On 1/3/11 12:38 , Beam Me Up Scotty wrote:

{preceding points stipulated}

Can the Government force you to turn off your lights, or force you to
share your light with someone that has no light?


Well, it's interesting you bring that up. The answer, is "yes."

Is it Constitutional, no. But they can do it.


Examples.

In Palm Beach, there are local ordinances with fines and other
penalties attached requiring ocean front property owners to turn
their lights off, and block indoor light from reaching outside the
building, to prevent turtle hatchlings from being attracted to away
from the sea to their deaths on land.

In the area where I live, ordinances, with fines and other
penalties attached, mandate that lights falling outside the property
line, security lights, coachlights, even your auto's headlights
while the vehicle is on the property, must be turned off.

On the other hand, in the event of a power failure, a local
community has an HOA that requires by covenant, with fines attached,
that homeowners, renters, or guests who are generator equipped must
share a minimum of 30% of their total continuous generating capacity
with homeowners, renters or guests, who are not generator equipped,
whether the owner of the generator can meet his/her own needs while
sharing, or not.

Your point about the Constitutional guarantee of Free Speech, and
the nature of Free Speech, is well made.

But, governments, local and otherwise, have few limits should
they desire to escape them.