Being 'Up on the Roof' Could Cost You Big in W. Chester

Do warm summer nights have you thinking about heading up to the roof for a party or just to hang out with a few people?

If you live in the Borough of West Chester you might want to think about finding another place "when this old world starts getting you down." Unless you have a roof designed and permitted for non-maintenance occupancy being up on the roof could cost you some serious cash.

Under an ordinance approved by the Borough Council Wednesday night, having people on a roof not designed for that use is now officially a public nuisance punishable by a $250 fine.  

Borough Manager Ernie McNeely says safety was one of the biggest reasons the ordinance was proposed. West Chester University Student Ali M. Fausnaught,  19, died after falling from the roof of a building in North Philadelphia during an off-campus party at Temple University in April.

McNeely says the new ordinance "had actually been proposed before (Fausnaught's) death but the incident is an example of the danger" posed by people being on roofs that are not designed to be occupied.

What do you think? Does the ordinance make sense or it too much government when applied to private homes or buildings?  Tell us in the comments.