A Maplewood resident will not be going to jail for a weeds violation, the city says. The city posted a clarification on Facebook of the article in 40 South News on Maplewood resident Alice Hezel, who was cited for “failure to control weeds-vegetation, habitual offender” by a Maplewood police officer.
Hezel said she could face jail following her Aug. 15 court date. The city refutes that, saying they don’t arrest or jail residents for weeds violations, and no resident of Maplewood is facing possible jail time for a weeds violation. 40 South News is sorry for causing this confusion.
The city’s post:
We want to clarify an inaccuracy that has been posted online:
1. The City of Maplewood doesn’t arrest or jail residents for weeds violations.
2. No resident of Maplewood is facing possible jail time for a weeds violation.
3. The attorney of a Maplewood resident had previously called for a hearing after receiving a citation for a weeds violation, not the City of Maplewood.
The City of Maplewood views this matter as a maintenance issue (lack of cultivation); the type of plants that are being grown is not an issue.
We take our residents’ and business owners’ concerns very seriously and pride ourselves on responding quickly to issues and other matters.
If you have a concern you can call City Hall at 314-645-3600 or use our website forms to contact us.
If sergeant Ross were still alive these tall weed scoff laws would be in Guantanamo Bay.
I think it’s one thing to have strategically placed wild plants growing to help butterflies and bees, but it’s another when wild plant seeds are thrown randomly into a yard for it to grow as it pleases. Good for the resident for wanting to help out nature, but I sure as hell would not want to live next to that mess. Can all the residents sticking up for this honestly say they would not mind if every neighbor on their street decided to let their lawns run wild with wild flowers and plants?
Maplewood the new Vinita Terrace – intimidate and harass your residents with frivolous code violations to generate revenue….
jeez jailed over weeds! what a joke. grow up cities. lol
That comment is completely untrue. I was arrested in 2003 for an unpaid ticket for excessive weeds as I was pulling into my driveway. So yes they do arrest people for that.
Tell that woman I have her covered. She should mow her whole lawn, except for one strip of “mohawk” to let people know it can always get worse. She may be in need of assistance. Maybe contact the boy scouts and organize a community program. I struggle with my lawn also, due to health—so get the underlying story–We have very generous neighbors.
I actually do know a Maplewood resident for which a warrant was issued for her arrest because of twigs that were piled up on the side of her house. Over the winter a tree came down from an ice storm and she had it chopped up and was waiting for the spring to dispose of them. Maplewood sent her notices but because she didn’t recognize the envelop she thought it was “junk mail” and tossed them. When she was pulled over for a minor traffic violation in another municipality, she was handcuffed and put in jail. The arresting officers could not tell her why she was being arrested — only that there was a warrant out for her arrest. She had to post bond and her car was impounded. So the way inwhich cities are dealing with property maintenance bears further scrutiny.
What a kangaroo court system we have in STL county. Other states have had to strip HOAs of all authority because of abuses of power. And these little municipalities are nothing but glorified HOAs.
A number of years ago, the City of Maplewood cited me for many violations and mailed their letters to an incorrect address for over a year. I had given them my correct address a number of times. When they finally put their notices on the correct door knob (with most of the citations invalid (for instance not having an electrical permit for the apt where I was living), I promptly went to city hall after work to take care of things with the city. They fingerprinted me, and photographed me. I couldn’t help laughing as they took my photo because it was for tall weeds. It really wasn’t any fun, though. The city has changed quite a bit over the years, so maybe they don’t arrest people today.
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