Disobey

[Anti Federalist]

makes sense to me.

just a few months ago I had one of those suburban ordinance cops come by as I was bucking a rather large tree on my property with my husqy (orange saw is superior). Anyway, you are not suppose to cut down trees larger than 6" in dia without permission. Well it was bigger than that. They came by in their truck and could see me in the back yard. I was sweaty, dirty carhartt's, black tee, and saw chip covered. Well when they stopped on the street, I looked at them and gave a few revs. I saw them ponder, and then leave. That is good satisfaction.

I must admit I have more courage when I'm wearing my steel toe boots.

Stihl is better.

But wait...wut???

WTF do you live, that you have to get permission from the cops to cut down a tree over 6 inches????

 

[dusman]

When I was deployed to South Korea, I discovered that they had the most unusual traffic law system. Commercial motor vehicles were required to stop at lights, while private automobiles could freely run through red lights - if it was safe to cross. U.S. military vehicles were required to stop as well and it became a major annoyance, because our convoy would constantly have to stop at these lights while everyone else just passed right through them. At the time, I didn't understand it and then in the past few years, I've come to better understand why.

From how I understand it, South Korea adopted our traffic law system and applied it STRICTLY by our own definitions. In U.S. Code, motor vehicles are defined as only those that are commercial. Essentially, the Motor Vehicle Act and all state statutes by definition are only applicable if you are driving in a commercial capacity (freight, transit, etc.).

Further, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on a similar issue, in regards to an American's right to travel. They explained that the state cannot remove the privilege of a person driving in their automobile due to not having a license or insurance, because in fact it is your right to do so.

If anyone is curious in these, I can dig up the cases and corresponding U.S. Code.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

When I was deployed to South Korea, I discovered that they had the most unusual traffic law system. Commercial motor vehicles were required to stop at lights, while private automobiles could freely run through red lights - if it was safe to cross. U.S. military vehicles were required to stop as well and it became a major annoyance, because our convoy would constantly have to stop at these lights while everyone else just passed right through them. At the time, I didn't understand it and then in the past few years, I've come to better understand why.

From how I understand it, South Korea adopted our traffic law system and applied it STRICTLY by our own definitions. In U.S. Code, motor vehicles are defined as only those that are commercial. Essentially, the Motor Vehicle Act and all state statutes by definition are only applicable if you are driving in a commercial capacity (freight, transit, etc.).

Further, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on a similar issue, in regards to an American's right to travel. They explained that the state cannot remove the privilege of a person driving in their automobile due to not having a license or insurance, because in fact it is your right to do so.

If anyone is curious in these, I can dig up the cases and corresponding U.S. Code.

I would appreciate that.

 

[FrancisMarion]

Stihl is better.

But wait...wut???

WTF do you live, that you have to get permission from the cops to cut down a tree over 6 inches????

Haha. Knew somebody was going to come out with Stihl. Glad it was you.

Revisions to the City's Tree Ordinance
posted Apr 4, 2009 1:15 PM by Marie Sligh [ updated Apr 4, 2009 1:19 PM ]
A message from the City Planning Department:

The North Charleston City Council has just adopted a major revision to the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance (to see the ordinance, click here). This Ordinance was updated in connection with the update of our Comprehensive Plan and also responded to concerns from our City Council. The major changes are outlined below.

Expands protection from 10” dbh to 8” dbh.
Lowers the threshold for Grand trees from 25” dbh to 24” dbh.
Introduces the terms Protected Trees (any tree 8” dbh or greater), Significant Trees (8” dbh to 23” dbh) and Grand Trees (24” dbh and greater).
Specifies requirements for tree replacement plans and call out various forms of possible replacement such a s new planting, existing on-site mitigation trees, relocated trees, and tree bank contributions.
Specifies requirements for tree protection plan detail as an element of the site plan submittal.
Addresses the cutting and replacement of Significant Trees and adds trees falling in the footprint of drainage ponds to list of types of cutting that do not require replacement for Significant Trees.
Addresses the cutting and replacement of Grand Trees, excludes Pine from definition of Grand Trees.
Addresses the need for tree protection, specifies minimum standards, and establishes administrative authority to allow drip-line encroachment equivalent to one quarter the distance from the trunk to the drip-line contingent upon confirmation from an Arborist that the proposed encroachment would not adversely impact the tree.
Establishes an administrative bonding procedure that would allow up to $50,000 in landscaping improvements to be bonded. The funds or bond instruments would be handled by the Finance Director.
Provides an exemption for cutting associated with Utility Company easement maintenance.
Addresses cutting without a permit with inch for inch replacement, a potential fine per tree cut and/or up to 30 days in jail.


