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PG County takes on cluttered lawns

Fines help offset low tax revenue

By Amanda DeBard | Wednesday, July 2, 2008

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The Prince George's County Revenue Authority, its tax receipts sputtering as home prices plunge, has adopted a novel way to brake the slide.

By cracking down on front lawns that resemble used-car lots and on trucks parked in residential areas, the authority reckons it can collect some of the $15 million in unpaid tickets and make neighborhoods more attractive to potential home buyers and prospective businesses.

"A lot of the enforcement is for aesthetics because things are disorderly looking, but we also want to increase property values and make the community more livable," said Troy Thompson, director of parking operations for the authority.

The aggressive enforcement of existing laws began June 17 after nearly 20 years of discussion, officials said.

Two cars, a sport utility vehicle, a dump truck, worn-out rubber tires, rusted car batteries, red gasoline cans, a pop-up camper and other refuse engulfed in weeds grace Cheverly resident John Gasaway's front yard.

Revenue authority officials ticketed Mr. Gasaway $500 for the illegally parked truck as part of a crackdown on commercial vehicles parked in residential areas.

Mr. Gasaway compared the approach to wiretapping phones, saying officers are invading his privacy by stepping foot onto his property.

Some disagree.

"There's no question that there needs to be a tightening up of cars parked in front lawns," said lifelong county resident Ed Haraway.

Mr. Haraway, who has worked in real estate for 20 years, said clients have said, "I just don't like the feel of this area," when they see the parking clutter. He said he has heard more complaints about Prince George's County than other areas.