Local governments can inspect inside your private home

The Asheville Tribune ^ | 7/26/02 | By Clint Parker

[OBAFGKM]

Asked what would happen if a person didn't have the money to fix something such as an elderly woman on a fixed income. "Well, we have neighborhood associations. So we would probably go to the neighborhood association and see if there's any help." Asked what would happen if there were no help available from the association, Wallner said, "Then we would ask then to get in touch with... We would do what we could, but at some point someone's got to fix the broken window."

Sheesh! Looks like it would be easier, quicker, and cheaper if Mr. Wallner just drove out and fixed it himself!

[freeeee]

Wallner said that they have had the right since the 1960s to inspect the inside of the home if they had a petition that was signed by five neighbors.

Amendment IV, according to Montreat, NC:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, does not exist, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon the petition of five nosy busy-bodies, supported by suspicion or any other reason or even no reason at all, and particularly describing the shakedown we'll give you, and the person's whose rights are to be egregiously violated."

Seriously, this is no less than I would expect from a communist country. How sad.

[mondonico]

Asked what would happen if a homeowner refused to allow inspectors into the house without a warrant, Wallner replied, "We get an administrative search warrant. Then they have to let us in, but that never happens."

This is ridiculous. An "administrative search warrant" is nothing more than a piece of paper. Search warrants are issued by judges upon a demonstration of probably cause by the requesting agency (police or otherwise). The judge performs a critical, constitutional gatekeeping function.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

THIS IS MOST DANGEROUS THING I'VE EVER SEEN TO HIT THIS COUNTRY!Zoning&planning commissions as well as any government offices should be eliminated from all communities,THERE IS NO "BUGGER MAN"we need protection from.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Next they will want to tell you that you can't drive an SUV.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Sounds like North Carolina of the Old South is becoming more and more like today's New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. I'm in MA, and that's the sort of invasive government busybody-ness I'd expect people to ask for here.

I'm thinking of moving to New Hampshire, where things are still a bit like they used to be. Maine, strangely enough, is dominated by the liberals that have flooded into the southern part of the state, although government is often ignored in the more rural areas DownEast.

[jimkress]

hot water heaters

Why do you have to heat hot water?

[galt-jw]

yeah, but you are free, remember? now pay your damn taxes or get thrown in jail, serf.

[freeeee]

I'm thinking of moving to New Hampshire, where things are still a bit like they used to be.

Think again. Massholes are ruining the place.

Maine, strangely enough, is dominated by the liberals that have flooded into the southern part of the state, although government is often ignored in the more rural areas DownEast.

You just described NH, to a tee.

[07055]

Virginia recently enacted a law that allows the state to inspect the homes of people fostering rescued dogs, without warrant or notice, if the state vet thinks there may be a problem.

I am part of a group that is trying to overturn this unconstitutional power grab against private citizens who are only trying to help dogs in need---dogs that would likely be killed if they remained in the government shelters.

The courts are great in theory, but it takes big bucks to bring a constitutional challenge.

[cva66snipe]

PING! The government property kings are at it again.

[cgbg]

though government is often ignored in the more rural areas DownEast.

You just described NH, to a tee.

And most of rural New England in all six states.

These North Carolina rules make it impossible for poor people to live in their communities. That snob zoning has been a very clever tool in the hands of "limousine liberals" to increase their property values by keeping the hoi polloi out while claiming the virtues of environmentalism. Such communities are momuments to the hypocrisy of liberals.

[Pearls Before Swine]

RE your #10:

"Massholes" -- I like it!

As for the spillover into NH, that's depressing. Maybe I can help if I go north.

[cva66snipe]

Sounds like a law to produce reverse Robin Hood results to me. Just when I think our government at federal, state, and local levels, can't sink to new unconstitutional lows in conducting their business or rather trying to conduct others business for them, they prove me wrong everytime. The local well known clergy needs to preach a sermon on robbing widows and the poor's homes and purses.

[Jhoffa_]

He then sighed and said, "Ordinances were made to be followed. They're not all good."

You got it.

I don't know why people feel they have this right to make money on an investment. You see it everywhere from Enron all the way down to home ownership.

People invest money and make a profit, that's great! If they invest money and lose it? Well, then it's someone elses fault.

IMO your right to do what you want with regard to the appearance of your home trumps this fake "right" your neighbors have to make a profit on their investment.

Otherwise, you have situations like this where towns are grabbing land under immenient domain to build shopping malls and homeowners associations have to approve the color of your house.

It get's ridiculous and as long as it's not their ox being gored and they stand to profit, don't expect your neighbors to say a word in opposition.

[willyone]

Seems like there is a never ending supply of the same North East Socialists who have also ruined Calif. first thing they do is seize control and start imposing the rules they want. The locals wake up too late to what has been done. Idaho has also been over run by these idiots and even Nevada is about to be taken over.

[BlessingInDisguise]

Yet more civil liberties sacrificed in the name of "Safety".

[weikel]

Fear of death is the beginning of slavery.

[laredo44]

Is there doubt in any mind that this is just part of the crap the Founding Fathers were trying to protect us from when they attempted to limit the powers of government? Too bad we couldn't stick to it. Unfortunately, there are far too many penny-ante dictators around. And they just gravitate to jobs like these planning and zoning commission positions where they can make up the rules. They are so absolutely convinced of the importance of their latest brain fart they have no compunction about making new laws. They will stop at absolutely nothing. The Constitution has no meaning to them.