoCxY
“If we have laws, what’s the point if we don’t enforce them?”
City of Rye Sewage Ordinances
ARTICLE I: Use of Public Sewers [Adopted 9-20-1950 as Section 4-3.5 of Ch. 4 of the General Ordinances]
161-1. Use required; exceptions; inspections.
Where a public sewer is available and accessible in a street, alley, easement or thoroughfare to a building or premises abutting thereon, the liquid wastes from any plumbing system in said building shall be discharged into the public sewer unless otherwise prohibited, except that where a place of residence is so located that a gravity connection from the plumbing above the first floor thereof to the street sewer is not possible or such place of residence is located more than 150 feet from the nearest public sewer, a separate sewerage system may be maintained which otherwise complies with city, county or state health laws, codes or regulations. Immediately after the construction of a sewer connection every sewage tank, cesspool or privy vault shall be emptied, cleaned, disinfected and filled with clean mineral soil, rock or gravel.
“Where a public sanitary sewer is not accessible, a building permit shall not be issued without submission of a copy of the written approval of the Westchester County Commissioner of Health, indicating that the premises may be adequately sewered by a separate sewage disposal system. The further approval of the Common Council of the City of Rye is required for such separate disposal systems. In addition thereto there shall be an annual inspection of all private sewage disposal systems by a contractor duly approved by the Westchester County Commissioner of Health on all properties bordering on all watercourses, including Long Island Sound, Milton Harbor and all tributaries thereto, and wherever else directed by the Sanitation Committee of the Common Council. A written certificate of such inspection shall be submitted to said Committee for such action thereon as it may direct.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyWTh8RpAzE&feature=player_embedded
I am going to guess and only guess the following:
I bet Rye cops could write a lot of these tickets. I say that because you read in the police blogs how they warned the person or company. The cops in Rye are working without a contract for 5 years now. so since by state law (Taylor law) they can not protest they are not writing tickets as a slow down job action. Now I am not a rye cop I have no idea if this is true and only a guess based what I read going on in Rye. Don’t yell at me for my post I am just stating what I think. If morale is poor and working conditions are not great this is what you get.
Need Change,
Lets rule this out happening to a male for a minute here….lets say your wife was cut off by someone blowing a Stop Sign in front of the RPD/Train Station, then was boxed in by this male & a male friend in another vehicle, she was harassed & threatened & from this she was scared out of her mind. She calls the RPD headquarters to report this to only be told that given she was too scared to get a plate # that there is nothing that can be done and no laws were broken…my question to you is this – the response from the RPD Desk officer was “there is nothing we can do & no laws were broken” – do you contribute this response to a moral problem or to not caring???
Laws certainly were broken! At the very least a report with a description of the persons involved and the vehicle should have been taken.
Average,
Thank You for that.
In your opinion, what do you think caused the officer to respond in this way?
Perhaps morale is low at the Rye Police Department because a Judge rejected the Rye cops contract demands that they be provided with FREE family membership to the Rye Golf Club and a FREE boat slip at the Rye Boat Basin.
Jim,
That is terrible and sorry to hear that. Poor response by that officer to say that and a report should have been taken even with minimal information. But my post was in regards to minor summons infraction like leaf blowers traffic stops.
Jim, I have no idea. I’m guessing your wife made it quite clear on the phone that she was terrified and this was definitely something more than someone “flipping the bird” and driving away.
Even if it was during shift change or if there were no officers available to respond, I’m surprised they didn’t ask her to drive around the block and stop into HQ and make a report.
Need Change, minor correction.
You wrote “The cops in Rye are working without a contract for 5 years now. so since by state law (Taylor law) they can not protest they are not writing tickets as a slow down job action.”
The Taylor Law prohibits NYS employees from striking. Police can protest. If they do strike, the PBA will be fined two days for every day missed.
Thank you.
Need Change,
I am aware of what prompted your post and I agree, there are tons of incidents called in for leaf blowers, next thing you know Suzanna Keith will have her clique make a parade of calls for use of Plastic Bags Violations ,lol!
That aside, the Rye Cops are definitely doing/writing less as a strategy, clearly obvious and it has been admitted to me by none other than Mr. Captione PBA PREZ!!!
Yes Jim,
We need more people cited for violations, more tickets written and more incarcerations. The Joe Sack police state needs to be implemented. Maybe Joe’s loyal thugs could police the town instead of the actual police. Actually, they already do.
Anyone wonder why nobody wants to volunteer their time in this town anymore?
Form of Community,
I do not wonder why, I know why!!!
You will see a difference very soon, you will see how it is suppose to be done, which right now is impossible to accomplish with CORRUPT POS’s running this City into the ground as they line their own pockets!
Yes Jim,
In a Joe Sack Form of Community transparency will rule the day. Community members are encouraged to report their neighbors for any and all code violations, tax improprieties or other improper behavior especially pre-marital sex , homosexual behavior or long skateboarding. If that doesn’t work, members of the Community are encouraged to follow up their complaints with lawsuits or any other recourse especially vigilantism and slander, all have proven to be an effective way of sanitizing this dirty little town. This is the only way Rye will become a true Joe Sack form of Community.