Court Rules Living ‘Off The Grid’ Is Illegal [Florida]

[DCPatriot]

Court Rules Living ‘Off The Grid’ Is Illegal




For many it’s a live long dream to get “off the grid” and live self-sufficiently. But unplugging from municipal services has been ruled illegal by a court in Cape Coral, Florida.

Special Magistrate Harold S. Eskin ruled that Robin Speronis is not allowed to live on her own private property without being hooked up to the city’s water system

He admitted that she had the right to live without utility power, but said that her alternative power sources must always first be approved by the city.

Speronis has been taking a stand for years not against the city of Cape Coral. Back in November of 2013 a code enforcement officer attempted to evict her for “living without utilities.”

The city’s argument is that the International Property Maintenance Code was “violated” by her reliance on rain water rather than paying the city for water. The IPMC also would make it a crime for her to use solar panels instead of being tied into the electric grid.

“It was a mental fistfight,” Todd Allen, Speronis’ attorney said regarding Eskin’s review of the case. “There’s an inherent conflict in the code.”

Allen says that at this point the argument is just that Speronis must “hook up” to the grid, even if she doesn’t use utilities from it.

more at:  http://countercurrentnews.com/2015/06/court-rules-living-off-the-grid-is-illegal/

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[Charlespg]

WTF ?

[alicewonders]

How did we ever get ourselves to a point where a group of pissy little totalitarians are telling all of us how the hell we have to live our lives?

 

[truth_seeker]

How did we ever get ourselves to a point where a group of pissy little totalitarians are telling all of us how the hell we have to live our lives?

 

They have a self-interest, in the markups, taxes, fees etc. which go along with public utility bills, I assume almost everywhere.

They probably write the ordinances and rules, for approval by boards and councils, which are also self-interested.

[DCPatriot]

Probably has a lot to do with not allowing neighborhoods to deteriorate into 'tent' cities.

,,,or Detroit-like.

[olde north church]

How did we ever get ourselves to a point where a group of pissy little totalitarians are telling all of us how the hell we have to live our lives?

 

How?  Because most bureaucrats and law writers aren't worth the jail time?

[Dexter]

Probably has a lot to do with not allowing neighborhoods to deteriorate into 'tent' cities.

,,,or Detroit-like.

More efforts to make homelessness illegal.

[andy58-in-nh]

How did we ever get ourselves to a point where a group of pissy little totalitarians are telling all of us how the hell we have to live our lives?

 

By not saying "no" often enough.

[GourmetDan]

How did we ever get ourselves to a point where a group of pissy little totalitarians are telling all of us how the hell we have to live our lives?

Ever-increasing regulation and control is and always has been the nature of government at every level...

[DCPatriot]

Had read recently that even large puddles on your own land are under strict federal control.

This, with recent report that the global water table is sinking at an alarming rate makes one wonder.....

That said, hasn't anybody heard of desalination of ocean water?  Geez.

[alicewonders]

Had read recently that even large puddles on your own land are under strict federal control.

This, with recent report that the global water table is sinking at an alarming rate makes one wonder.....

That said, hasn't anybody heard of desalination of ocean water?  Geez.

Really.  I'm no scientist - but the same amount of water that was here on earth thousands - maybe millions of years ago - we still have that same amount of water, don't we?  It just keeps moving around and going through different chemical transformations.  Am I wrong about that?

[truth_seeker]

Had read recently that even large puddles on your own land are under strict federal control.

This, with recent report that the global water table is sinking at an alarming rate makes one wonder.....

That said, hasn't anybody heard of desalination of ocean water?  Geez.

Desalinization is a big controversy. The largest plant in the Western Hemisphere is nearly completed in Carlsbad, north of San Diego. Our town is near final consideration for an identical plant.