[b said:
Quote[/b] (rattler_mt @ Mar. 19 2005,3:40)]Ozzy, i really dont think you have much to worry about. i actually think i know where the referance to plants come up from. its probably some "idiots" way of preventing ppl from planting things like deadly nightshade and such and other well known "killers" to prevent some toddler from chewing on the plant and dieing(atleast this is the only half way logical way plants could be tossed in with dangerous animals) course what they dont realize is alot of common and popular flowers are potentially very dangerous. be polite before the judge, take a copy of The Savage Garden, answer every quetion honestly and seriously and i bet you have absolutly no problems. some ppl really make you wonder.
I'm with rattler_mt on this. I'd bring a copy of
The Savage Garden, or
Carnivorous Plants of North America, and perhaps a few specimens of your plants; maybe a sundew, a VFT, a Sarracenia and/or a Nepenthes as evidence.
Regardless of whether this is a civil or criminal proceeding, it is the town's obligation to prove that your plants are dangerous, not yours to prove they're not. I understand that until this is resolved, you are going to be very nervous; I would be too, regardless of how certain I felt I was right, because I have no way of accounting for the possible idiocy of the people sitting in judgement of me and my plants.
As long as you can demonstrate that these plants are a danger only to insects, and produce no toxins an unwary child could consume, you should be perfectly fine.
I would also petition city council, after you are exonerated, to change the law to make specifically clear what is meant by 'dangerous plants'.
You may also be able to file charges against your landlord for filing a false police report; I'd at least look into it. There must be a written complaint on record from him that served as the initial cause to serve you with this summons.
Failing criminal action against the landlord, I'd at least put a darzin fish bumpersticker on his car. Something tells me he's the kind of person who would find that particularly offensive.
Good luck, and stay calm!