Houston's Shocking New Law

[editor]

Did anyone else notice this item in the Chronicle?

The Houston City Council on Wednesday gave businesses the OK to install electrified fences, following a dramatic debate about whether the fences posed a danger to children.

Electrically charged fences previously had been prohibited in Houston, and still are banned for residential use. But business owners can erect the fences around outdoor storage yards, to deter would-be thieves from stealing vehicles, supplies and metals

If we can't keep the soccer moms from running their SUV's into the train, how can we keep the drunks from frying themselves while staggering home?

Wait... that really doesn't make any sense.

Does anyone have any first-hand experience with electric fences? Can they hurt you, or it is just an annoyance? Are things so bad that Houston needs a fry-thy-neighbor ordinance?

[musicman]

Does anyone have any first-hand experience with electric fences? Can they hurt you, or it is just an annoyance? Are things so bad that Houston needs a fry-thy-neighbor ordinance?

well....unless your neighbor is a business they can't put up an electric fence. the ordinance only allows them for businesses with certain types of hardware to limit hazards. to hear councilmember melissa noriega complain that the trespasser/burglar may have a weak heart and be killed should they come in contact with a fence just astounded me.

electric fences can kill you but those aren't permitted per the ordinance.

Edited February 2, 2008 by musicman

[gwilson]

These aren't high voltage. I wouldn't pee on one, but it isn't going to kill you. It will sober you up pretty quickly though.

[Gary]

I have electric fencing on my property in Belleville, and it's not dangerous in the least. They will wake you up pretty quickly though. I've been shocked a number of times and it's kind of like a WOW that sucked factor.

[TJones]

Whizzing on the electric fence is a myth. A barehand is much more effective at curtailing you from touching it again. Electrified Razorwire, now THAT is just plain evil.

[Ross]

The fact that the electified fence has to be inside a non-electric fence helps prevent accidents too.

[GREASER]

last job had one...common knowledge of electricty will let you bypass it.

[mumbles]

My sons friend touched my dogs shockwire with a crowbar and it turned his toenail black. He was fine though, put down the crowbar.

[The Great Hizzy!]

My sons friend touched my dogs shockwire with a crowbar and it turned his toenail black. He was fine though, put down the crowbar.

That's horrible and hilarious at the same time.

[houstonmacbro]

Did anyone else notice this item in the Chronicle?

If we can't keep the soccer moms from running their SUV's into the train, how can we keep the drunks from frying themselves while staggering home?

Wait... that really doesn't make any sense.

Does anyone have any first-hand experience with electric fences? Can they hurt you, or it is just an annoyance? Are things so bad that Houston needs a fry-thy-neighbor ordinance?

Soccer moms ... hilarious.

[jgriff]

We had electric fences all over the place where I grew up. It's a rural town in East Texas and had a population of about 1000 when I lived there. I got shocked by them many times and they were a lot more powerful than the ones city council has approved for use in Houston. Having to get approval for this kind of thing from city council just makes me think that big cities make people dumb. It's not very complicated... if you get shocked stop touching the fence.

[Vertigo58]

I alway wished they would have invented electric shock clothing. Wear it to festivals or crowded events. Person wearing is ok then once donning the new invention, you push your way to the front and everyone gets zapped standing in your way. One day someone will invent you watch. Could come up with many new snappy names for the "hot" product.

[Montrose1100]

Good, keep the crack heads from stealing wires and cutting off the a/c in the middle of summer in businesses!

[cottonmather0]

Good, keep the crack heads from stealing wires and cutting off the a/c in the middle of summer in businesses!

Amen. We've recently had similar discussions on this board on a different topic and I think I fall in the same place - if you're so intent on stealing someone else's property, you deserve to get what's coming to you.

And if someone is worried about a danger to kids, then shame on the parents for letting their kids play around the types of business that would be allowed to install these things.