Man Sentenced to 30 Days for Catching Rain Water on Own Property - Polidicks

[quote=CNS News] Gary Harrington, the Oregon man convicted of collecting rainwater and snow runoff on his rural property surrendered Wednesday morning to begin serving his 30-day, jail sentence in Medford, Ore. “I’m sacrificing my liberty so we can stand up as a country and stand for our liberty,” Harrington told a small crowd of people gathered outside of the Jackson County (Ore.) Jail. Several people held signs that showed support for Harrington as he was taken inside the jail. Harrington was [URL="http://cnsnews.com/news/article/oregon-man-sentenced-30-days-jail-collecting-rainwater-his-property"]found guilty[/URL] two weeks ago of breaking a 1925 law for having, what state water managers called “three illegal reservoirs” on his property. He was convicted of nine misdemeanors, sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined over $1500 for collecting rainwater and snow runoff on his property. [URL="http://cnsnews.com/image/gary-harrington-news-conference"][IMG]http://cnsnews.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/medium/images/IMG_6335%20thumbnail.JPG[/IMG][/URL]Crowd of supporters outside Jackson County Jail, Wednesday August 8, 2012. (Photo: Gary Harrington) The Oregon Water Resources Department, claims that Harrington has been violating the state’s water use law by diverting water from streams running into the Big Butte River. But Harrington says he is not diverting the state's water -- merely collecting rainwater and snow melt that falls or flows on his own property. Harrington has vowed to continue to fight the penalty, stating that the government has become “big bullies” and that “from here on in, I’m going to fight it.” “They’ve just gotten to be big bullies and if you just lay over and die and give up, that just makes them bigger bullies, Harrington said in an interview two weeks ago with CNSNews.com. "We as Americans, we need to stand on our constitutional rights, on our rights as citizens and hang tough. This is a good country, we’ll prevail,” he said. His release is expected in early September. [/quote] Source: [URL]http://cnsnews.com/news/article/man-sentenced-30-days-catching-rain-water-own-property-enters-jail[/URL] :saddowns: Oh, it's oregon.

I mean, it sorta makes sense. And by sorta, I mean not at all

Why is this illegal?

They forgot to fine him for all of the air that he'd been storing inside his house too

Some laws just really really don't make sense. I mean seriously what's the logic behind declaring a reservoir on someones personally property illegal?

That is sooo beyond fucked.

So apparently the guvament owns the rain. What's next? Are they going to claim the air we breathe? "If you dont pay your air tax, we're throwing you in the CO2 cell"

It's the water corporations wanting to set an example. [B]DON'T FUCK WITH US AND OUR WATER BITCH[/B]

[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;37155751]So apparently the guvament owns the rain. What's next? Are they going to claim the air we breathe?[/QUOTE] I think they probably have by now.

This law dates back to 1925. I think it's about time to repeal it.

This reminds me of that law they used to have in California where it was illegal to peel an orange inside a hotel.

There is a reason behind laws like that. By keeping rain water on your property, you prevent it from flowing into rivers and other places where it usually goes, which, in theory, could be hurtful in the event of a drought. That's the logic anyway. Maybe in Texas it may make [I]some[/I] sense but this is Oregon.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;37156253]There is a reason behind laws like that. By keeping rain water on your property, you prevent it from flowing into rivers and other places where it usually goes, which, in theory, could be hurtful in the event of a drought. That's the logic anyway. Maybe in Texas it may make [I]some[/I] sense but this is Oregon.[/QUOTE] thats still not right

How many Oregon homeowners have pools in their backyards? I don't hear about any of them getting sent to jail for a month every time it rains.

This law is in place to prevent people from actually diverting the rivers and cleating new ways for the water running. Since that could cause water problems for other people. On the other hand, it is clearly far to vague and in need of refinement.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;37156253]There is a reason behind laws like that. By keeping rain water on your property, you prevent it from flowing into rivers and other places where it usually goes, which, in theory, could be hurtful in the event of a drought. That's the logic anyway. Maybe in Texas it may make [I]some[/I] sense but this is Oregon.[/QUOTE] but the water will eventually make it's way to the resevoir anyway

[QUOTE=Article]Big Butte River[/QUOTE] Heh heh

Sorry guys, but you can't have water, water is an illegal product that kills several thousand people a year and the last thing we want is for people to be collecting water for themselves and not having to pay for every last drop.

Only 30 days?

[QUOTE=Pierrewithahat;37155708]Some laws just really really don't make sense. I mean seriously what's the logic behind declaring a reservoir on someones personally property illegal?[/QUOTE] While it is incredibly stupid. It's bureaucracy. Self-stored water is classed as untreated water which you're not allowed to use on land for what ever silly reason of contamination and improper storage. There is a slight logic behind it, so don't all be so knee-jerk. [editline]9th August 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Reviized;37157013]Sorry guys, but you can't have water, water is an illegal product that kills several thousand people a year and the last thing we want is for people to be collecting water for themselves and not having to pay for every last drop.[/QUOTE] Untreated water kills millions every year.

