Which Town Laws Are Most Ignored? [POLL]

Concerned Long Islander April 10, 2012 at 02:16 pm

Besides illegal apartments, I bellieve many homeowners avoid Town laws regarding remodeling. The Town makes it nearly impossible and too costly for homeowners to abide by the laws requiring all sorts of permits for remodeling..you need a permit for this and a permit for that...and, when you complete filing the papers and paying the requsite fees, they throw the application back at you and say you need even more applications and forms. It's ridiculous. I used to detest homeowners who avoided the necessary applications and permits, but now...I totally get it. If I could start over again, I'd do my renovations WITHOUT the blessing of the Town. It's ridiculous expecting a homeowner to wait nearly a year (sometimes more) from the time of initial applicaiton in order to get the work even started. It's a beaurocratic nightmare and many people are justifiying their positions with the Town by this over- oversight. Come on TOB... get your act together and help the homeowner beautify their dwelling that helps to bring up property values and beautify their neighborhoods.

Concerned Long Islander April 10, 2012 at 02:17 pm

Good gravy... I thought this was on the Town of Oyster Bay Patch. Sorry. However, TOB is far more stringent that Levittown, I believe.

Lou Stein April 10, 2012 at 07:17 pm

Odd - Even lawn watring days

Susan Danna April 10, 2012 at 10:52 pm

They do not pay attention anyway if they did there would be less problems

Amy April 11, 2012 at 12:26 pm

As far as homeowners go... There are a lot who let their property go. Beautiful houses surround and thn you have the sore thumb. Grass overgrown, oil tank plopped in front yard and unregistered vehicles in their driveway (just to name a few). And some of these are on main roads, so whomever passes and wants to live in Levittown must think it's the beginning of the slums.

Joemodeler April 11, 2012 at 02:07 pm

Outside of ordinances: Stupid unnecessary stop signs. That create more dangerous intersections then without them. Further, those drivers that drive the streets frequently are more aware that those signs are not necessary and blow through the signs because it is rare that they encounter a vehicle coming from the opposite direction at the intersection. All of those kids in the vehicles and outside of them are learning a bad lesson from those drivers when it is their time to start driving. But hey it makes the politicians feel good that they are placing stop signs up for speeders when stop signs are not designed for that purpose.

Concerned Long Islander April 11, 2012 at 02:16 pm

I don't necessarily agree with you Joe. I live very near a school. Just a week ago or so, I was with my daughter and her two young children on the street running along the school. There is a stop sign on the street that comes into this street. We were nearly victims of an idiot driver who may "drive the street ...and blow through it because it is rare he encounters a vehicle coming from the oopposite direction at the intersection." WE were coming through and he completely blew the stop sign. Then..he proceeds to get angry at my daughter for continuing to drive. So much so, that at a light a few blocks away, he purposely pulls alongside on the left of her car and guns his car right in front of her. He had this second opportunity to hit our car had she not been vigilant enough to notice his aggressive driving. Perhaps it's agressive driving that's to blame for these many stop signs. Believe me, there are a lot of studies made BEFORE the traffic dept. installs a stop sign. But, there are times when these signs are more helpful than not. Better to err on the side of caution...especially when children are involved.

Chris Spencer April 11, 2012 at 03:36 pm

I voted other. Almost everybody and almost every day commit a traffic violation. From texting to a lane change with no blinker. Speed limit, tail-gaiting and DUI's. I obey the law and I'm a law abiding citizen, but I do sometimes commit traffic violations by accident.

Joemodeler April 11, 2012 at 04:57 pm

Thank you for your response Concerned Long Islander. I hate to say it but there are not many studies done before stop signs are installed in the Towns. Most are placed because politicians are answering to one or a few residents of the neigborhood that complain about speeders. Stop signs are not designed for speeders. I once attended a Legistalor Norma L. Gonsalves Safety forum (?) and I asked a question about the stop signs to the Nassau County Traffic Supervisor (?) at the time, who is an engineer and he informed me that they called the Town streets with many unnecessary stop signs "lollipop lanes." Further, that unnecessary stop signs cause drivers to speed faster between the signs then they would have if the signs did not exist and that when the driver encounters a sign that is proper they will drive through that sign and that is when an accident will occur. To many stop signs cause more accidents than fewer. A four way stop sign intersection is more dangerous than a two way stop sign. This information is available on the Internet and discussed on Town websites throughout the country.

