Illinois town ups citations for unkempt yards

[June 01, 2010]  PEORIA (AP) -- Residents of the Illinois town of Peoria may want to take time this weekend to mow their lawns.

That's because the city has boosted the number of citations for unruly grass by more than 73 percent this year.

Those fines begin at $30 but can escalate to as much as $500 for grass that's at least 10 inches tall.

Records show the city has issued 1,069 citations so far this. That's up from 617 the city gave out through May of 2009.

Code enforcement manager Linda Lard says the city is handing out more citations for unmowed grass because of an increase in foreclosures and abandoned property.

Officials have also issued about 2 percent more work orders to have private property mowed. That costs about $70.

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Information from: Journal Star, http://pjstar.com/

[Associated Press]

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