I used to follow someone who would do this on TikTok. I recall him saying that he could get fined for doing it instead of the people being paid to do so.
If for some reason something went wrong, it could be considered “tampering or defacing” public property. For example, if the drain had been intentionally blocked because of a maintenance issue, like a clog in the line. Usually that would marked off with tape and cones.
In my town when that happened, all of the surrounding neighbors received a knock on the door and a flyer to warn them. We were notified that the drain was being intentionally blocked for a few days while the town was waiting on a county pump truck to clear a clay mud clog /storm debris. (There is a railroad and their clay berm under an overpass washes out every few years when we get big rain)
We were at increased risk of flash flooding regardless of whether they blocked it but if they didn’t block it, it could flood 6 more blocks before it reached a branch line. The previous time that happened, 3 cars were washed down the hill and a manhole cover was washed away and damaged a police car blocking the flooded intersection. They had the fire department on standby with their hoses to pump water up to the branch off just in case. They also put up “No Parking” “Warning: Flash flood risk”signs and had an officer posted in the area to warn people when we had a squall line if heavy thunderstorm go through.
For the record: The only way I could see someone being charged though is if a civil employee was a petty ass… or it was a previously warned of situation like this.
Because the people that cause you trouble (law enforcement) are not the same people that decide if you are in trouble (courts) and the time spent between A and B can be expensive. Interesting that the city could potentially charge you for this but they would instantly shred any bills you send the city for water damage to your vehicle.
No, my city actually works and does its job well with the money they receive from us Taxpayers.
And if they don’t do their job well, they will pay for damages because I don’t live in a hellscape where the government hates their citizens. And this entire process is all online and quite simple.
Imagine thinking it’s weird for a Government body to pay for the damage caused by them (either through action or inaction). That’s wild.
First, they didn't "take him to court". The environmental agency only investigated because he didn't bother getting a permit or do a survey to see if it would cause a flood risk further down stream.
Second, that idiot used heavy machinery to dredge the stream, which damaged the riverbank, tree roots and removed silt. He also removed old flood barriers because in his opinion "are no longer needed & are killing the river" without actually doing flood risk survey.
- Don't use freaking heavy machinery that damages the local habitat without proper protection. There are other more labor-intensive methods that would achieve the same goal without ruining everything around the workarea.
- pay for a proper survey before removing previously installed flood barriers that only he deemed unnecessary. Pretty sure all the neighbours downstream will have a whole different opinion than what he thinks is needed/not needed.
You sound like the arrogant guy who thinks they know everything and only their opinion is right, while screwing everyone around them because you're too lazy to do it the right way.
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u/elmontyenBCN 1d ago
I find it very unsatisfying that a private citizen has to do this instead of a public employee.