When cutting grass or trying to get rid of garbage, there are usually guidelines as to where a person can or can't blow grass. Also, the way that they manage waste in general usually comes with strict guidelines. It may seem like surprising news for some, but Ohio state criminal law doesn't have an article that says a person can't blow grass onto the street. This isn't exactly a law that should be taken advantage of, though. Although blowing glass is not inherently illegal in Ohio, if there are things like glass, bottles, and wire, amongst other things, a person can be in deeper trouble as these are labeled as injurious objects in local city codes across the Buckeye State.
Blowing Grass Onto A Roadway is Not Illegal in Ohio, But ...
Although doing this is not technically illegal, there are still a couple of instances that get a person in trouble. Certain homeowners' associations do prohibit grass on roadways. If someone lives in an area that has strict guidelines on this type of thing, it's a good idea to know exactly what they are, and people should make sure they are correctly taking care of the grass.
An Individual Could Still Get Sued Over Clippings In Ohio
A person is probably not going to rack up fines because of clippings on the road. What could potentially rack up, however, are lawsuits. Let's say that motorcyclists go by a property often. If the owner leaves grass clippings on the street and these motorcyclists fall and injury themselves because of the grass clippings, that homeowner could be held liable. While the Ohio state laws do not directly qualify grass clippings as injurious material, a person can still get sued. The city authorities are probably going to search the home, and the owner must defend themselves in court against the interests of the motorcyclists.
How Would They Know They Were My Grass Clippings?
Sticking with the motorcyclists' story, of course, they would have to prove the grass clippings were the homeowners. Also, they would need to verify that the presence of this debris upon the roadway caused the accident. As mentioned, local city code and Ohio state law do not necessarily consider this type of waste hazardous. If they can't find the local article or where it says in Ohio law that the homeowner would be at fault, the homeowner might be fine. In the meantime, they may try to get the homeowner in the media and blame them for the incident! At a minimum, a person might find their home on the local news or in an online news article. The motorcyclists also could force the homeowner to get an attorney, because they might decide to take some legal action.
Is Blowing Grass Clippings Illegal In Other States?
Not every state is as lenient as Ohio is in regard to blowing grass clippings onto a road. There are states such as Florida that have strict guidelines for this, even in local city codes. Don't just look to state legislation for guidance on what to do with clippings, though. If the state does not have a particular code that says a person can't do something, the city could have an article on this. The best idea is to get rid of grass clippings accordingly to please the city, unless a person wants to end up in court or on the news.
Final Thoughts On Blowing Clippings Upon A Roadway
If an individual is thinking about throwing out any type of debris upon a public area, please don't do it! It doesn't matter if a person is in Ohio or a city somewhere else, the consequences could be the same. Although Ohio state law could technically protect a person, too, they may stumble with city code or article. Thus, many accusations could fall upon them. This type of news is probably not something that people are going to want to hear. It's best to stick to the law in this case, no matter where a person lives in Ohio.
Whether you want to know if it is illegal to dumpster dive in Ohio or if it is illegal to smoke in the car with a child in Ohio, The Keating Firm LTD. can help you get the information you need.
Disclaimer: The details included in this blog is offered for educational purposes only, and should not be taken as lawful guidance in any way. No recipients of material from this blog, clients or otherwise, should or should not act on the basis of any material consisted in the blog without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional guidance on the particular facts and situations at issue from an attorney accredited in the recipient's state.