SWAMPSCOTT — The Police Department released a special order with information regarding how the seasonal ban of gas-powered leaf blowers will be enforced moving forward.
During May’s Town Meeting, Select Board member David Grishman presented an amendment adding language facilitating the civil enforcement of the bylaw by entities such as the Police, Health, and Building departments. After discussion among voters, two additional amendments were made to Grishman’s proposed amendment. Second and subsequent violations of the bylaw were originally proposed to result in a $300 fine to the owner of the property that the leaf blower was used on. However, the fine was reduced to $50 and the penalized party was changed from the property owner to the individual leaf-blower user or the company they represent.
The department’s statement emphasized that since the new bylaw’s language is not expected to be approved by the Office of the Attorney General until September, the rule will continue to be enforced solely with warnings for the time being.
“They’re going to have a record for having a gas-powered leaf blower,” Police Chief Ruben Quesada said. “It’s a criminal citation, so we want to be reasonable.”
Quesada added that he has seen some frustration among reporting parties that gas-powered leaf-blower users have not been further disciplined.
“Some residents are upset, they say, ‘I saw someone with a gas-powered leaf blower,’” Quesada said. “Do you want us to send them to jail for that?”
The order also reminded residents that any observed violations of the leaf-blower ordinance will require a police response and inquiry.
