Cruel and Unusual Punishment?
 

At what point do these revenue producing municipal fines, that support needless programs and payoffs become cruel and unusual; making them unconstitutional?

$600 - $1200 a day for having weeds taller than 10 inches in Chicago would seem to fall right into that category especially when the fine for getting caught with 10 grams or less of marijuana in the city is $200. Get caught everyday for a week and the pothead is out $1,400. Go on vacation for a month with heavy rains back home and that last week could cost you between $4,200 and $8,400. A month? Forgetabout it! Where's the Civil Liberties Union when you really need them?

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news...minal-20111107

While I have no problem with the pot fines, I agree that the weed fine is completely out of line....communities have gone over the line in the name of "neighborhood improvement", forget about violent crime lets get those bastards that don't mow their grass often enough!:zz:

I agree. I think your next-door-neighbor on your block should entirely be able to let his yard go back to "completely natural". He's smart not to mow your lot line - let it get 6 feet tall. Rats be damned!

$600-$1200 a day? How about $20 a day?

Do you realize this law is discriminatory to both poor and elderly people? Who can’t afford or physically can’t cut their lawns? They are the only ones who will pay this fine.

http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2011/11/08...y-based-meals/

Whatever group this is, to pay for representation of a pedophile, serving a life sentence is cruel and unusual and they should pay at least what a poor guy in Chicago would pay for not mowing his lawn for everyday this guy serves for being part of a frivolous lawsuit.

It's not discriminatory. Everyone has to pay whose grass is too tall.

Do you believe the ordinance is good or not? Not the fine amount, just the ordinance - yes or no?

City needs money. Rather than raising the fines on people who break city ordinances, would you like taxes raised on everybody, instead?

The ordinance breakers pay more.
Everybody pays more.

Pick one, Dell. "None of the above" doesn't work. The city needs money. Bring some revenue-raisers to the table.

(PS - but nice to see you admit that "expensive things", like healthcare for instance, are "discriminatory" to those that "can't afford it", or can't physically be healthy and not need it)

The city needs to reduce its need for money by reducing its army of patronage workers. An alderman and former mayor do not need a crew of bodyguards etc etc etc

If Obamacare had a daily fine of $600-$1200 for not complying you'd have a point.

You don't because people who can't afford it whether by circumstances beyond their control or directly because of their own actions will be subsidized by those completely unrelated to them or their health situation.

Should homeowners in Chicago be forced to mow the lawns of those too old, poor and in some cases too lazy or should the city fine them $1,200/day until it adds up enough to foreclose?

Finally! Good to see you finally admit that there is no enforceable fine for not purchasing health insurance in the PPACA.

Congrats :tro:

Until 2014? You know when tax penalties go into effect.

You mean, when the line in the PPACA specifically prohibiting the IRS from collecting or attempting to collect those fines is in effect, too?

You've got dog **** all over your face. Ewwww.

Guess 45 mins is a long time to remember.

As far as dog crap on the face, look into the mirror!

You're just too simple-minded to understand this, I guess ... the additional sentence in the PPACA prohibiting the IRS from collecting those taxes is still in the PPACA, and will be there deliberately until the Congress takes it out.

Yes, there is language in there outlining fines. There is ALSO a sentence in there prohibiting the collection of those fines.

That sentence was put there on purpose, so the penalties didn't automatically kick in. The Congress will have to take the sentence out after they see the bill up and running, if they want penalties. They will not have to rewrite the entire bill for penalties, as the language will already be there. They just have to remove the prohibitory language to make the fines kick in, if they someday want to.

Do you not read any real facts about the PPACA? Ever?

What in I'M NOT INTERESTED in fact WE'RE NOT INTERESTED don't you understand?

I think the USPO, SS, HHS, Fannie, Freddie etc etc are all failures while you think of them as family.

The majority of the country does not want PPACA and the doubletalk bs hidden within it. Now the only question should be how do we put the majority on the 'do not call' list?

You don't have to shout - it's clear you don't have a clue what the PPACA is factually about :D You are factually ignorant about what it contains. And proud of it.

Just like if Earl Scheib saying he'll paint any car any color for $29.95!

If P.T. Barnum was alive he'd have you broke after a five minute chat.

Big Clue: If Obamacare saved money there would be no need for taxes and or penalties.

There would be no waivers for the politically connected either.

there should be rules about grass heights, etc, but that fine amount is obscene. i'd wager you could find other rules without as high a fee, that might be considered as being a more serious offense.

and the OWS proteters are worried about the private sector....:zz:


http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/...ns-fake-grass/

Criminal Charges?

Where's the ACLU on this one?