Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 26, 1990                   TAG: 9006260380
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Cathryn McCue
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

JUST WATCH WHERE YOU SPIT IN BLACKSBURG

On May 14, 1990, I was found to be in violation of Section 16-38. The grass and weeds in my yard had grown taller than the 12-inch limit. Actually, the stuff was almost waist-high.

But I rent a house, I don't own a lawn mower, my house is tucked away off the street (behind several other houses), and I'm not obsessed with manicured lawns. I didn't really think the tall grass was a problem. I was wrong.

The Blacksburg Police Department got a complaint, came to investigate, discovered the mini-jungle, and told me that I had seven days to cut it.

There are other laws on the books that make seemingly harmless things illegal, and many of us unwitting criminals. We could all own up to breaking some rules at one time or another.

Now it's your turn.

Ever let your dog roam off your property without a leash? Ever not "clean up" after it? Have you played your stereo loud enough to be "plainly audible" 50 feet away?

Guilty.

How about squealing your tires when you came to an abrupt stop - or when you accelerated too quickly? Honked your horn at a friend or in a traffic jam? Washed your car in the street? Ridden your bicycle or your moped on town streets without your hands on the handlebars?

Guilty again.

Then there's yelling. According to Section 15-9 of the Town Code, "The following acts shall be unlawful: yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on any public streets, particularly between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office or in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence or any persons in the vicinity."

These are all misdemeanors, some punishable by fines up to $1,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both.

There are other ordinances in the Town Code that might surprise Blacksburg citizens:

Any person who keeps a hog in town, except in an agricultural district, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Keeping dogs for dogfighting also is illegal.)

Cattle and other livestock will be impounded if they are caught running at large.

No person shall throw stones, sticks or other dangerous missiles, or discharge arrows, nails or bullets from a bow or crossbow in any street.

Poolrooms and billiard rooms are not allowed to put curtains or shades of any kinds in the windows.

Spitting or expectorating on the floor, stairway, street or other public conveyance is unlawful.

Sweeping, throwing or otherwise depositing on public or private land any animal or fowl carcass, rubbish, paper, handbills, dirt, filth, shavings, manure, offal, ashes, vegetables, fruits, broken glass, tacks, tin cans, etc., is prohibited.

It is unlawful to keep, reside or visit for immoral purposes bawdy places, defined as places used for lewdness, assignation or prostitution. (Speaking of which, under 18.2-344 of the Virginia Code, fornication defined as sexual intercourse between unmarried persons is a misdemeanor.)

Massages between members of the opposite sex for compensation is out. (The town is considering a change after receiving several requests from licensed masseurs and masseuses for a review of the ordinance.)

Disorderly conduct is unlawful, including disrupting Town Council meetings, public drunkenness or provoking brawls.

Impersonating a town officer or employee is unlawful. (There go the Mayor Roger Hedgepeth Halloween masks.)

Cursing or using violent, abusive language about a person in his or her presence is unlawful.

Lastly, just for your information, the fee for voluntary fingerprinting is $5.

If you want more, copies of the Town Code are in the Blacksburg branch of the Montgomery-Floyd County Regional Library, at the Virginia Tech library, at the Montgomery County Circuit Courthouse in Christiansburg (fourth floor), and at the Blacksburg Municipal Building.

Of course, if the police rigorously enforced each and every ordinance to the letter, we'd all be in shackles.

But that's not how it works. The Town Code is for the general health, welfare and safety of Blacksburg citizens, Town Attorney Richard Kaufman said.

Take my weeds, for example. Tall grass tends to attract rodents, skunks and other pests that can be a nuisance in town.

But not to worry - I've mowed the lawn, and I promise never to spit in public, ride my bicycle "no hands" or throw offal in the street.