Warrant for your arrest? [Archive] - Simple Living Forums

iris lilies

10-9-19, 8:56am

She lives in Missouri where municipalities like Ferguson make their money off outrageously high traffic fines and lock you up for them too. Correct me if I am wrong IL.
There are warrants out for people who have a lot of traffic violations.

The situation I am talking about is my neighbor who doesnt show up in court, then warrant is issued. I think two times this has happened, once for sure.

LDAHL

10-9-19, 10:27am

In a lot of places wouldn’t that be a public record that could affect credit, job prospects, etc?

JaneV2.0

10-9-19, 12:51pm

I'd figure it was a case of mistaken identity. Or maybe Bill Barr was reading my e-mail...

iris lilies

10-9-19, 12:57pm

In a lot of places wouldn’t that be a public record that could affect credit, job prospects, etc?
At the risk of over generalizing, the population here that routinely has a bunch of outstanding warrants does not care about middle class things like clean records, good credit, job prospects.

In the specific case, my neighbor is old and on his last job. I don’t know how credit plays into his life.

catherine

10-9-19, 1:57pm

There are warrants out for people who have a lot of traffic violations.

The situation I am talking about is my neighbor who doesnt show up in court, then warrant is issued. I think two times this has happened, once for sure.

Here is one scenario based on an experience my "friend" had (not me--I am not "the friend.")

Traffic violations. Warrant out there, but never acted on. One day a knock at the door, informing the errant party that there is a warrant. There were no handcuffs, fingerprints, protecting the head as they usher them into the police car. Just, "get to the police station and pay the fine."

But in IL's friend's case, if a court appointment was required, I don't know what they would do. I don't think they would arrest him/her. And I really think chasing down warrants for minor things only happens when there's nothing else for the police to do or they have to up their revenue.

But it will catch up with them at some point--when they go to get their vehicle registered or something like that.

iris lilies

10-9-19, 2:04pm

Here is one scenario based on an experience my "friend" had (not me--I am not "the friend.")

Traffic violations. Warrant out there, but never acted on. One day a knock at the door, informing the errant party that there is a warrant. There were no handcuffs, fingerprints, protecting the head as they usher them into the police car. Just, "get to the police station and pay the fine."

But in IL's friend's case, if a court appointment was required, I don't know what they would do. I don't think they would arrest him/her. And I really think chasing down warrants for minor things only happens when there's nothing else for the police to do or they have to up their revenue.

But it will catch up with them at some point--when they go to get their vehicle registered or something like that.

If the police act, it is because my neighborhood is putting pressure on them to carry out the warrant.

There aren’t many instances of people in this neighborhood going to jail due to housing court violations, but it has happened.

ApatheticNoMore

10-9-19, 3:24pm

Interesting, never gotten anything from an unpaid ticket I had but a fine (but oh man the fine, probably 3 to 4 times the cost of the ticket was paid when all was said and done).

bae

10-9-19, 3:27pm

It would seem to be more convenient to deal with the warrant up-front, on your own schedule, than to be rudely surprised some day while travelling or something.

Teacher Terry

10-9-19, 11:28pm

Never had a ticket and I wouldn’t ignore it.

Simplemind

10-10-19, 12:34am

Back when I was working we got copies of all the warrants for people in our jurisdiction. Before each shift went out officers were handed warrants for their district and would try to serve them between calls. So in our case warrants could be by chance at a traffic stop but there were also out there actively searching for people to serve them. Better to just come in at your convenience than to served at home or work.

iris lilies

10-10-19, 8:53am

Well, after searching the warrant database, our neighborhood policeman said there is no warrant after all, unless it is a civil matter. I think this warrant is the stuff of neighborhood lore.

But this is a neighbor needs to fix up his house and instead of doing that he pays fines. It is time to ramp up the fines which the judge in Housing court can do upon political pressure.

Teacher Terry

10-10-19, 12:20pm

IL, is this because it is a historical district that he can be fined for not fixing his house?

iris lilies

10-10-19, 4:25pm

That is why our neighborhood police officer could not find a warrant.
IL, is this because it is a historical district that he can be fined for not fixing his house?
Not necessarily. I think people from all over the city neighborhoods can be held to the same requirements, they don’t need to be in a historic district. But we here in our historic district are sensitive about building maintenance because once a cornice, for instance, is beyond repair it costs SO much to re-create, and usually people don’t re-create it to the original profile, they make something cheaper. Crappier.