I would like to invite you to review this Ordinance at your leisure and keep it in mind whenever doing work in the City of North Charleston. Please feel free to contact me should you have any comments or concerns regarding this Ordinance.

Sincerely,
William B. Gore
Zoning Administrator

http://www.ourdeerpark.net/news-2/revisionstothecitystreeordinance

So it was 8" instead of 6", besides the point.

Cutting down trees costs North Charleston man $20,000

Source: WCSC Source: WCSC
North Charleston, SC -

NORTH CHARLESTON,SC (WCSC) - Carlton Walker is still furious over having to pay $20,000 in fines for illegally cutting down trees and having grass grow too high on his property.

Walker says his family has owned the Deerwood Mobile Park since 1946 and never knew of the tree cutting ordinance. He says he cut the trees in 2008 before tropical storm Hanna.

Walker's attorney, Joe Good, feels it was an honest mistake gone terribly wrong.

"It just brings about the issue of excessive code violations and fines," Good said.

Derk Van Raalte, the deputy city attorney of North Charleston, said Walker could have made things easier on himself had he paid the reduced fine amount of $50 instead of the almost $1,100 per tree.

Van Raalte says the city has tried to work out a deal with Walker, but he never followed through with the conditions they set.

Walker says he paid the $20,000 in fines, but is looking at filing a motion to reopen the case in an effort to try and get some of the money back.

Van Raalte says the city of North Charleston as well as many local governments have a tree protection ordinance in place. Citizens should consult with their local planning and zoning department before ever cutting a tree.

Copyright 2010 WCSC. All rights reserved.

 

[thoughtomator]

I remember back in the '60s some states had some wonderful "smart traffic lights". They had sensors to count how many cars were coming from all four directions and would change the signal accordingly. If the government really wants to save energy, those "smart traffic lights" would be all over the place now.

We have those here in Virginia. They are eminently sensible devices and avoid the sitting at an empty intersection problem quite neatly.

 

[coastie]

Stihl is better.

But wait...wut???

WTF do you live, that you have to get permission from the cops to cut down a tree over 6 inches????

Its like that here in Florida, too. Even for the pine trees, which grow like fucking weeds around here.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

We have those here in Virginia. They are eminently sensible devices and avoid the sitting at an empty intersection problem quite neatly.

We have them at virtually every intersection here. One problem I have with a certain traffic light is that the left turn light is only by sensor. Say you arrive moments after the side intersection light turns red. Across from you will have a green left turn light or green light you will not. You literally have to wait for the next cycle even though the cars across from you are turning left/going straight.

 

[AFPVet]

Traffic lights are for traffic. Hey man, if there's no traffic around, why should you have to wait?

This is coming from a former 'peace officer' (not to be confused with law enforcer).

 

[Anti Federalist]

Haha. Knew somebody was going to come out with Stihl. Glad it was you.

http://www.ourdeerpark.net/news-2/revisionstothecitystreeordinance

So it was 8" instead of 6", besides the point.

Holy shit...SMH.

Well, just another point to prove that you really don't own anything, we are all, all of us, regardless of financial status, merely serfs, squatting on the land at the pleasure of our Lords and Masters.

 

[FrancisMarion]

Holy shit...SMH.

Well, just another point to prove that you really don't own anything, we are all, all of us, regardless of financial status, merely serfs, squatting on the land at the pleasure of our Lords and Masters.

