WATERING SCOFFLAWS: Avon Park PD Is Watching

AVON PARK - Satisfying that drought-thirsty lawn on the wrong days of the week or any time Saturday or Sunday could lead to an expensive civil citation of $100 or more, at least in Avon Park.

Avon Park Police officer Jose Molina sprinkled 19 properties Sunday and Monday with citations, including a home on West Pleasant Street that received a $200 fine as a repeat offender. The rest were cited for $100 each. A business and a church were among those ticketed.

It wasn't a special sprinkler patrol, said Avon Park Police Cmdr. Mike Rowan Monday.

"Our officers are all able to enforce code enforcement issues," Rowan said. "During his patrol hours, he found some code enforcement violations and issued the violators some citations."

Molina cited three homes on Tulane Circle, two on West Pleasant Street, two on West Main Street, one on North Lake Avenue, North Verona Avenue, Kendall Boulevard, Golden Age Villas and Grand Oaks Drive.

Molina also issued citations to an insurance business on U.S. 27 North and a church on South Florida Avenue.

The fines are due and payable to the City of Avon Park.

Anyone committing a third or subsequent offense could face a term in the county jail not to exceed 60 days, according to the city's code enforcement department.

It's been some time since the city stopped issuing verbal warnings, according to an official at the code enforcement office. And, since Jan. 1, the code enforcement officers have issued about 12 citations, she said.

Anyone who wishes to contest the citation may do so by contacting the Highlands County Court for a hearing by calling 863-453-7538, within 30 days of the date on the citation. But a civil penalty up to $500 may be applicable per offense.

The original water restriction edict was handed down on Jan. 9, 2007 by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. On Nov. 26, its governing board voted to extend the modified Phase II restrictions, through June 30, 2008, due to a severe water shortage.

Following these water restrictions, if your house, church or business address ends in 0 or 1 watering is permitted on Monday. On Tuesday an address ending in 2 or 3 may water and Wednesday addresses ending in 4 or 5 are allowed. Thursday is for addresses ending in 6 or 7 and Friday watering is allowed at addresses ending in 8 or 9.

Properties less than two acres in size may water before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Properties with more than two acres may water before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Hand-watering of non-lawn landscaping is allowed and variances for new plant materials are available.