Town Uses Google Earth to Look for Illegal Pools

[ajcroteau]

It won't be long till each of us are implemented with an RFID tracking chip implanted under our skin...

 

[potatolord]

There is not enough information to judge whether the permit process is reasonable.

What does the permit process involve? Does it mean that inspected pools must reach minimum safety standards whereas the other pools might not? Is it to do with water consumption in the area?

This won't stop the usual "human rights" people crying foul over what might be a very reasonable and sensible requirement.

 

[boxmann_69]

"Ultimately, you can choose which laws to obey. But this doesn't preclude you from those laws. These individuals committed crimes. They must pay the penalties according to those offenses."

But the police ultimately decide which laws to enforce and which ones to let "slide". When increased revenue is the ultimate reward, what's to stop govt from making practically everything illegal and then choosing the most lucrative and easy offenses to go after?

Just because something's a law doesn't make it "right". Here in Alabama we have many dumb laws on the books. It's still technically illegal here for mixed couples to marry. Should this be strictly enforced because it THE LAW?

 

[wild9]

The border situation with Mexico is shambolic..but hey, that dude's got a pool that's too damn big!! That's gonna do far more damage, eh..after all, we have to get our priorities right. Pity you don't send your bloody satellites over the Southern border, particularly the South Westen United States where the 'Reconquesta' brigade sticks it's proverbial two fingers up at the sky. Where the damage to the environment seen from outer space.

Instead of worrying about bits of water in New York, point your bloody satellites at the views certain business as well as political interests, would rather we didn't see!

 

[Guest]

I skimmed all the comments but didn't see the point I'd like to make. If I missed it I apologize. In the article it states the town is using the free software Google Earth. Google Earth is only free for noncommercial use. In the legal clause it states if the software is to be used for commercial use (generate revenue) then the user must purchase a license (about $400 per person at my company at least). Technically what the town is doing is illegal if they have not procured the proper licensing and are gaining monetarily through Google's product.

 

[rubix_1011]

For all of you who said this was invasion of privacy and can be taken to court; you are correct. Just because the technology exists to enable a city, county or government agency to 'see' you without you knowing, does not give them the right to then charge you with a crime or fees due to this kind of surveillance. This is just as illegal for police officers to run the tags of cars on the highway 'just because'; without probable cause for them to 'investigate' in the first place, does NOT give them the right to go proactively/(reactively?) looking for a way to make money and numbers off of lazy investigational work. Until this can pass as being a legitimate way for an entity to perform records checks and updates, you cannot hold the general public liable and responsible for something they are unaware of being investigated for using questionable information gathering.

 

[TunaSoda]

Yeah, pools from 3 years ago maybe lol

 

[hm_crespo]

In some towns/cities/etc, the police/regulatory agency/etc are restricted to what's in view without the homeowner's conscent. So, say they walk past your house...you have an "illegal" pool in your backyard. If it's in "plain view" of the street....you're SOL. If you have a 6" fence blocking the view of said pool, the police/regulatary agency/etc is SOL because it'd be considered trespassing for them to enter the property without your permission. The same should apply to the use of Google Earth. You have no given Google concent to photograph your property, thus making the action an invasion of privacy. Which would prohibit the police/regulatory agency/etc from legally using Google Earth to further invade your privacy.

I could be wrong about this, but I don't think its illegal to take a picture of anyones property as long as they do not trespass into said property. What would be the difference between this and the town sending inspector to drive around in a vehicle like the one used to fix street lamps, If they use the vehicle from the street then they do not trespass. I also submit that they wouldn't even need to take a picture of the pool as long as the one who sees it has the proper authority, they would technically be a witness. People are just mad because they got caught, If you have an illegal pool then you gotta pay up. I also believe that any construction company that builds a pool without proper city permits is NOT to be trusted to build anything in your home.

 

[Parrdacc]

Well I do not know all the laws in every state but where I live, if the structure in question is already built, and you did it without a permit, they cannot charge you for or with anything; however if code enforcement guys catch you building without a permit, oh boy, your in for some hefty fines.

[citation][nom]TunaSoda[/nom]Yeah, pools from 3 years ago maybe lol[/citation]

Which in this state would be way too late and the county could do nothing.

