In the last post, we delved into an instance of “When Systems Fail.” Unfortunately, another case has surfaced, bringing with it numerous red flags and critical questions to consider. Where to even begin?
This time, a staggering fine of $1,097,400 had accumulated over more than a decade—all for what were described as “minor infractions.” Yet, the situation raises serious concerns:
- No Record of the Fines: Astonishingly, the fines were not formally recorded anywhere, such as liens or other mechanisms that would alert relevant parties.
- Lack of Notification: “Government agencies do not have to notify a new owner about the fines, allowing them to grow”, would periodic attempts at notification not be prudent?
- Foreclosure and Ownership Confusion: “The city wasn’t notified of the foreclosure.” But does that matter here? Were the fines tied to the property itself or the owner? As ownership had changed, why wasn’t this reconciled sooner?
- Vacant Property Registry Overlooked: The city has maintained a vacant property registry since 2010. Was this resource not utilized to verify ownership or occupancy? If it had been, perhaps the situation could have been addressed more promptly.
Then there’s the glaring issue of optics. When the file was eventually “found,” no one thought twice about mailing this decade-old bill for “minor infractions”? Even sending it to the original owner raises questions about judgment.
This case isn’t an isolated misstep. Florida has seen its share of similar controversies:
- Dunedin man settles with city following 2 lawsuits over $30K fines for tall grass
- A Florida woman was fined $100,000 for a dirty pool and overgrown grass. When do fines become excessive?
What lessons were learned from these cases? Judging by the city’s initial action of mailing the letter and its initial response—advising the homeowner to negotiate with the collection agency—it seems like very few.
As with the previous example I discussed, I truly hope (believe?) these are the exceptions to the rule, yet still why hasn’t anyone, either within the system or externally, stepped up to say: “Enough!”
This isn’t just about efficiency —it’s about accountability, fairness, and common sense.