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Google Earth Used To Find Unlicensed Pools

j-mac

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I didn't see this story anywhere on PG 1, so hopefully it isn't already posted, if it is I apologize.

As I was posting on another thread about a little girl selling Lemonade, I thought of this story...

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. - A town on New York's Long Island is using Google Earth to find backyard pools that don't have the proper permits.

The town of Riverhead has used the satellite image service to find about 250 pools whose owners never filled out the required paperwork.

Violators were told to get the permits or face hefty fines. So far about $75,000 in fees has been collected.

Google Earth Used To Find Unlicensed Pools


Ahhh....The state....How would we ever survive without them to tell us what to do, how to act, how much we can earn, how much we should give...etc.

I just love how my freedoms are stripped from me, it is sooooooooo reassuring.


j-mac
 
Because cheating on your taxes is permitted by the constitution.............
 
I didn't see this story anywhere on PG 1, so hopefully it isn't already posted, if it is I apologize.

As I was posting on another thread about a little girl selling Lemonade, I thought of this story...


Ahhh....The state....How would we ever survive without them to tell us what to do, how to act, how much we can earn, how much we should give...etc.

I just love how my freedoms are stripped from me, it is sooooooooo reassuring.


j-mac



I think this is a violation of privacy. If they can't see it with their own eyes and have to use some sort of equipment(satellite, flir or some other device) to look onto your property then they should need a warrant. And a satellite image does not say when the pool was built so that pool could have been there before the owner bought the property or built before they enacted so sort of idiotic tax or pool permit, especially if you got the free google earth which rarely updates its satellite images.

Yes the thread story has been done before.
 
I didn't see this story anywhere on PG 1, so hopefully it isn't already posted, if it is I apologize.

As I was posting on another thread about a little girl selling Lemonade, I thought of this story...




Ahhh....The state....How would we ever survive without them to tell us what to do, how to act, how much we can earn, how much we should give...etc.

I just love how my freedoms are stripped from me, it is sooooooooo reassuring.


j-mac
This isn't a problem with big brother, it's a problem with the advancement in technology. No rights have been stripped, if you have a pool pay the taxes and you're in the clear.
 
I think this is a violation of privacy. If they can't see it with their own eyes and have to use some sort of equipment(satellite, flir or some other device) to look onto your property then they should need a warrant. And a satellite image does not say when the pool was built so that pool could have been there before the owner bought the property or built before they enacted so sort of idiotic tax or pool permit, especially if you got the free google earth which rarely updates its satellite images.

Yes the thread story has been done before.
Whether the property has a pool or not should be on file from when the last time the house was sold, shouldn't it?

Just asking, I'm not really sure if it would be or not.
 
This isn't a problem with big brother, it's a problem with the advancement in technology. No rights have been stripped, if you have a pool pay the taxes and you're in the clear.


BS. It is clearly a privacy issue. government should not be using this to peer into your private property without a warrant. This is clearly a revenue grab that is all, and as such should be fought.


j-mac
 
This isn't a problem with big brother, it's a problem with the advancement in technology. No rights have been stripped, if you have a pool pay the taxes and you're in the clear.

You have a reasonable expectation of privacy on your own property. How close are they looking? Can they see teenage girls in their bathing suits? How about overweight people who wouldn't be caught dead in public wearing a bathing suit?
Do we have no right to privacy anymore?
Jobs are needed. Hire some people to investigate unlicenced pools. If there are that many out there the fines will more than cover the cost and it will stimulate the economy.
 
BS. It is clearly a privacy issue. government should not be using this to peer into your private property without a warrant. This is clearly a revenue grab that is all, and as such should be fought.


j-mac
What about if they just saw it when a gate to your back yard was open or something? What's the difference? The government didn't create google earth and patch all of the images together. It's a very easy and free way to look into someone's yard to look for a pool and I just don't see any difference between that and a government inspector getting on the roof of the next door house to look at something and noticing that you have a pool that could be unlicensed. Simple way out of it... pay the taxes.
 
You have a reasonable expectation of privacy on your own property. How close are they looking? Can they see teenage girls in their bathing suits? How about overweight people who wouldn't be caught dead in public wearing a bathing suit?
Do we have no right to privacy anymore?
Jobs are needed. Hire some people to investigate unlicenced pools. If there are that many out there the fines will more than cover the cost and it will stimulate the economy.
It's not the governments fault that google earth was created. Fuss at google if you don't like the idea of it.

You have privacy in your backyard. Google earth isn't a webcam, it updates an area very rarely (at least around my house the picture has to be ten years old or older) and it's just one quick snapshot. Noone knows where you're at or what you're doing using google earth.
 
What about if they just saw it when a gate to your back yard was open or something? What's the difference? The government didn't create google earth and patch all of the images together. It's a very easy and free way to look into someone's yard to look for a pool and I just don't see any difference between that and a government inspector getting on the roof of the next door house to look at something and noticing that you have a pool that could be unlicensed. Simple way out of it... pay the taxes.


