JUPITER, Florida - November 16, 2009 - An overgrown lawn could soon cost a homeowner $1,000 a day.

A plan to quadruple the penalty from the current maximum of $250 per day for a first violation is scheduled for consideration at Tuesday night's town council meeting.

A repeat violation by the same person would be boosted to $5,000 a day maximum from $500 per day.

If the code enforcement board finds that the violation is irreversible - the unapproved removal of an historic tree, for example - then the violator would face a maximum fine of $15,000. The current maximum penalty is $5,000.

"That's outrageous," said Stefan Harzen, a member of the property owners association for the Woodland Estates neighborhood. Increasing the fines will not result in prettier neighborhoods, he said. "This is an easy way for the town to get more money," said Harzen.

Higher penalties are needed to deter flagrant violators, said Councilman Robert Friedman. A landlord who allows too many people to live in a house simply sees the current fine as a cost of doing business, he said.

"Code enforcement needs a larger hammer," said Friedman.

Last year, Jupiter's seven-person Code Enforcement Division collected about $39,000 in fines, according to town records.

Ed. Note: This is why you never want to live under a homeowners association. They are miniature fascist dictatorships. Of course, if you do not accept government benefits or privileges, then the fascist homeowners assocations cannot enforce their dictatorial will against you! But in any case, if I choose not to mow my lawn, whose business is it anyway? What about FREEDOM? Revolution Now! Independence Forever!