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We all know that the IRS, ATF, and DEA can get nasty. But zoning regulators? You bet! Just ask John Thoburn, the owner of a golf course in Fairfax County, Virginia. Four years ago, Thoburn opened his new driving range "over the objections of his neighbors who feared that glaring lights and errant tee shots would harm their quality of life." The local zoning board jumped into action. Among the many conditions that Thoburn had to agree to was the construction of a berm to shield neighbors from the golf-course lights and the planting of 300 new trees and shrubs on his property. Thoburn built the berm, but now zoning dictocrats are saying it's too high and has to be lowered. Even worse, Thoburn still hasn't planted those trees. Worst of all, declaring "Before I be a slave, I'll be in my grave," Thoburn is disregarding the dictocrats' "Obey or Close Down" command. That kind of recalcitrance, of course, doesn't sit well with bureaucrats anywhere in the world but especially not those who operate around Washington, D.C. The county's zoning czarina, Jane W. Gwinn, declared, "We tell citizens we have special permits and conditions, and it's got to have meaning." Circuit Judge Michael P. McWeeny announced, "It is my obligation to enforce the order of the court." Thoborn remained defiant as he was led off to jail, "You are throwing someone in jail for not planting shrubbery? It's making Fairfax County the laughingstock of the country." Let's hope so. For the full Washington Post story see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33027-2001Feb21.html and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17679-2001Feb16.htm