Ok, let's address that.....Why is there a fee attached to owning a pool in the first place? Other than a revenue grab that is. Oh, and if the piss ant little government worker was climbing on my neighbors roof top to peer in my back yard and I saw him/her I'd think peeping tom and call the police.

What kills me is that the same people that have no problem arguing that some Islamic Imam that has called America an accomplice in 9/11, and may or may not be getting funding from our enemies to build a monument to an Islamic victory in 9/11, is out of bounds for us to interfere with that, but has no problem in government spying on its own citizens to dig into their pockets for money, and attempt to control every aspect of their lives....it is pathetic.


j-mac
 
Ok, let's address that.....Why is there a fee attached to owning a pool in the first place? Other than a revenue grab that is. Oh, and if the piss ant little government worker was climbing on my neighbors roof top to peer in my back yard and I saw him/her I'd think peeping tom and call the police.

What kills me is that the same people that have no problem arguing that some Islamic Imam that has called America an accomplice in 9/11, and may or may not be getting funding from our enemies to build a monument to an Islamic victory in 9/11, is out of bounds for us to interfere with that, but has no problem in government spying on its own citizens to dig into their pockets for money, and attempt to control every aspect of their lives....it is pathetic.


j-mac

I don't support or oppose the mosque being built. It has nothing to do with the Imam. Private property rights and freedom of religion must be upheld, unless you wish to amend the constitution to include an anti-islam clause...

I am vehiamtly opposed to this obvious invasion of privacy by the government. I'm opposed to their being taxes on having a pool, an obvious tax grab as you said.

I don't have a problem however with them using google earth if they had a warrant to check houses, house by house.

But I'd like to bring this up.

Surely the gov should be getting permission from google to conduct "searches" using their technology?
 
Ok, let's address that.....Why is there a fee attached to owning a pool in the first place? Other than a revenue grab that is. Oh, and if the piss ant little government worker was climbing on my neighbors roof top to peer in my back yard and I saw him/her I'd think peeping tom and call the police.

What kills me is that the same people that have no problem arguing that some Islamic Imam that has called America an accomplice in 9/11, and may or may not be getting funding from our enemies to build a monument to an Islamic victory in 9/11, is out of bounds for us to interfere with that, but has no problem in government spying on its own citizens to dig into their pockets for money, and attempt to control every aspect of their lives....it is pathetic.


j-mac

If they build a pool I heartily defend the states right to tax them on it. Happy?

You call taxes a revenue grab... what do you want them to get revenue from? The money has to come from somewhere. I see no reason why taxes on cigarettes, gas, alcohol, sales tax property tax etc. are allowed but god forbid they tax pools. You seem more upset that they dare tax people at all. It has to happen for us to even have a country.

Also, I didn't say the guy climbed just to peep in your yard, but if he was up there for something different and noticed the pool and that it's not licensed or whatever, the person who didn't pay the taxes on the pool should have to pay them.

Also, so you're only in favor of big brother coming in and dictating who can buy land and where when it's someone you don't like/agree with? That stance wreaks of hypocrisy.
 
If they build a pool I heartily defend the states right to tax them on it. Happy?

No, no I am not...It makes me kind of sad actually.


You call taxes a revenue grab...

That is because in large majority they are.


what do you want them to get revenue from? The money has to come from somewhere.

So, as I read this part everyone should pay more, right? how much is enough for you? How much of my labor is the state entitled to?

I see no reason why taxes on cigarettes, gas, alcohol, sales tax property tax etc. are allowed but god forbid they tax pools.

For the record I dislike those taxes you mentioned as well. And all other form of taxation that is beyond a cursory income tax.

You seem more upset that they dare tax people at all. It has to happen for us to even have a country.

No, what you mean to say is that you need to rob me of my hard earned money to give to someone else in the form of your unconstitutional government entitlement programs. Let me tell you something, I work damned hard for what I earn, and every time I turn around liberals have their hands in my pockets for some redistribution scheme. I am fed up with it.

Also, I didn't say the guy climbed just to peep in your yard, but if he was up there for something different and noticed the pool and that it's not licensed or whatever, the person who didn't pay the taxes on the pool should have to pay them.

If you read the article, it seemed to focus on some reoccurring fees for owning the pool, which means that the initial taxes and fees for installation were paid, usually by the company that installs it. So tell me what as the tax payer do I get for these re occurring fees?

Also, so you're only in favor of big brother coming in and dictating who can buy land and where when it's someone you don't like/agree with? That stance wreaks of hypocrisy.

Not at all....That is your spin of what I said. I have a problem with the mosque being built there! NOT that they want to build a mosque. Let them build it in Queens, or Brooklyn, why there? Who's funding it? Why hasn't the St. Nicholas church been approved for reconstruction yet? Tell you what, I don't want 'Big Brother' in any aspect of my life, I can do just fine without them.


j-mac
 
You have a reasonable expectation of privacy on your own property. How close are they looking? Can they see teenage girls in their bathing suits? How about overweight people who wouldn't be caught dead in public wearing a bathing suit?
Do we have no right to privacy anymore?
Jobs are needed. Hire some people to investigate unlicenced pools. If there are that many out there the fines will more than cover the cost and it will stimulate the economy.

