A South Florida family that gained popularity for an over-the-top holiday display is in a legal tug-of-war with the city of Plantation.
Opening arguments began Tuesday in the trial against the Hyatt family over the Christmas wonderland that draws hundreds of people to the home located on Northwest 14th Street every year.
The city of Plantation wants the jolly bright lights and moving figures to go away -- citing that the holiday spectacle has become a public safety hazard.
In court Tuesday, four Plantation police officers took the stand to testify against the Hyatt family's display.
One officer called the tradition "kind of chaos".
The police chief even took the witness stand saying, "It's just a bad location for this type of display. There is no parking it's just not a food fit."
Officers who patrolled the area say they've seen at least one thousand people visit the display a night.
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The city has tried to shut down roads and put up "no parking" signs, but the crowds keep coming.
City officials used charts, maps and even police surveillance video to try to convince a judge that the Christmas wonderland is too much for the residential area.
The Hyatt family attorney disagrees with the city's claims.
"The display is grand and that's what brings joys to the people who visit," said James Helf, defense attorney.
The family has tried to work out solutions for crowd control with the city and neighbors but it didn't work.
"The only solution the city would consider involved payment to the city," explained Helf.
But the family says it doesn't have the money to give the city for extra patrol officers.
The Hyatt family won't pull the plug without a fight.
The trial is expected to last three days.
