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Author Topic: Penalties for beekeeping  (Read 11224 times)

Offline 1of6

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Penalties for beekeeping
« on: November 29, 2008, 07:54:55 pm »
See the following article "Bees Won't Buzz in Hollidaysburg".
http://wearecentralpa.com/content/fulltext/news?cid=44161

What a poor decision. 

Offline JP

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2008, 08:07:22 pm »
Should have put up a high fence to keep flight path up, chain link the bees can fly right through.

The reporter said some of their bees were "getting loose" Bahahahahaahahahaahahaahahahaahah!!!


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Offline BjornBee

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2008, 08:39:29 pm »
Edited....
Additional information has been forwarded to me. I hope the best for the situation at hand.

PS...I could not respond to the email sent to me. I would like to email back the person who sent me some info, but not sure what your log in name is. Thank you.
« Last Edit: November 29, 2008, 10:04:00 pm by BjornBee »
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Offline buzzbee

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2008, 06:28:27 am »
I wonder if the ordinance specifies a infestation.I don't think a contrlled environment qualifies as an infestation ant more than a pet hamster or rabbit. These are both of the rodent family.might be a technicality but may buy some time or force definotions in the ordinance to be revisited.At that point he may be grandfathered.

Offline BeeHopper

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2008, 07:06:27 am »
Society as a whole has gone bonkers  :roll:

Eventually, we'll regulate ourselves out of existence .

Offline mlewis48

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2008, 12:04:40 pm »
 Stupid is as Stupid does..............................  That is why I will never live in a town of any kind. Too many rules with stupid people in control of them.
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Offline bassman1977

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2008, 12:18:59 pm »
The statement about the bees getting loose and coming onto their properties just takes the cake.  Imagine that!!!  Some people are just !@#$%^ ignorant.
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Online Michael Bush

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2008, 02:01:25 pm »
I know how that can be.  My bees got loose once... ;)
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Offline 1of6

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2008, 05:39:09 pm »
I know how that can be.  My bees got loose once... ;)


Mr. Bush, What ever did you do??   :shock:

Offline 1of6

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #9 on: November 30, 2008, 05:50:38 pm »
Should have put up a high fence to keep flight path up, chain link the bees can fly right through.
...JP

Fortunately, that's not his property boundary that you're looking at.  I believe that his extra supers are inside the chain-link fence.

I wonder if the ordinance specifies a infestation.

Yes it does.  Here's an older article:  http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/508408.html  I'm trying to find the Altoona Mirror article that had a copy of the original citation included.  I think we're all more than a little taken back that they can interpret an ordinance such as that to cover beekeeping.  The whole game changes whenever governing bodies decide they can 'bend' ordinances to stretch the areas they cover.

The president of our regional bee association has visited Mr. Nales home, and has been trying to assist Mr. Nales throughout this process, and some members of the state beekeeping association and other officials are trying to help out as well.  Be assured that Mr. Nales has water supply, flight path, and other 'urban beekeeping concerns' addressed with his neighbors' safety in mind.

Our local organization has offered their support, but we need to see what Mr. Nales decided to do - whether or not he decides to appeal further, we should all understand the need for us to stand behind him.  Like some others have said - the outcome of this case will help dictate other towns' stances on urban beekeeping - and that will impact a lot of us around here.



PS - Bjorn - THANK YOU - that was me.
PSS - If you check the article link at the top of this post, it quotes the lady as saying her 'husband' is allergic to bees.  The video says it's the dog.    :roll:  :fishhit:

Offline johnnybigfish

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #10 on: November 30, 2008, 08:28:45 pm »
I agree with you mlewis...I cant imagine what it would be like to live in town..The way it works is this.........People move to the country and try to make it like in town....Then,...people move into town and try to turn it into the country!...wierd, huh?

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Offline Jerrymac

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2008, 12:59:27 am »
So it is like making your computer so you can talk on it, and your phone into something to send typed messages...... Weird
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Offline dpence

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #12 on: December 01, 2008, 01:16:06 am »
So it is like making your computer so you can talk on it, and your phone into something to send typed messages...... Weird

Something like that...LMAO.  As I have said, "you can't fix stupid people".  Bees got loose...lmfao. 