The government does not need a warrant to use publicly-available technology to look at your property.
 
Why the h%&l should the government have one iota of say as to whether I put a pool on my private property or not? Why should I have to register it and why should I have to pay a tax on it? Big brother government--- just another excuse to grab money and privacy away from people... pathetic...
 
Ok, let's address that.....Why is there a fee attached to owning a pool in the first place? Other than a revenue grab that is. Oh, and if the piss ant little government worker was climbing on my neighbors roof top to peer in my back yard and I saw him/her I'd think peeping tom and call the police.

What kills me is that the same people that have no problem arguing that some Islamic Imam that has called America an accomplice in 9/11, and may or may not be getting funding from our enemies to build a monument to an Islamic victory in 9/11, is out of bounds for us to interfere with that, but has no problem in government spying on its own citizens to dig into their pockets for money, and attempt to control every aspect of their lives....it is pathetic.


j-mac


This is a story about pools... not the apocalypse.
 
BS. It is clearly a privacy issue. government should not be using this to peer into your private property without a warrant. This is clearly a revenue grab that is all, and as such should be fought.


j-mac
What is it going to be fought on the basis of?
I have a right to hide **** from the government when I clearly was in the wrong by failing to notify them of building a pool as required by law?
 
You have a reasonable expectation of privacy on your own property. How close are they looking? Can they see teenage girls in their bathing suits? How about overweight people who wouldn't be caught dead in public wearing a bathing suit?
Do we have no right to privacy anymore?
Jobs are needed. Hire some people to investigate unlicenced pools. If there are that many out there the fines will more than cover the cost and it will stimulate the economy.

Then someone will complain about the waste of tax dollars hiring people to do something we can do on the ****ing internet.

I swear, the government can't win on either side. Anything they do and someone is bitching up a storm.
 
I don't support or oppose the mosque being built. It has nothing to do with the Imam. Private property rights and freedom of religion must be upheld, unless you wish to amend the constitution to include an anti-islam clause...

I am vehiamtly opposed to this obvious invasion of privacy by the government. I'm opposed to their being taxes on having a pool, an obvious tax grab as you said.

I don't have a problem however with them using google earth if they had a warrant to check houses, house by house.

But I'd like to bring this up.

Surely the gov should be getting permission from google to conduct "searches" using their technology?

Nope.
Its public information, as, anyone with access to the internet can view it.

Don't need a warrant to view public information.
 
Whether the property has a pool or not should be on file from when the last time the house was sold, shouldn't it?

Just asking, I'm not really sure if it would be or not.

Not necessarily. Though I'm sure this varies by state, having a pool isn't a mandatory disclosure. Nor is it a property value enhancer. Some people love pools, some people hate them. It's a real estate wash.
 
Not at all....That is your spin of what I said. I have a problem with the mosque being built there! NOT that they want to build a mosque. Let them build it in Queens, or Brooklyn, why there? Who's funding it? Why hasn't the St. Nicholas church been approved for reconstruction yet? Tell you what, I don't want 'Big Brother' in any aspect of my life, I can do just fine without them.


j-mac

Do you understand the argument that you're making?

You're saying get government out of everything in our lives, you don't need them and they're just intrusive, meanwhile you're saying that the government should intrude on this mosque and tell them that they're not allowed to buy this land and build what they want where they want.

You cant change the subject either and say that you don't mind the mosque somewhere else, you're specifically wanting the government to tell people where they can and can't build something on property that they purchased.

I'm not saying that I like the idea of a mosque being built right next to ground zero, but you must see the hypocrisy in your stances right? Only let the government intrude when it's something I don't like?
 
I didn't see this story anywhere on PG 1, so hopefully it isn't already posted, if it is I apologize.

As I was posting on another thread about a little girl selling Lemonade, I thought of this story...




Ahhh....The state....How would we ever survive without them to tell us what to do, how to act, how much we can earn, how much we should give...etc.

I just love how my freedoms are stripped from me, it is sooooooooo reassuring.


j-mac

There are legitimate concerns that outweigh your "freedom" to have a potentially lethal attractive nuisance on your property, without the proper inspection to make sure you are within code. We have a pool, it was done properly, installed with a building permit, inspected to make sure it's in compliance, as is provided as necessary in order to be covered by our homeowners insurance. Nor is the "privacy" canard a legitimate excuse for putting your neighbors children at risk of an accidental drowning. Don't like that or want to pay the pittance it costs for a building permit? Then don't have a pool, 'cuz you damn sure aren't adult enough to take responsibility for it.
 
I think it's a cheap and clever way to find all those "special" people who don't think laws, codes and ordinances apply to them. Good thinking, I say!
 
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