Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Sebastian Thrun: Google's Driverless Car
Long Island Town Uses Google Earth to Find Rogue Swimming Pools
Lillie Coney, associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, D.C. told the AP, "The technology is going so far ahead of what people think is possible, and there is too little discussion about community norms." The decision to use Google Earth probably didn't stem from safety or privacy; the city used a free service to do a faster, more efficient (and invasive) job. It makes perfect fiscal sense, even if it might ruffle some feathers. [From: AP/The Wall Street Journal]
Jennifer Aniston's Effortlessly Sexy Style
Whitney Houston Dead: Singer Dies at 48, Body Found in Beverly Hilton Hotel
PHOTOS: Best And Worst Of Grammy Dresses
Whitney Houston Dead: Stars React to Legend's Sudden Death
Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina: Late Singer's Daughter Hospitalized
Sheryl Crow Loves To Flaunt Toned Physique
Whitney Houston Autopsy: Cause of Death Determined?
Grammy Red Carpet 2012 (PHOTOS)
QUIZ: How Much Do You Know About Marriage In The U.S.?
Tips for flying cheaper in 2012
There's only one thing to do when the Nürburgring is covered in snow...
Comforter Soaked In Blood Found In Josh Powell's Storage Unit
Tax Reform in This Election Year: It's Not Likely
Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown: Ex-Husband Honors Singer Onstage
PHOTOS: Remembering Whitney Houston's Glittering Style
Best Things to Buy in February
14 Years Of Christina Ricci's Beauty Looks
LINSANITY CONTINUES
15 Obnoxious Notes From Roommates
Ice Ice Baby: Amsterdam Canals Freeze Solid (PICTURES, VIDEO)
Nicolas Ghesquiere's 1960s Style Muse
Nic Cage Addresses Vampire Rumors On 'Late Show'
Beyonce & Jay-Z Aim To Trademark Blue Ivy Carter
TV's Best Music Moments
The Happiest People In The World...
Chloë Moretz Is All Grown Up
White House Bending On Birth Control Rule
PHOTOS: Who WIll Be This Year's Cover Girl?
PHOTOS: Makeup Malfunction!
PHOTOS: Gisele Hits The Runway For Alexander Wang
TV Shows That Last Too Long
Comments
29
Subscribe to commentsBertAug 2nd 2010 6:28PM
As long as there is a confirmation visit, before a tax bill is sent, I don't see the issue with it.
Google Maps / Earth satellite/aerial pictures can be several years out of date, particularly in older, static developments. Pools can be constructed and torn down. It should not be a tax first, credit later sort of thing.
ZaZapperAug 3rd 2010 10:04AM
Who says George Orwell got it wrong in 1984? Sure looks like big brother is watching YOU!!!!
brachm5Aug 3rd 2010 10:21AM
Theft of service comes to mind. People will try to keep their money in their pocket, causing others to pick up the tab. I think that it called "stealing".
TomAug 3rd 2010 10:55AM
I don't see where "theft of services" comes into play.
Who is stealing what services from whom?
The pool owners are probably paying for water and electricity.
My guess is the town is more concerned about collecting permitting fees than it is about the safety of the homeowners and neighbors.
Also, by requiring permits, the town gets to inspect the property, update the valuation, and increase the property taxes.
SamAug 3rd 2010 10:34AM
Now these swimming pool criminals will have to pay a union plumber and electrician to inspect and repair the renegade pools. Tell me the unions don't have our fearless leaders by the balls.
Lindy10479Aug 3rd 2010 11:58AM
I highly doubt a Union Electrician or Plumber will be doing the work. These smaller jobs are usually done by a smaller contractor. The ONLY person that makes any money on a job of this type....the local government that is collecting permit and inspection fees.
Amberbe185Aug 3rd 2010 10:42AM
WOW! Government always finds a way other than our Millions in taxes to screw us out of more money. I long for the days when what you built and did on your own land was YOUR business.
LarryAug 3rd 2010 11:59AM
To Amberbe185:
As long as any structures are built properly and safely, I completely agree with you.
I grew up in the country where we could do whatever we wanted on our property.
By helping my experienced elders and contractors, and by reading, I became proficient at domestic construction, roofing, wiring, etc.
After college, I moved to Austin, TX for employment and bought a small house.
