Madison Park

Actually it has always been a violation to put yard waste out, roll cans out, or bulky items out on the curb before the day prior to pick up.  That someone might be the inspector herself.   We have a new inspector over this area.  Inspectors have always been able to do field observations.   There is a link now on this web site that is currently on the home page of common code violations.   These are all city violations.  None were created by Madison Park. We posted it on our site for educational purposes.

Hopefully your violation was just the blue warning card like what was shared with me initially by the resident that had the clear bag option checked (which is being corrected by the city) and not the fine. 

I think code officers generally trys to educate first then fine on repeat violators.  If you did not get a fine with it then it was done for that purpose by the inspector.  Glad you posted anyway so others know.

Yes, it was the blue card.  It was not a field observation, as you suggested.  If this was the case, there would be blue tags on a whole lot of doors.  Take a ride today and see how many folks have yard waste, including bagged leaves at the curb.  I was told by the inspector that she was called to come out.

I understand the violation but I also know enough to say that everyone who does yard work does not wait until the day before pick up to put waste on the curb.  In fact, most people do yard work on the weekend and it sits there until pickup on Wednesday or Thursday.  Should the city be called on everyone so that an inspector can come out and leave a blue card? 

I have lived in this neighborhood for 34 years and "back in the day" your neighbors came and talked to you if there was a problem (raking your yard and leaving bagged leaves on the curb for more than one day was never a crime).  Now they pick up the phone and dial 311!

That does seem unfair that you were singled out.  I know there were a lot of leaves out because I snatched some for my garden at one location.    I was actually surprised when I first was contacted about the blue card a few weeks ago at another location and their leaves.   I had not recalled ever hearing anyone get warned for it.   When I first moved to the neighborhood I did a lot of shrub cutting and I got in trouble by CMPD and by Waste Management.  I honestly didn't know I had done anything wrong.    It took a month to get all my stuff up.  I was glad when it was gone.  Most people complain when their neighbors don't rake them since on a windy day they blow in their yards.  I hear that all the time.

Anyway glad she didn't give you a ticket with a fine.