USA Today article: Cutting trees can fall on wrong side of the law

[JNA]

SubHeadline: Homeowners seeking better views take saw, matters in hand
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition...ting13.art.htm

Orginal article link: Officials show tree cutters no tolerance
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...WS04/803110342

officials ... cracking down — with fines and prison terms —
on people willing to cut trees to improve views from their homes or businesses.

Situations described include
Lake Tahoe, NV
Dana Point, CA - over improving ocean views.
North Carolina - not to improve views from homes but to open up views of billboards from state highways.
Portland, OR - reward out for who cut 20 trees at a nature park apparently to improve views of downtown Portland and Mount Hood.
Potomac MD - cut down 130 trees on a Park Service easement on property that bordered the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.

I know in Breckenridge, CO there was a similar incident.
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/2...NEWS/309010101

Does your fair community have such an ordinance ?

[Cardinal]

It is a problem that has risen in the Chicago area. Wealthy homeowners near the lake want to have water views, so they cut down oaks that are over 100 years old. It is bad enough when somebody like Mr. T does this on his own property, but then you get the ones who think they have the right to cut down trees on public property to improve their views. This latter group should receive jail sentences and massive fines.

[otterpop]

I must be an aberration - I always thought the trees were pretty too.

[Richi]

We don't have much viewcutting here, but the city has a reasonably tough tree protection ordinance. In South Florida, we do have a problem with people cutting mangroves to improve the sea view. Have been some very big fines and i think the word is out and any trimming is discrete.