David

Offline mlewis48

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #13 on: December 01, 2008, 01:29:32 am »
So it is like making your computer so you can talk on it, and your phone into something to send typed messages...... Weird
 I have to agree with you on that. Funny on how things like that work!

.........People move to the country and try to make it like in town....Then,...people move into town and try to turn it into the country!...wierd, huh?

 That is  somewhat the problem with the area that I live in. They buy 3 or 4 acers and become "Country Folk" overnight. Our biggest problem is the city people that move into our area to retire and think that all of the regulations and codes that they had in the city, need to follow them into the country. Things work just fine, here and  we don't need to change.


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Offline EasternShore

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #14 on: December 01, 2008, 09:16:05 am »
I live in a rural area with folks behind and next to me. The owners wife behind me is a raving lunatic and has INSISTED I move those nasty critters! Well, my hives are now across the road. Does that stop them from visiting..ahhhh  NO.

The good news is they now help the local farmers FOR FREE POLLENATION! I've set all my empty woodware away from her view and will attempt to "control" them...ROFLMAO!

My other neighbor has adjusted well, 1 girl stung him the other day and he laughed with me about it. People, city or otherwise need to be educated, it's THAT SIMPLE! Most alergies are to insects OTHER than Honeybees. I try to teach everyone I come in contact with that.

One event this summer really made me smile. An AC repairman, about 60years old was checking my outside unit, just as a new swarm took off. He looked at it...walked right thru the mass of girls with me and never batted an eye. Did he get hit,,,nope. His only comment was...cool you keep Bees???

Stuff like that gives me hope.

Keep on Keeping folks!!!
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Offline Keith13

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #15 on: December 01, 2008, 02:23:32 pm »
Should have put up a high fence to keep flight path up, chain link the bees can fly right through.
...JP

Fortunately, that's not his property boundary that you're looking at.  I believe that his extra supers are inside the chain-link fence.

I wonder if the ordinance specifies a infestation.

Yes it does.  Here's an older article:  http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/508408.html  I'm trying to find the Altoona Mirror article that had a copy of the original citation included.  I think we're all more than a little taken back that they can interpret an ordinance such as that to cover beekeeping.  The whole game changes whenever governing bodies decide they can 'bend' ordinances to stretch the areas they cover.

The president of our regional bee association has visited Mr. Nales home, and has been trying to assist Mr. Nales throughout this process, and some members of the state beekeeping association and other officials are trying to help out as well.  Be assured that Mr. Nales has water supply, flight path, and other 'urban beekeeping concerns' addressed with his neighbors' safety in mind.

Our local organization has offered their support, but we need to see what Mr. Nales decided to do - whether or not he decides to appeal further, we should all understand the need for us to stand behind him.  Like some others have said - the outcome of this case will help dictate other towns' stances on urban beekeeping - and that will impact a lot of us around here.



PS - Bjorn - THANK YOU - that was me.
PSS - If you check the article link at the top of this post, it quotes the lady as saying her 'husband' is allergic to bees.  The video says it's the dog.    :roll:  :fishhit:

You would think they would have an ordinance against this aswell  to think you could marry a dog:-D

Keith

Offline Shawn

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #16 on: December 01, 2008, 03:32:39 pm »
Well....Dont really know where to begin. I agree with Buzzbee, what is the defenition of infestation? The beek should have looked into the local laws before starting the hives also. How can the neighbor say it was their bees that stung the dog? So many questions with no real answers. Im sure there was a rival between the neighbors before the bee thing.

Offline bassman1977

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #17 on: December 01, 2008, 04:44:32 pm »
Quote
You would think they would have an ordinance against this aswell  to think you could marry a dog:-D

...and to think, I thought this only happened in Danville.  How about that.
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Offline Scadsobees

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #18 on: December 01, 2008, 04:56:58 pm »
I wonder how many stings that poor woman's dog would have gotten had they been keeping empty beehives in their yard?

Those nasty bright yellow striped pointy butted honeybees that build their little paper nests all over the place under the decks and eaves!!!  They obviously got loose!  Oh wait, she obviously saw the little name tags......

