Cutting Down A Neighbor’s Tree Could Cost You Millions In New Jersey

Unless you live in a very rural area and your closest neighbor is half a mile up the road, you have to put up with things the close-by residents of your neighbors do.

It’s not always fun stuff like throwing a neighborhood block party or asking your friend across the street to borrow sugar. Sometimes they do things that irritate you.

And of course, sometimes you do things they might not be fond of. But you do have to be careful because there are laws and rules and depending on what you do, it could wind up costing you.

According to Yahoo! News, a homeowner in Kinnelon is in fact just about to find out how expensive doing the wrong thing can be.

You can find online communities like legal advice, where tree law is actually a hot topic. The potential penalties in these cases can make them very satisfying to read about. You can’t just go around cutting down anything you’d like!

The alleged Kinnelon culprit, supposedly cut down 32 big trees on his neighbor’s New Jersey property to get a better view of New York City. He apparently hired a guy that hired another guy.

But get this, the fine for doing that is one thousand dollars per tree. That’s right - a grand per tree.  And there were 32 cut down.

Not only that but all three parties received violations and there’s a provision requiring the replanting of like trees of the same size. So basically, the homeowner and both the people hired to do the task may be held legally responsible for replacing the trees they removed — not just planting new saplings, but actually transporting full-grown trees to the victim’s lot and making sure they survive being transplanted.

And that’s no easy task. These are big trees and are hard to move and make sure they survive. Apparently, the Kinnelon homeowner was in touch with one company willing to do the job…….and here’s what they have to do:

The price for a job this big?? Roughly 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS! And don’t forget about that fine of a thousand dollars per cut-down tree!

The moral of the story? Make sure you check the rules and regulations in your town before doing any work or removing any property that isn’t yours.

Thunderstorms can be both fascinating and scary, with their electrifying displays of lightning and booming thunder. However, not everyone knows that there are certain things you're not supposed to do when there’s a thunderstorm.

During the summer months, thunderstorms occur frequently due to the high humidity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 73 percent of lightning-related fatalities occur in June, July, and August. According to the National Weather Service, an excess of moisture in the atmosphere, atmospheric instability, and a triggering mechanism are the conditions that lead to thunderstorms. When these elements are combined, they can unleash a powerful symphony of heavy rainfall, thunder, lightning, strong winds, and even hail.

The American Red Cross has some advice on how to get ready for those wild summer thunderstorms. Taking preventive measures like subscribing to local government emergency alerts, equipping your home with backup batteries, and devising a family plan for hazardous weather situations can all prove invaluable during emergencies.

When it comes to thunderstorms, there are plenty of myths and misconceptions about what you should avoid doing. One of the most common misconceptions is that wearing rubber-soled shoes or being inside a car with rubber tires makes us immune to lightning strikes. Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. Lightning can still travel through the ground or the metal frame of a car, even if it has rubber tires.

Many people believe that as long as they're not directly under the storm cloud, they are safe from lightning strikes. However, lightning bolts can extend horizontally for significant distances, reaching as far as 10 miles away from the storm. And also keep in mind that trees, especially tall ones, are prime targets for lightning strikes due to their height and conductivity.

Along with getting prepared and knowing thunderstorm myths, you have to know what not to do during a thunderstorm.

Here are 5 things you should never do during a thunderstorm.