 

[fishyfish]

[citation][nom]back_by_demand[/nom]As no-one was asked permission for Google to photograph from orbit, could the usage of the pictures constitute an illegal search?See you in court.[/citation]

Don't forget to sue aeroplane pilots who happen to fly above your head.

 

[kingnoobe]

@nezzy if everybody thought like that we'd still be ruled by britian.

Just because something is a law doesn't make it right.

 

[Guest]

Must have used shady contractors. Where I live, when you hire a contractor to do such work for you they include the cost of getting a permit in their estimate and they get the permit for you before starting work. Any contractor that doesn't do that (or at least insist that you get the permit yourself) is flying under the radar. If they are cutting corners on permits, you have to ask yourself if they are cutting corners in other areas as well. Can you really trust them?

 

[grieve]

[citation][nom]cdclndc[/nom]I skimmed all the comments but didn't see the point I'd like to make. If I missed it I apologize. In the article it states the town is using the free software Google Earth. Google Earth is only free for noncommercial use. In the legal clause it states if the software is to be used for commercial use (generate revenue) then the user must purchase a license (about $400 per person at my company at least). Technically what the town is doing is illegal if they have not procured the proper licensing and are gaining monetarily through Google's product.[/citation]
Awesome

 

[jitpublisher]

If you don't like the ordinances, then move. But, what about the contractors? It's a pretty basic fact of construction in just about every city in the nation. If you build something, you need a permit. You can whine about privacy all you want, but unless you are just a complete idiot, you know better. Need that much privacy? Move out of town. If you can afford a pool, you can afford a permit to build it. Reputable contractors include the price of the permit in their quotes, and will take care of all that before they even start construction. Who is to say that these people thought that was exactly the case when they had the pools built? Who the city should crack down on is the shady construction companies who are building without the permits.

 

[anamaniac]

[citation][nom]nezzymighty[/nom]Ultimately, you can choose which laws to obey. But this doesn't preclude you from those laws. These individuals committed crimes. They must pay the penalties according to those offenses. They are harming society because they are not following the letter of the law. Case in point - if your child dies as a result of these standards they didn't follow, that inspectors would have deemed hazardous and requiring correction, then the onus falls on them who broke the law to pay the price. The law is the law.If you decide you are above the law, and start to choose which laws to obey, how many more laws will you begin to ignore as your morals degrade. As the only perfect man said when he walked this earth: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."[/citation]
My morals certainly aren't lacking. I do believe in safety. But I don't believe that the city needs to know every time I wipe my bottom...
The US, for example, was formed on the idea of freedom, yet those who tried to give it to us (the government), want to take it back.
They are plenty of things that can kill you that are perfectly legal.

 

[jitpublisher]

[citation][nom]cdclndc[/nom]I skimmed all the comments but didn't see the point I'd like to make. If I missed it I apologize. In the article it states the town is using the free software Google Earth. Google Earth is only free for noncommercial use. In the legal clause it states if the software is to be used for commercial use (generate revenue) then the user must purchase a license (about $400 per person at my company at least). Technically what the town is doing is illegal if they have not procured the proper licensing and are gaining monetarily through Google's product.[/citation]

LOL, so this city may be fining people for not getting proper permits through 3rd party information that they did not secure the proper permits to use. How ironic!

 

[Guest]

Too bad Riverhead came second - authorities in Athens, Greece have been using Google Earth for a few months now to locate all those who have built a pool without declaring it...

 

[Dirtman73]

I know I shouldn't blame Google for this, but I'm going to anyway.

 

[geoboy]

I'm surprised they used Google Earth at all. Most municipalities carry aerial photos with much higher resolution and more recent as well. This sounds like a decidedly low-tech method, and in the near future, expect automated systems to scan aerials for check for discrepancies between what has been tallied, tagged and entered into a database and what has not. Buildings, pools, ponds, crops and even trees. Very soon people, you won't be able to hide anything in plain sight. Welcome to your future, such as it is.

 

[jgutz2006]

What a waste of taxpayers dollars. Theyre going to pay someone to pull up addresses and permit records of EVERY single arial photo of a pool? Then how do they prove that the homeowner didnt but it like that? If they dont find the permit record....and i bought a house with the pool in it, theyre going to charge ME?

Now, permit prices will go up 10% so that they can pay the $30,000 - 60,000 salary of the guy searching for these pools and they honestly think they will get their moneys back? cmon people.