 :roll:
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Offline 1of6

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #19 on: December 01, 2008, 05:34:17 pm »
...The beek should have looked into the local laws before starting the hives also...

Fortunately he did.  The article also says "Nale also argued that former Hollidaysburg Borough Manager, Diane Meling, gave him permission to raise the bees in his yard. "

Apparently the new borough manager isn't willing to stand by the decision that the former manager made while in office.   :(

Offline Shadetree

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #20 on: December 01, 2008, 07:24:31 pm »
I don't usually have much time to read the forums, but this was brought to my attention. I am the president of the 2 Cs and a Bee Beekeepers Assoc. to which Mr. Nale belongs.  I thank you each for your support and would like to let you know what has transpired up to this point. Mr. Nale and his sons came to our beginner beekeeping classes and multiple meetings prior to actually getting bees. He was advised to check local ordinances and zoning before hand. This he did and has a sworn statement from the borough manager at the time to that effect. This person is now a county commisioner. He had the bees on the property for about three years with no apparent complaints. He maintained a water source right by the bees and surrounded the bees with shrubbery making the bees fly up out of the line of travel of anyone close by. His bees were well maintained.
This July he was approached by the local codes enforcement officer saying there was a complaint and he was going to have to move his bees out of the borough. He tried to reason with them but it did not work. They offered him an alternate location outside the borough which he refused, as he felt there was no reason he should have to move them.
At this time they issued a citation under a property maintainence code.
607.    Infestation, Prevention and Correction     
   1. Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insect, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation.
The proposed fine at the time was $1000 a day and/or 30 days in jail for each day he was in noncompliance. That evening, Mr. Nale and his son, along with myself and eight other beekeepers went to the local borough council meeting. We presented a packet of informational material to each council member on the value of honeybees and various other educational handouts on beekeeping. Mr Nale and his sone addressed the council and ask them to consider this. They would not let me speak on behalf of Mr. Nale or beekeeping as I was not a resident of the borough. After the meeting we met with the council president and a few of the other council members privately. Many phone calls and private meetings were held, though they seemed sympathetic, the matter proceeded. We went to the next meeting and tried to get them to listen to reason but to no avail. They decided to turn the matter over to the magistrate.
   After the hearing date and location was changed three times the hearing was held on the 20th of November at 3PM. The county commisioner who was to speak for Mr. Nale had a death in the family and could not show up and they would not accept her written statement into evidence. Dennis VanEngeldorp , Acting Chief Apiarist for the state of Pennslyvania was to attend but was involed in a car accident and could not attend. I did attend and attempted to testify in his behalf but was severely limited as to what I could get in by the format of a hearing.  The magistrate made his ruling based on the definitions of the wording of the ordinance. He looked up infestation and it can be read as ,"presence". and harborage can be read as "providing a safe place of refuge".  Both of which we can not deny, the bees are present and are provided a safe place of refuge. He fined Mr. Nale $50 and he must adhere to the order. He also advised him on his right to appeal. This is where it stands as of now. I am waiting on Mr. Nale to make a decision on how he wishes to proceed, He is the only beekeeper we have who has bees in that borough. I realize this is not fair or reasonable. But we must deal with reality as it presents itself. We are not done here, just trying to work within the system. We have been offered whatever help they can provide by the Pa State Beekeepers Assoc., Maryann Frazier from Penn State, Dennis Van Engeldorp, and many others. Thank you for your support.

Offline Brian D. Bray

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #21 on: December 01, 2008, 07:56:12 pm »
That's though, Mr. Nale has been railroaded. 
 
There are several grounds for appeal here:
1. Witnesses were not allowed to testify, 2. a written statement was not accepted into evidence in justifyable absentina of the witness, 3. The courts selected definitions of eky words was arbitrary and slanted in order to find the defendant at fault, 4. International treaties, that apply and the court should have been aware of, such as NAFTA, which recognizes bees as beneficial plants and exempts them from nuisance ordinances were ignored. 5. The Magistrate was obviously biased based on his actions to exclude testimony and selection of definitions and should have, therefore, recused himself as required under the ABA code of ethics.
I would post an immediate appeal based on those facts and see what happens next.
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Offline Kathyp

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #22 on: December 01, 2008, 08:02:37 pm »
gotta love city folks.  they think their food magically appears in safeway over night. 
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline Scadsobees

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #23 on: December 02, 2008, 12:23:15 am »
Quote
1. Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insect, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation.

