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Lawrence’s ‘harming plants’ law in action

Posted by Sara Shepherd
November 2, 2017 at 10:57 a.m.

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In Lawrence there’s a law against harming plants. And every once in a while I’ve seen people arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of violating it. Here’s one recent incident that happened on the University of Kansas campus, although in this case the alleged plant-harmer is still at large.

Last week, according to the online KU police crime log, someone reported that a vehicle went off the road overnight, did some doughnuts and damaged the grass near the Library Annex, 1880 Westbrooke St. over on West Campus. The case is still open, according to the crime log.

Not that I’m not curious, but being pretty busy covering things like murder and rape cases I haven’t dug into any of the other harming-plants arrests to see what they were about. The ordinance appears it would cover everything from angrily ripping up your neighbor’s flower bed to stealing a snack from a fruit tree that isn’t yours (unless it belongs to the city).

Here’s the city’s ordinance against harming plants, a category of criminal damage to property:

No person shall willfully injure or destroy any plant, tree, vine, or flower, the property of another, standing on or attached to the land of another, or shall pick, destroy, or carry away therefrom or in any way interfere with any part of the flowers or fruit thereof; except that this section shall not prohibit the picking or carrying away of the ripe fruit of any tree, plant, or vine on any property owned by the City of Lawrence; provided, however, that no ripe fruit of any tree, plant or vine located in a public right-of-way or leased to another party shall be so picked or carried away.

Rain falls on flowers on the University of Kansas campus Monday, May 16, 2016, as a passerby with an umbrella walks in the background.

Rain falls on flowers on the University of Kansas campus Monday, May 16, 2016, as a passerby with an umbrella walks in the background.

— I’m the Journal-World’s public safety reporter. Reach me by email at sshepherd@ljworld.com or by phone at 785-832-7187. I’m also on Twitter, @saramarieshep.

Comments

Mike Gant 5 months, 2 weeks ago

"Not that I’m not curious, but being pretty busy covering things like murder and rape cases I haven’t dug into any of the other harming-plants arrests to see what they were about."

Well with an attitude like that you'll never get to the root of the problem. It's probably for the best if you leaf the whole thing alone - the way it sounds, you would likely go barking up the wrong tree. Bee-sides, any one who would purposely harm a plant would have to be a bloomin' idiot. That said, it's great to see you flowering as a reporter.

3

Ken Lassman 5 months, 2 weeks ago

You seem to be a bit of a budding reporter yourself.

1

Doyle Coons 5 months, 2 weeks ago

Good play on words Mike! I wonder if this law also covers sowing your wild oats?

1

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Reply 5 comments from Doyle Coons Notwhatyouthink2 Carol Bowen Ken Lassman Mikegant

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