But another update is that someone sent me a screen print of the warrant. There IS a court ordered warrant out for him but his name is misspelled so probably That is why our neighborhood police officer could not find a warrant

jp1

10-12-19, 7:17am

Interesting idea, using government force to make other people maintain their home to a certain esthetic standard.

dmc

10-12-19, 9:02am

I live in a deed restricted area. They will definatly require you to meet the requirements or will fine you the cost of bringing the home into compliance. If you don’t pay I assume you will be taken to court or at the least a lien will be filled.

It’s very nice here and the only warnings that I know of is the need to have the tile roofs power washed occasionally. You will get a letter and time to comply. You should know the rules when you buy. The “ I fought in the war so I’ll park my RV where I want”. won’t fly here.

iris lilies

10-12-19, 9:34am

Interesting idea, using government force to make other people maintain their home to a certain esthetic standard.

Yes! Bring it on, local government. You do realize this is not the feds pushing a universal one-size-fits-all policy through law? This takes place in a very specific geographic area of a couple square miles. It is local city ordinance. People move here by CHOICE. It is 0PTIONAL to live in this neighborhood. When people move here it is their CHOICE to do so and with that CHOICE comes da rules.

nice try, dude, but no cigar.

And for further information, some of my neighbor’s problems with his building is that his front porch is unsafe. I expect any day now the US post office will stop delivering mail to him because someone is going to fall through the steps on the porch.

Teacher Terry

10-12-19, 12:06pm

iris lilies

10-12-19, 12:55pm

The house next door didn’t have any paint left on it but it was due to money versus not caring. They have owned the house for 50 years and are great neighbors. They finally bought paint and it looks nice. I also find it interesting that some people want small government until it impacts them.

You are deliberately misstating my position.. I want the Federal government to stay out of the jurisdiction of state and local government.

Local jurisdictions—bring on the regulations. CHOICE is good. varying regulations for varying locales. Appropriate. Reasonable.

Do you get it now?

jp1

10-13-19, 1:12pm

I also find it interesting that some people want small government until it impacts them.

Alaskans in the Unorganized Borough seem to be more true to the small government concept. Some places within it have been pressured by the state to form a local government but have so far resisted, preferring to have as little government in their lives at all levels.

Personally I would never live in an historic district or an HOA because I don't especially want a bunch of neighborhood busy-bodies telling me what I can or can't do to my house. Health and safety rules? Sure. But the style of trim or color of paint or whatever? Heck no.

Teacher Terry

10-13-19, 1:33pm

We were in a HOA once and they were like Nazi’s. We got a letter once for weeds in our backyard and it took us a hour to find the literally 2 they were talking about. We left 7 years ago but they finally did something so bad it made the news and they were all voted out.

iris lilies

10-14-19, 3:06pm

yesterday I saw my neighbor, the one who has the warrant, in front of his house. I thought it would be a neighborly thing to do to talk to him briefly about it. I asked him if he knew there was a warrant out for him. He looks surprised and said no. I told him it was about fixing up his house. He said oh OK.

So my conscious is clear because I know that he knows, and if There are consequences from the warrant he had an opportunity to know and do something about it.

catherine

10-14-19, 3:41pm

happystuff

10-14-19, 4:47pm

They would kick me out in a red hot minute. I love dandelions.

I would be kicked out as well, as I love my clothesline.

catherine

10-14-19, 4:51pm

I would be kicked out as well, as I love my clothesline.

I've got one of those, too!

Teacher Terry

10-14-19, 4:57pm

They only cared about the front yard.

happystuff

10-14-19, 5:08pm

They only cared about the front yard.

I think it may depend on the HOA. I have friends in the newer developments in my area and they are not permitted to have a clothesline. One told me they thought that drying racks on the back deck were allowed. Can't speak from experience, though; just what I was told.

Teacher Terry

10-14-19, 5:27pm

Happy, I have heard that too.

Float On

10-14-19, 6:38pm

I have in friend in HOA hell. Trashcans can't be out longer than an hour after the trash truck makes its round. Cars have to be rotated daily if using street parking. Mowing to a certain height and weekly. Just too much. She used to keep a blog about how she'd get in trouble daily with the HOA...but she got in trouble for that and had to take it down. No freedom of speech in that neighborhood. I love my wooded rural neighborhood. We have covenants but nothing to sweat over.

happystuff

10-14-19, 7:34pm

I love my wooded rural neighborhood. We have covenants but nothing to sweat over.

