A Floridian Homeowner's Plight: A Cautionary Tale of Excessive Fines In the tranquil town of Lantana, Florida, a single mother's ___ has been turned upside down by an astronomical fine that has left her financially strained. Sandy Martinez, a homeowner, has been embroiled in a protracted battle with the city over three minor code infractions, which have resulted in a staggering debt of over $165,000. This exorbitant amount is roughly four times her yearly earnings, and she is now petitioning the Florida Supreme Court to intervene and deem these fines unconstitutionally excessive.
The seemingly trivial ___ses that precipitated this financial debacle were cracks in her driveway, a storm-ravaged fence, and vehicles parked on her own lawn. Initially, Martinez faced a daily penalty of $75 for the cracked driveway in 2013... which ultimately ballooned to $16,125 - a sum considerably greater than the cost of replacing the driveway entirely.
Subsequently, the city imposed a daily fine of $125 in 2015 for the storm-damaged fence, "and while Martinez awaited her insurance claim to cover the repair.".. she accumulated an additional $47,375 in fees.
Sandy Martinez, a homeowner in Lantana, Florida, has been battling over $165,000 in fines for three minor code violations for years. She's now asking the Florida Supreme Court to consider her case and put a stop to what she says are unconstitutionally excessive fines. Martinez's accumulated six-figure fine amounts to nearly four times her annual income, financially crippling the single mother over infractions that have since been corrected and never threatened health or safety.
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