Virginia bans live Christmas trees in apartments

[MeanLaureen]

I heard about this on a talk radio show on my way home tonight from yet another doctors appointment. Virginia passed a law that people that live in apartments that do not have a sprinkler system are banned from having a real Christmas tree.

What do you think about that?

 

[Grog]

while I feel sorry for any apartment dwellers that want live trees and can't have them, I can also understand the rational behind the law. If one tree goes up, a dozen families could lose everything they own, or worse.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Any rental that I have lived in does not allow live trees because they are a fire hazard. So I am not surprised by the law.

 

[sk8belle]

I understand the logic behind it, but it still makes me mad. So as my apt. does not have a sprinkler system, it looks like I won't be getting a tree. Which really upsets me as setting up my tree is one of my favorite parts of the season and gets me in the right frame of mind for the rest of the holiday.

Instead of legislating this, why doesn't the VA gov't require all apt. buildings to install sprinkler systems. After all, it's not just Christmas trees that cause fires. It's people who smoke or burn incense or cook or have candles or many many other things. All of which are done more often than having a Christmas tree around.

<deep breath> OK. I'll calm down now. Sorry, didn't mean to get quite so vehement.

 

[Grog]

Instead of legislating this, why doesn't the VA gov't require all apt. buildings to install sprinkler systems.

I agree. The bulding I am in now (moved into two years ago), was almost totally detroyed by fire three yers ago when an angry guy threw a flaming bag of trash onto the balcony of the apartment of the woman who rejected him. Luckily no one was killed, as it happened at two in the morning.

 

[wdwpluto]

I understand the logic and that it's for safety reasons, however consider this ~ as apartment dwellers (in NJ) we have absolutely no storage space to store a fake tree the rest of the year, how bad does that stink?

 

[olena]

This shouldn't be a function of government. This should be left up to the landlords who actually own the buildings and take the risk.

 

[battricia]

I think it should be up to the government. Just like seatbelt laws and drunk driving laws. Sometimes people just aren't responsible enough, and when it comes to a live christmas tree it might not even be about responsibility, just an accident.. an accident that could take many peoples homes and possibly someone's life. I lived in an apartment building in philly for 2 years and we had a small fake christmas tree that we put up each year. We stuck it in the back of the closet for the rest of the year. It's not that bad having a fake christmas tree.. and on the bright side it's alot less clean up, you don't have to vacuum up pine needles every day.


tricia.

 

[Robinrs]

I don't care who decides it or legislates it, it makes sense. I've seen so many people's homes go up in smoke because their next door neighbor let their tree go up in flames. If it's your choice, it's one thing, if it's your NEIGHBOR'S choice... ugh!

Our complex doesn't allow barbecues within 10 feet of the apartment, I wish they would also disallow turkey fryers, smoking and candles, all fire hazards.

 

[snoopy]

Makes sense to me!