A Dunedin, Florida man, Jim Ficken, faced fines equating to $30,000 for unkempt grass while he was caring for his late mother's estate. Uninformed of these fines during his absence, he faced potential home confiscation. The Institute for Justice intervened on Ficken's behalf, arguing his fine was unconstitutional, but a judge disagreed. Critics highlight the absurdity of such harsh penalties for minor violations, raising concerns about government overreach and the impact of local ordinances on residents.
"If $30,000 for tall grass in Florida is not excessive, it is hard to imagine what is." — IJ attorney Ari Bargil.
"City bureaucrats started fining him. But they didn't tell Ficken that."
"I call a $30K penalty for not cutting your lawn absurdly excessive."
"They fined me $32,000 for a hole the size of a quarter in my stucco . . ."
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