Maine Supreme Court Rules: Man’s ‘Artful’ Lawn is Just Junk

For so many years now, residents of Greene, Maine, have driven by one particular house on U.S. Route 202, wondering when something would be done about the land.

Why?

Because of the clutter, it's been filled with what many have considered junk for a very long time.

You can see what it looks like from these Google Maps images below:

According to the Sun Journal, that question was finally answered when the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld a lower court's ruling, which confirms resident George Stanley violated both the state’s junkyard law and the town’s flea market ordinance.

This goes all the way back to 2022, when the town filed charges against him for operating an unlicensed junkyard and flea market on his property, the newspaper stated.

As per the article, Stanley, who is in his 70s and represented himself at the trial, refers to his lawn collection as a work of art.

He appealed the decision and argued that the evidence was insufficient to justify the charges. He also argued that the state's junkyard statute was not constitutional and that the penalties given to him were too harsh, according to the Sun Journal.

However, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court disagreed and kept the same ruling made by Judge Philip Mohlar in the 8th District Court in Lewiston, according to the SJ.

This wasn’t the first time Stanley has had to face legal actions from the town regarding his property.

Officials had confronted him on two previous occasions about similar issues, but those conflicts were not resolved, the newspaper said.

Many of the residents have just been waiting to see what will happen and if in fact, the law will do its duty to clean up our road.

Finally, the court ruling brings a sense of closure for all who drive by and live in the area.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court's decision shows the importance of following local rules and state laws to make sure our community stays beautiful.