A HOMEOWNER has been asked to redo a driveway that had been renovated before he purchased his dream house.
The disabled veteran was slammed with a $50 daily fine until he completed the construction project issued by his community board.
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John Lawless, who is battling Stage 3 cancer, asked his community board to keep a driveway extension that had already been installed before he purchased the house, as reported by a local Florida news outlet, Villages-News.com.
In 2020, he bought the property on 3918 East Torch Lake Drive in the Village of Antrim Dells for $470,000.
The veteran and his wife said the driveway extension was one of the main reasons they decided to purchase the house.
A driveway extension, which widens or lengthens the pathway, can be helpful for those who use a wheelchair because it allows for extra space to move around.
While Lawless was grateful for the added feature, one of his neighbors had filed a complaint regarding the driveway extension to their local Community Standards board.
The complaint was filed on September 16, drawing attention to the fact that the driveway had been updated 11 years ago without the Architectural Review Committee’s approval.
Five years later, the Community Standards board had reached out to the couple, informing them about the alleged violation.
Lawless and his wife said they had no idea their driveway extension was not allowed before they bought the house.
Considering his dependence on a wheelchair and a walker, Lawless figured the extended driveway would suit his mobility needs.
Some people choose to modify their driveways to lengthen or widen them on one or both sides.
Lawless also said he appreciated the flagstone pattern of the driveway, which had beautiful natural stones packaged tightly together to create a seamless pattern.
In January, the couple was asked to attend a public hearing about the driveway before the Community Development District 10 Board of Supervisors.
The community board oversees Sumter County and encompasses over 1,580 acres, as stated on their website.
Despite battling a serious illness, the community board did not deliver good news.
Why is it illegal to block a driveway?
Blocking a driveway is illegal in the United States due to the limiting of access to emergency care.
Aside from being inconsiderate, blocking a driveway is a serious safety hazard, cops say.
Blocking the driveway of someone’s home is illegal in all 50 states, with fines and penalties varying by state.
For instance, blocking a driveway in San Francisco, California can earn a driver a hefty towing $286 fee and a $110 ticket.
That’s not including the feed to retrieve the vehicle from an impound lot, which averages over $600.
In an emergency, a blocked driveway can mean the difference between life and death for a patient.
“In the United States, it is illegal to block a driveway, even your own,” reads Parklio’s website.
“It’s a matter of public safety: emergency services like fire trucks, ambulances, or police cars need that space to get in and out.
“An obstructed driveway might also prevent vehicles from pulling out onto the road to seek emergency services.”
Source: San Francisco Police Department, Parklio
The couple was issued a $50 fine every day until they were able to restore the driveway to its original model.
Not only that, they were only given 90 days to complete the requested remodel.
“We don’t make the rules. We enforce the rules,” Board Chairman John Miller told Villages-News.com.
Another resident said they believed an anonymous person was filing “troll” complaints to the Community Development District 10.
However, community board leadership said they have to respect the anonymous system and take all complaints as they come.
Florida’s Community Development District 10 did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