I've never heard of a "covenant". Would you mind explaining that?

Teacher Terry

10-14-19, 9:12pm

Our trash can could be out for 24 hours because people have jobs.

jp1

10-14-19, 10:12pm

I've never heard of a "covenant". Would you mind explaining that?

A covenant typically either requires or restricts certain actions involving the land. For example there were many suburban developments after WWII that had covenants forbidding the sale of the property to black people. (those are no longer enforceable as a result of legal challenges...) They are attached to the deed for the property and carry over when the property is sold. Basically, though, they can be used for anything from restricting the use of the property for any sort of business purpose, to not allowing fences above a certain height (or at all) or not allowing radio antennae for long range radio hobbyists, etc. They can also require actions such as "your public facing yard must have well maintained turf." In some cases HOAs have put them on property deeds when the homes in a development are first sold, in an effort to convince customers that the neighborhood will always be "nice".

jp1

10-14-19, 10:21pm

I have in friend in HOA hell. Trashcans can't be out longer than an hour after the trash truck makes its round.

Our trash can could be out for 24 hours because people have jobs.

I sure hope the trash truck doesn't show up in the middle of the day for FloatOn's friend. Although if it does I suppose there's a business opportunity for someone who could offer the service of moving the cans back to the garage following pickup. Charge everyone $5/week for the service and just spend your days following the trash truck around moving garbage cans.

Back when I was in college in Coral Gables, a ritzy old suburb of Miami, I remember reading an article in the Miami Herald about a guy who was being hassled by his neighbors who reported him to the city because the city didn't allow pickups to be parked in one's driveway. He owned a construction business of some sort and had a brand new truck that he used for work. To get around that rule, and piss off his a-hole neighbors, he bought an ugly old beater car, started parking his truck at the nearby train station and would drive the beater car to/from the train station every day to get to his truck, and leave the beater car in his driveway from the time he got home until he went to work in the morning. It looked infinitely worse, but was in compliance with the rules.

Teacher Terry

10-14-19, 10:55pm

Jp love that story! Our small, older home with no HOA is worth more than our bigger, newer home in the burbs with the PIA HOA:))

happystuff

10-15-19, 6:26am

A covenant typically either requires or restricts certain actions involving the land. For example there were many suburban developments after WWII that had covenants forbidding the sale of the property to black people. (those are no longer enforceable as a result of legal challenges...) They are attached to the deed for the property and carry over when the property is sold. Basically, though, they can be used for anything from restricting the use of the property for any sort of business purpose, to not allowing fences above a certain height (or at all) or not allowing radio antennae for long range radio hobbyists, etc. They can also require actions such as "your public facing yard must have well maintained turf." In some cases HOAs have put them on property deeds when the homes in a development are first sold, in an effort to convince customers that the neighborhood will always be "nice".

As I had said, I've never heard of this. Thanks for the explanation!

catherine

10-15-19, 1:25pm

Back when I was in college in Coral Gables, a ritzy old suburb of Miami, I remember reading an article in the Miami Herald about a guy who was being hassled by his neighbors who reported him to the city because the city didn't allow pickups to be parked in one's driveway. He owned a construction business of some sort and had a brand new truck that he used for work. To get around that rule, and piss off his a-hole neighbors, he bought an ugly old beater car, started parking his truck at the nearby train station and would drive the beater car to/from the train station every day to get to his truck, and leave the beater car in his driveway from the time he got home until he went to work in the morning. It looked infinitely worse, but was in compliance with the rules.

Great story! That restriction would absolutely impact 80% of Vermonters. In fact, conversely, my neighbors prejudged me on the basis of my Prius with NJ license plates, so I'm lucky I was able to drive over the state line!

I've told this story before but when I lived in NJ, one of the neighbors in a nearby community lined his driveway with bowling balls. The neighbors complained all the time, but they had no legal right to make him remove them. So they got one of the neighbors to offer to buy a couple of the bowling balls, and once he accepted their offer, they were able to make him remove his "commercial inventory." So he complied.... and then lined his driveway with vintage rocking horses.

(Ages ago, when I first told this story, I found out that that person is one of this forum's cousins--amazing "small world" story. I don't believe the member is currently active, but if so, I hope they don't mind my retelling it. It's definitely a tale of local yore)