Even Flag Flying Has Its Limits in Encinitas, Inn Owners Discover

Do you sometimes suspect there’s a government regulation to cover every tiny part of modern life? And a bureaucrat eager to inexorably enforce it?

If so, this one’s for you.

Kirsten and Richard Cline, who run a small inn in Encinitas, have been warned by the code enforcers at Encinitas City Hall that they’re flying three flags too many.

The Clines have the flags of the United States, Italy, Mexico, Germany and Great Britain flying outside their five-room InnCline Bed and Breakfast on Vulcan Avenue.

A nice touch, you say. A nice way of carrying on a tradition of hospitality dating from medieval times of heralding travelers with colorful pennants, you say.

Maybe so, but the Encinitas municipal code, in its zeal to limit outdoor advertising, says nobody can fly more than two flags outside their home or business.

“I’m confused,” said Kirsten Cline. “The Supreme Court says I can burn all the flags I want. But in Encinitas if I fly more than two, I’m a criminal.”

The Clines received a formal notice of violation.

They were given three options: Take down three flags, or pay a $235 fine, or seek a change in their conditional-use permit, which would cost $200 to process.

The Clines like their flags and don’t want to pay $200. They’ve appealed to the City Council.

“Other hotels in Encinitas have more than two flags,” Kirsten Cline noted. “Why am I being picked on?”

Answer: Because someone complained about the InnCline’s flags. No one has yet complained about the flags at the Radisson or Pacific Surf.

Sign code enforcement is on a complaint-only basis. Call it the Squeal Principle of Local Government.

By law, the names of complainers are kept secret. Once a complaint is made, the complainer is irrelevant anyway; the gears of bureaucracy have begun to grind.

“I agree that the flags are attractive-looking,” said senior code enforcer Cindy Adams. “But the code is very clear.”

This Ban’s For You

America’s finest items.

* Liquid logic.

Among members of the public who testified at a San Diego City Council committee last week about a proposed booze ban on beaches was a 50ish fellow who was heavily impaired by drink.

He opposed the ban, naturally.

* One of the first moves made by newly arrived Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Brom was to create a position of vicar of communication to act as liaison with San Diego media.

But now the first vicar, Father Dennis Mikulanis, pastor of Holy Spirit Church in East San Diego, is leaving the post after only six months to devote his time to ecumenical dialogues with Protestants and Jews. The search for a replacement is on.

Mikulanis said his run-ins with conservative Catholics over the school health clinic issue (he favors easing the diocese’s opposition) played no role in his decision:

“I’ve been called many things, but never a liberal.”

* Some 370 civilian employees at Camp Pendleton have been laid off because of Operation Desert Shield.

Fewer Marines on base means less work for the Division of Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

* A San Diego bowling league for singles is called Easy Pick Ups. Spare me.

Even Police Must Feed the Meter

Yes, that was a parking ticket on a San Diego police car parked recently at an expired meter near the downtown Police Department headquarters.

Police cars are not immune to getting parking tickets from those motor scooter-driving traffic controllers.

It’s in the California Vehicle Code. And backed up by a no-more-nonsense directive from the police chief and city manager.

If the ticket is received in the heavy line of duty--no time to feed the meter if you park in a hurry to chase a suspect--it can be dismissed.

But if it’s received due to less heroic circumstances--laziness, a long lunch, etc.--the cop pays his own fine.

More than a few officers are grumbling these days.

“I just tell them it’s law,” said Janet Reyman, senior parking supervisor at the P.D.