This is 99% invisible. I'm Roman Mars

What I've done is filled this out. I'll leave it on the door

So that the owner is aware of the fact that we made a visit and that they need to take care of the

lawn and they may not even be aware of the fact that City Gainesville has an

ordinance that prohibits excessive growth.

In communities across America, lawns that are brown or overgrown are considered especially

heinous.

Elite squads of dedicated individuals have been deputized by their local governments or homeowners

associations to take action against those whose lawns fail to meet community standards.

Call them lawn enforcement agents.

Producer Sam Greenspan.

This is his story.

In 2008, a law enforcement agent stopped by a home in Hudson, Florida outside of Tampa.

Maybe the agent snapped some photos, maybe there were some boxes ticked off a checklist.

Whatever the agent's field methods, he or she went back to Law Enforcement

HQ and sent out a letter.

They sent out letters stating that, you know, your lawn's not up to paw, you have a lot of bare spots, you have a lot of weeds.

My sprinkler system was busted and I didn't have the money at that time to repair it.

That's Joe Prudente, who his wife Pat, owns the home in question.

Law enforcement thought that the Prudentes lawn was too brown, too weedy, and not well maintained.

This was not the first such letter that the Prudentes had received.

But Joe Prudentes says he is no deadbeat.

...