The sound of a lawn mower buzzing about is common at this time of year. But one Vaudreuil-Dorion man was shocked when a late afternoon trim ended up cutting into his pocket book.
Last month, Kevin Beasse received a $270 ticket for mowing his lawn past 4 p.m. on a Sunday.
“I got frustrated and I gave him… I said a few choice words that I shouldn’t have said,” he said. He was handed an additional $148 fine for his outburst.
Last month, Kevin Beasse received a $270 ticket for mowing his lawn past 4 p.m. on a Sunday. He says no one knew about the bylaw, which was passed in January.
But Beasse says he couldn’t believe simply mowing his lawn could cost him so much.
In January, Vaudreuil-Dorion passed a new noise by-law that prohibits lawn mowing on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays after 4 p.m. Beasse says nobody knew about the new law.
His representative at city hall told Beasse he thought public security was only giving out warnings, and that he would see what he could do.
But instead of getting the ticket dismissed, Beasse received a letter from a one of the city’s lawyers telling him the fine would stand.
No one from municipal council was available for comment, but the letter Beasse received stated the city took adequate measures to inform the public of the new noise by-law for lawn mowers.
Beasse’s neighbour Michel Berthiaume said he feels the ticket was unnecessary.
“I was a little stunned about the ticket itself. There should have been a warning according to me,” he said.
Beasse says he intends to start a petition and raise awareness about the bylaw. He said he won’t contest the fine.
“More likely they’re going to ask ‘Were you cutting your grass at 5 p.m.?’ I say yes, they say ‘You’re guilty,’ and case closed,” he said.