I first noticed this story over at Fark, and just couldn't believe it. I've written a couple of diaries about Homeowners Associations & their wars against artificial flowers & basic property rights before. However, this time it's not an HOA, but the city of White Cloud, Michigan. A city ordinance has put a man in jail for not having a lawn on his property......
A Newaygo County man spent the past two weekend behind bars because of his yard, and he faces more jail time.
David Burch says he tried to seed the yard last fall but it wouldn't take root. This all stems from a contractor who failed to sod the yard in the first place. Now a judge is saying, do the yard or do the time.
Why doesn't he have a lawn?
"The people who work at the court, at the jail, thought it was funny," Burch said. "They said there had to be more. I said, 'No, it's just because I don't have grass growing.' They said, 'You're in here for that?'" He claims he is not skirting the law. Burch said the contractor for his new house is responsible for the lawn. But a White Cloud city ordinance states otherwise.
[...]"This has been in the courts for over a year," said White Cloud Police Chief Roger Ungrey. "I believe Mr. Burch has made an attempt. He did bring me in some receipts for grass seed."
Has every problem in the state of Michigan been fixed to the point they have time, money, jail space & court resources to waste debating fucking lawns? Over a year in court debating sod?