I wanted to expand the living space, so I added a 12' X 22' sunroom.
It had a 12-foot peaked ceiling, 4' X 4' skylights, ceiling fan, glass all around, wet bar, tile floor, pass-through to the kitchen, glass in the 12-foot peak to provide a view of the treed backyard, etc.
I hired a licensed concrete contractor to pour the slab and a licensed electrician to run a new feed from the outsde meter to a breaker box I had installed in the sun room.
The electrician inspected and assured me that all of the wiring work I had done through the walls and ceiling met code.
(He also commented that I had gone overboard on my framing and structure.)
(I'm 56 yo, have built a lot of structures, and not one of them has rotted or failed.)
I did all of the framing, roofing, electrical, flooring, plumbing, and interior finishing.
With me doing all of the labor except for the 2 specialty contractors, the room cost me only $6K. I had been given quotes of from $30K to $35K by commercial contractors.
Of course, that was in 1980 and it took me a year to complete, but that room is what sold the house.
I knew that my work was "up to snuff" and I didn't want to mess with Austin permits, fees, inspectors, and increased taxes, so I never got a permit.
I'm convinced that building permits on residential properties are primarily a means to collect fees and increase property taxes.
The information in this article indicates that the Long Island town is assessing fines averaging $300 per swimming pool.
What a bunch of crap!
Now....., how much will the homeowners' tax bills increase?
Michael giffordAug 3rd 2010 1:08PM
the people who got caught are probably pissed at google...as if it's their fault they got fined, completely avoiding the fact that the pool owner's themselves are the ones who violated the law in the first place.
CoopAug 3rd 2010 10:53AM
Trees and cammo nets. . . Then I'm going to paint "F___ You" in 10' letters on my roof!
LAug 3rd 2010 1:35PM
LOL! I couldn't agree with you more!!!
JoeAug 3rd 2010 11:12AM
'The city claims that this rash of unregulated pools could have faulty plumbing or electrical work, which would endanger Riverhead residents." What GARBAGE!!! Ya know, at least give the people (US) a little respect and tell it like it really is. They don't give a RIP about that so-called faulty plumbing or electrical work, they are just finding a way to get more money from it's residents PERIOD! I'm not saying what they are doing is wrong, all I'm saying is they should give us a little more respect in telling the truth rather than actually thinking that we would believe such garbage. Faulty plumbing and /or electrical work...yeah right! lol Is there really people who actually believe this kind of crap? If so, they are truly sheep!
DonAug 3rd 2010 11:21AM
Way to go!! Now if it could only find tax cheats and other crooks we would be in great shape. Oh, sorry, Washington DC is a no fly zone and besides, it doesnt have enough jail space. Remember November. Regardless of party, those with more than one term need to go. Like Rangly, he will retire at full pay instead of being tossed out on his crooked ear and loose everything. We want our Country back!
herman schweikertAug 3rd 2010 11:25AM
Shades of Germany 1936. What's next?
JEB BUCKINGHAMAug 3rd 2010 11:22AM
Obviously, this small town in New York has tons of money and NOTHING better to do with it than spy on citizens with "rogue" swimming pools. Great job, guys.
brian1russAug 3rd 2010 11:29AM
What a "CROCK", these pools look like above ground pools and the owners probably didn't know they needed a permit for a temporary stucture. Just a money maker for the town in FINES. The permit is probably cheap. Sounds like it's time to OUST the elected officials and get new ones to repeal these LAWs.
fredhstclrAug 3rd 2010 11:44AM
AH HA BIG BROTHER is watching
rrmeadeAug 3rd 2010 11:56AM
Rogue swimming pools! That's it. Time to move to Canada. But seriously, folks. Is this what passes for news? How about the thousands dying in the Congo so we can have coltan in our cell phones? Why doesn't the news cover that? Oh! It's Africa...I get it. That big continent thsat sends us hurricanes. Okay.
matthewzurasAug 3rd 2010 12:02PM
@rrmeade
Not that it relates to this post, but we actually did write about violence in the Congo recently:
http://www.switched.com/2010/06/28/a-reason-to-wait-for-iphone-4-rape-and-genocide-in-the-congo/
catnip343dAug 3rd 2010 1:13PM
What's coltan please?