Concerned Long Islander April 11, 2012 at 05:41 pm

I certainly can't rebut your last response to me, Joe. It's been many years since I've attended a Town meeting regarding stop signs. However, I can tell you that, back in the 70s when a child was killed on Portion Road in Farmingville and we marched for a traffic light, we received the same response that traffic lights are more dangerous and cause more accidents...they had a hard time telling that to the mother of the child killed. I can tell you, the towns, the counties, and the states across the country are in dire need of traffic engineers. I read an article saying they are one of the most difficult jobs to replace...no one is being skilled as traffic engineers. and.. it's evident as we look around, isn't it?

Mom of 3 April 11, 2012 at 06:38 pm

I agree with you Amy! As I walk or drive through the neighborhood I come across more and more eyesores. I cannot understand why the town allows a resident to collect junk, cars, garbage, etc. On their property. It's becoming embarassing to live here. I pay over $10,000 in
taxes and have to live amongst these disasters. Gardiners Avenue looks like a slum. I dread when anyone comes to my home and passes through there!

Concerned Long Islander April 11, 2012 at 06:59 pm

To Mom of 3: could some of these houses be houses rented to illegals? That's precisely what happened out in Farmingville years ago. The residents were all up-in-arms and Farningville became known for their illegal alien problem around the world. When Italy began having problems with their illegals coming from Africa, they said "we're turning into another Farmingville." Honest! Do you have a Homeowner's Association? Maybe one can be started. This may even fall within the purvue of your code enforcement officer. I have a feeling the houses have turned into rentals... this is exactly what happens. Tenants really don't care about keeping up the property...after all, kt's not THEIR home!

Bronwyn April 12, 2012 at 12:04 pm

How about the people who block sidewalks with their cars? So many people try to squeeze too many cars in their driveway or just don't pull up all the way and block the sidewalk. This is a problem for people walking with their children, because they have to walk in the street to get around. We need ticketers for these and many other parking violations.

Curt April 12, 2012 at 01:01 pm

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels the stop signs are out of control. When you have to pass eight stop signs to reach your house but only 3 are at intersections that require them it is easy to see how some people would treat these as 'Slightly Tap On Pedal'. And if people treat these signs as such then they loose their overall effectiveness. Also, too many stop signs increases gas usage, air pollution, etc. It's time to review our roads to make them both safe and efficient.

Concerned Long Islander April 12, 2012 at 01:16 pm

For Curt: I understand the frustration of so many stop signs on one stretch of road. However, would you feel more secure without the stop signs and people sped through that community? I'm sure everyone realizes those stop signs are a nuisance and not many people come to a complete stop. However, they are effective in lowering the speed traversed down that stretch--especially with children who play on the sidewalks or streets. Maybe you could suggest speed bumps. I do believe the reason for the stop signs are to keep traffic moving slower than it would without them. You can only imagine how drivers would forget their in a residential area.

GoldenOldie April 12, 2012 at 10:28 pm

Wild parties during the summer with underage drinking, ear piercing, vulgar music blaring @1am. Calling the cops does nothing but embolden these morons. & how bout the idiots who don't think they have to clean up after their dogs? What is wrong with some of these people around here? If you don't want to take responsibility for your dog, you shouldn't own one. Other gripes: teenagers loitering at all hrs of the night causing trouble & nosy, snob elitists who think they can tell you how you should keep your property so they can feel better about themselves. God forbid someone thinks we're not as rich as you pretend to be! You should be more concerned with what's going on inside your own homes than what's going on outside your neighbors. Shame on you you sanctimonious twits!

Mom of 3 April 14, 2012 at 01:56 am

Golden oldie....I agree with you except for the fact that you think that it is snobish to want your neighbor to keep their property neat! It has nothing to do with pretending to be rich. It's about taking pride in your home and community. There is no excuse for garbage strewn properties. Keeping your property neat costs only some elbow grease! Try selling your home when people notice the "mess" across the street or down the block.