What is TRASH, JUNK, GARBAGE, WASTE, REFUSE, WEEDS?

[admin]

Only the code officer knows.

No matter what the label is, no matter what issue is, only the code officer knows what these things are. This is the inherent problem with this law. It is 100% subjective and speculative. When the code officer signs the administrative citation, you are presumed guilty. This is why your first appearance is called an appeal.

Code officer says your refrigerator (that simply needs refrigerant setting on your porch waiting for repair) is JUNK. It is junk? He spies it from the road and assumes its junk and issues you a house ticket.

Code officer says you have overgrown weeds on your property when 100 acres next door owned the the City is filled with natural desert landscape. Do you have weeds?

We and others began fighting these issues. The law that has developed was never intended to be used as it is - a money making arm of the City. How do cities make money? Taxes. And now tickets. If you have the time and the stones to fight these money grabbing acts - you can and you should.

For example the city of Los Alamitos a, two square mile city, has issued 2.4 BILLION in traffic tickets!

https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news ... alifornia/

A complete explanation coming shortly.

The main issue with all of these labels is that it is the code officer who decides what is objectively reasonable. Most code officers are not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and probably cannot spell objectively. That is the issue you will need to dispute in court. How many X are too many? Was it junk to everyone or was it junk to the code officer so he could issue the citation?

The LAW works with definitions. So, you ARGUE the definitions in court. It is not TRASH your honor, TRASH would be some item I do not want, and I do want these items. REFUSE is different, its worthless, the code officer was acting SUBJECTIVELY not OBJECTIVELY.

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What exactly is:

TRASH: Trash is something you don't want.

JUNK: Junk is something that cannot be used; discarded articles that are considered useless or of little value (to you).

GARBAGE: Garbage is food waste.

WASTE: Material that is not wanted.

REFUSE: Something that has been thrown away as worthless or useless (to everyone and anyone); waste; trash; garbage.

SALVAGE: Some item that someone else did not want but you find value in. As in 40" televisions in Beverly Hills which are curb finds... as everyone must have 85" televisions in Beverly Hills or you are not cool. Some code officers would say this is trash, but trash to a 20m home owner may be gold to those who struggle.

WEEDS: A weed is a plant you don't want in a certain location. (there is no plant named weed)

The term "Weed" as a general descriptor

The term is entirely dependent on context and the perspective of the observer.

Misplaced plants: A plant is called a weed simply because it is growing where it is not wanted. For example, a dandelion is a weed in a manicured lawn but a wildflower somewhere else.

Aggressive growers: Many plants labeled as weeds are aggressive competitors that can outcompete and harm desirable vegetation by consuming resources like sunlight, nutrients, and water.

Native vs. non-native: The designation "weed" can also apply to both native plants that are troublesome in certain locations and non-native, invasive species.

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Example - we received two citations and a photo from a code officer in Bullhead City, AZ. She cited her ordinance "remove all weeds." We wrote her a letter stating there are no weeds on the property. We asked her to be specific and show the code to remove certain plants. She was totally frustrated. There are no plant species names in the city code. We told her that "natural landscape" was acceptable. Never heard from her or the citation again.