So it seems that the state believes he is diverting water from their river, which makes his conviction at least make sense; however, i fail to see how he was diverting the river at all if he was collecting run-off. I mean, it's called run off for a reason.

[QUOTE=mysteryman;37157230]So it seems that the state believes he is diverting water from their river, which makes his conviction at least make sense; however, i fail to see how he was diverting the river at all if he was collecting run-off. I mean, it's called run off for a reason.[/QUOTE] And where does this run off, run to? The river. Apparently. Why am I defending this

[QUOTE=Pierrewithahat;37155708]Some laws just really really don't make sense. I mean seriously what's the logic behind declaring a reservoir on someones personally property illegal?[/QUOTE] If not properly maintained, reservoirs can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which in turn bring plenty of dangerous diseases. And that affects *everyone*. The law, at least as I guess it is, isn't against making reservoirs. It's against not having licensed and inspected reservoirs. It's like cars - you can buy and own as many as you like, but you need to have them inspected so you aren't driving down the street in a ticking bomb. When my parents got a swimming pool put in, they had to get it inspected, and one of the big things was making sure it would be properly filtered and treated with chlorine to prevent mosquitoes. Now, I know nothing about the particulars of this law, but from the wording (particularly "three [b]illegal[/b] reservoirs") and the punishment makes it seem as though his crime was more "failing to file for the proper permits and passing required safety inspections". And really, 30 days in prison and $1500 isn't all that much, at least by American standards.

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;37156551]but the water will eventually make it's way to the resevoir anyway[/QUOTE] Yeah but the government doesn't know that :v:

[QUOTE=Phycosymo;37155681]Why is this illegal?[/QUOTE] There could be a draught ordnance in the area, that prevents you from blocking of water exiting your land since the water level is too low. That, or the resoirvairs might be the issue and not the collecting. Since in a lot of places you need a permit for it first.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;37156253]There is a reason behind laws like that. By keeping rain water on your property, you prevent it from flowing into rivers and other places where it usually goes, which, in theory, could be hurtful in the event of a drought.[/QUOTE] The rainwater isn't the problem. The runoff is what they were actually up in arms about. He can legally catch the rainwater here so I'm not sure why they even mentioned it. But catching the runoff prevents it from reaching the local reservoir which is why the government is having a having a problem with it. Medford is in southern Oregon where it's a lot drier than here in the Willamette Valley so water shortages are more common there.

Death Sentence.

[QUOTE=gman003-main;37157385]If not properly maintained, reservoirs can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which in turn bring plenty of dangerous diseases. And that affects *everyone*. The law, at least as I guess it is, isn't against making reservoirs. It's against not having licensed and inspected reservoirs. It's like cars - you can buy and own as many as you like, but you need to have them inspected so you aren't driving down the street in a ticking bomb. When my parents got a swimming pool put in, they had to get it inspected, and one of the big things was making sure it would be properly filtered and treated with chlorine to prevent mosquitoes. Now, I know nothing about the particulars of this law, but from the wording (particularly "three [b]illegal[/b] reservoirs") and the punishment makes it seem as though his crime was more "failing to file for the proper permits and passing required safety inspections". And really, 30 days in prison and $1500 isn't all that much, at least by American standards.[/QUOTE] That's just the thing, he had a license. [editline]9th August 2012[/editline] He had a license to do what he is going to jail for.

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[QUOTE=gman003-main;37157385]If not properly maintained, reservoirs can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which in turn bring plenty of dangerous diseases. And that affects *everyone*. The law, at least as I guess it is, isn't against making reservoirs. It's against not having licensed and inspected reservoirs. It's like cars - you can buy and own as many as you like, but you need to have them inspected so you aren't driving down the street in a ticking bomb. When my parents got a swimming pool put in, they had to get it inspected, and one of the big things was making sure it would be properly filtered and treated with chlorine to prevent mosquitoes. Now, I know nothing about the particulars of this law, but from the wording (particularly "three [b]illegal[/b] reservoirs") and the punishment makes it seem as though his crime was more "failing to file for the proper permits and passing required safety inspections". And really, 30 days in prison and $1500 isn't all that much, at least by American standards.[/QUOTE] This is still bullshit. By this view the gov. would have to terminate every puddle. Land of the free my ass. If I would want to create a damn pond on my property in Germany I could fucking do it and no one would dare to say a word even if I had some kind of mosquito fetish and started breeding them all over the place.