Nothing a libertarian likes better than a 30-year-old ordinance that a city finally decides to enforce:
Logansport residents who fail to get a permit before holding a garage sale could see their profits land in the city's hands.
[. . .]
A dozen violators were hauled before the city's Board of Works & Public Safety recently. All got off with a $10 fine for holding sales without permits and a stern warning that posting signs illegally could cost them up to $300 in the future.
And when they come out to cite you and notice that you've also been spitting on the sidewalk and crossing in the middle of the street, you're really screwed.
Comments
Leo:
If they did one-tenth of THAT type of REAL enforcement in MY neighborhood...it would certainly be a LOT less populated...AND a LOT quieter!
(I can work with that)
It does have the novelty of never having been TRIED before.
;)
Point taken, of course, but obviously these fines are simply an alternative to raising taxes, which would also offend you. Personally, I would rather raise taxes, since it relieves the cops and courts of enforcing silly rules.
I know you want smaller government, but how would you achieve it? Fewer cops? Fewer teachers? Fewer street repairs?
If you want to go live in a cave in the woods, be my guest. But cities require services. Services require money.
Of course some spending is ill-advised. Harrison Square is incomprehensibly stupid. We agree.
But right now it's the teachers who are being laid off or getting 40-student classes. Harrison Square is part of the problem, but so are irresponsible tax cuts by people who can't see past next April 16.
LJ, "but obviously these fines are simply an alternative to raising taxes, which would also offend you."
I think the whole point is that neither fines or tax increases or really any type of enforcement is really a high priority on garage sales is it?
As for your thread hijack over to teachers cops, bad republicans, tax cuts etal, doing away with some of THESE programs could pay for a lotta teachers etc etc etc..
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-08-30-1Asafetynet30_ST_N.htm
What a stupid law.