When it's longer than eight inches, it can land you in jail. That's what City Council of Canton, Ohio decided about grass length two weeks ago.

The new law, passed May 19, 2008, increases the penalty for having your lawn be more than eight inches high.  First offenders can expect to pay a fine up to $150 for having an unsightly lawn, while a resident's second grass violation could cost them up to $250 in fines and 30 days in jail.

City council members say they enacted the law because of the high number of complaints they get in the spring and summer months about lots owned by both individuals and businesses that look like mini-jungles. 

Service Director Thomas Bernabei said that the city is responsible for mowing about 2,400 lots and the number keeps growing because of the high rates of home foreclosures. The timeliness and quality of the work done on these lots depends on the city budget and number of available workers.  

The strange new law attempts to raise additional funding for city landscaping by providing stiffer fines. Of course, the irony is if you put someone in jail for 30 days, they won't be able to mow their lawn.