Canton, Ohio residents and property owners who don't pay close enough attention to their lawns could face jail time. A new law would apply to repeat offenders and to lawns and weeds growing higher than eight inches.
"City officials say they are targeting the most egregious violators of the high-grass law, which applies to grass and weeds higher than 8 inches. However, the overgrown lots the city is forced to mow are a foot or more, officials say.
High grass is a health and safety issue, since overgrown lots can attract rodents, according to health officials.
Mayor William J. Healy II supports the new law. The focus is not to put repeat violators in jail, which is at the discretion of a municipal court judge, but to put "teeth" into the law to force property owners to cut excessively high lots, Healy said after the meeting. Instead of jail time, Healy said judges may be more likely to sentence repeat violators to cut grass as a community service. "
Thanks to Larry Schooler
FULL STORY: Cut your grass or face jail time
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