Ok, the misapplication of ordinance in this case is absolutely aggregious.  Aren't judges also supposed to read the spirit of the law as well, not just all of the absolute possible applications?  He did whatever he wanted to, not what the ordinance was created for.

So I could go to the neighbors yard, turn over some leaves and complain that they are harboring pillbugs?  Complain that they aren't killing the ants in their sidewalk?  C'mon, there are fleas on all of the squirrels, and those are rodents!!!  What about the wasps, and the aphids on the trees?

I agree, this is absurd.  They are taking the path of least resistance to placate the most obnoxious voice.   

Thanks for speaking up on the behalf of the Nales!!  Sounds like you put a lot of work into something that was probably completely infuriating.
Rick

Offline Irwin

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #24 on: December 02, 2008, 09:23:05 am »
shadetree thank you for taking the time to update us on this matter. Would you please let them know that I wish them the best on this matter.

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Offline JP

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #25 on: December 02, 2008, 10:55:16 am »
 "Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insect, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation."

Grounds is the key word here.


 "The magistrate made his ruling based on the definitions of the wording of the ordinance. He looked up infestation and it can be read as ,"presence". and harborage can be read as "providing a safe place of refuge".

What a stretch, quite unbelievable. Now I would have to argue that infestation applies to he/she that has acquired the infestation, so in fact in this case the neighbor didn't have an infestation Mr. Hale did and was perfectly fine with his "infestation" and was taking proper care of his "infestation".

We are all infested and BTW, I am infested and I approve of this message.


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Offline shawnwri

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #26 on: December 02, 2008, 04:21:14 pm »
Completely foolish.  You have a father and son who have a hobby that allows them to spend time together and actually do something of value, and a busybody neighbor and no nothing elected officials try to put an end to it. 
I hope the magistrate and neighbor end up with an infestation of a personal sort.

Offline edenviewgarden

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #27 on: December 02, 2008, 04:33:51 pm »

I hope the magistrate and neighbor end up with an infestation of a personal sort.

Too funny -ROFL :-D
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Offline KONASDAD

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #28 on: December 03, 2008, 03:50:07 pm »
Thats it. I have had it. we should all take our bees and strike!!!! Yes, no more pollinating from our hives. Lets show them who is in charge and how inportant our beees can beeeee!!! One or two try w/o pollination services and they will be on their collective knees.
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Offline Shawn

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #29 on: December 03, 2008, 04:29:33 pm »
I wonder if that would be possible  :? I dont really think any strikes goes very far because people still need their money to keep up with their bees. I would think the strike would help change some laws but not all. The feds set their laws, the states can be more restrictive, and the local laws can be veen more restrictive. People are just scared of bees like they are of snakes, spiders, and mice. I think the best thing would be the education of the bees. 

Offline MustbeeNuts

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #30 on: December 04, 2008, 10:05:15 am »
 I hope reason can win out here. There is always some neighbor that thinks his rights are greater than others. If there is equal justice then someone in the court should see the light. Good luck, hope this works out for you, and keep up a good fight. It certainly seems that there could bee some bias decisions being made.
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Offline JP

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #31 on: December 04, 2008, 10:17:21 am »
I hope reason can win out here. There is always some neighbor that thinks his rights are greater than others. If there is equal justice then someone in the court should see the light. Good luck, hope this works out for you, and keep up a good fight. It certainly seems that there could bee some bias decisions being made.

It appears that the main bias was the judge and that can never be good, unless there's an appeal with a different, more open minded judge.


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Offline dpence

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Re: Penalties for beekeeping
« Reply #32 on: December 04, 2008, 11:47:30 am »
It appears to me there could be more that just bias thinking.  In my experience, political influence (money) has a great deal to do with decisions.  :( :-x IMHO.   

David