Agreed, and if anyone ever challenges that statement, ask them to define ownership.

 

[PaulConventionWV]

As a paper delivery driver, I break almost every road rule on the books every night and get away with it. It does feel good.

I always fight my tickets. If there is any little thing I can bring up to defend myself, I will spend as much time cross-examining the "witness" (cop) as much as possible because it costs the court money to do these proceedings. If everyone did this, the system would collapse. In fact, not everyone needs to do it. Only a small percentage need to do it before it becomes completely cumbersome and useless for the court to enforce.

 

[Free in CT]

Many years ago (okay, it was 1987, a LONG time ago) I was being trained on a new delivery route while I was working for Wonder Bread.
The route was in the heart of the city of Hartford and I hit the street prior to 5:00 a.m. The route driver that had the route there for years
told me to check at each intersection then proceed through the lights, which were timed and did not change in response to a vehicle stopped
at the intersection. At that time of the morning there simply wasn't the time available to waste waiting for lights and there was NO traffic.
The guy who was training me had been running the lights 5 days a week for 5 years and had never been stopped. I ran the route until the day I
left Wonder for greener pastures, 3 years, ran the lights every day, never got caught.

 

[PaulConventionWV]

One night I was picking up my kid late from work, and I came to a stop sign. There was only one other car on the street, and it was on the other side of the intersection. Neither of us were turning, and I laughed out loud wondering why we were both stopped. It seemed so absurd to me, both of us sitting there. But I knew if there was a cop lurking, I would have gotten a ticket even though there was no risk to "public safety."

As reprehensible as Dondero is, he told the funniest story about Ron. Ron used to like to drive around rural Texas speeding like a bat out of hell, with no seat belt, laughing the whole time. I love that man!

"That’s the first sign you know you’re a libertarian. You see the red light. You stop. You realize that there’s not a car in sight. And you put your foot on the gas."
– Gary Johnson

You're talking about Ron Paul? Speeding like a bat out of hell laughing the whole time? That seems a bit... out of character.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

As a paper delivery driver, I break almost every road rule on the books every night and get away with it. It does feel good.

I always fight my tickets. If there is any little thing I can bring up to defend myself, I will spend as much time cross-examining the "witness" (cop) as much as possible because it costs the court money to do these proceedings. If everyone did this, the system would collapse. In fact, not everyone needs to do it. Only a small percentage need to do it before it becomes completely cumbersome and useless for the court to enforce.

A small percentage does and they write more tickets. Be realistic about it.

 

[KingNothing]

You're talking about Ron Paul? Speeding like a bat out of hell laughing the whole time? That seems a bit... out of character.

Didnt Ron's parents give him a stern talking to for shooting a bb gun at passing cars when he was a kid? I'm guessing he's always had that sort of streak.

 

[Origanalist]

I don't know what it is about the link in the OP, but that site just freezes on me.

 

[EBounding]

In the city of Detroit, red lights are purely optional. You literally fear for your life if you're alone waiting at a light.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

In the city of Detroit, red lights are purely optional. You literally fear for your life if you're alone waiting at a light.

Not legally, but I hear what you are saying. Many lights out here you wouldn't want to stop at. Getting lost sucks.

 

[Lucille]

As a paper delivery driver, I break almost every road rule on the books every night and get away with it. It does feel good.

I always fight my tickets. If there is any little thing I can bring up to defend myself, I will spend as much time cross-examining the "witness" (cop) as much as possible because it costs the court money to do these proceedings. If everyone did this, the system would collapse. In fact, not everyone needs to do it. Only a small percentage need to do it before it becomes completely cumbersome and useless for the court to enforce.

It's true. So in that case, obey.

How To Gum Up Any Institution
http://lewrockwell.com/north/north1108.html

Four words: "Follow the rules exactly."

You're talking about Ron Paul? Speeding like a bat out of hell laughing the whole time? That seems a bit... out of character.

I love that story!

 

[Danke]

I get annoyed by the turn arrows that turn red vs. a solid green light (meaning it is a three light vs. a four light traffic signal).