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

DATE: TUESDAY, May 1, 1990                   TAG: 9005010493
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CITY'S WEED LAW IN SEASON AGAIN

Roanoke's weed ordinance takes effect today, and the city has provided a number for people to call and turn in violators: 342-WEED.

The law, which has been around for years, requires city property owners to keep grasses and weeds under 14 inches in height. It also requires that owners keep their property free of litter and debris.

Violators are given 14 days to clean up their property and if they don't, the city will clean it and send them a bill. Violations of the ordinance also constitute a Class IV misdemeanor and can be prosecuted in court.

The city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Grounds Maintenance is in charge of enforcing the ordinance.

People reporting violations are asked to have the street address of the problem property when they call or, at the minimum, a concise and clear description of its location.

A new computer program will help the city track repeated offenders of the ordinance, officials said.

Callers are not required to leave a name or phone number but may if they want to get a report on what was done about their call or if the department needs more information.