County says I have too many cars. HELP!, What can I do to get around this? Options

[Mark Henry]

Shortly after a couple of city slickers moved in across the road, “someone” complained about my cars (BTW some neighbour has complained about yours), I read the law. I was allowed one boat on a trailer, one other trailer, farm equipment was exempt, two unplated cars and no limit on plated cars. I put a couple of scrap cars, a ratty boat and tent trailer right on the front lawn, then I told the farmer next door what was going on. “We’ll fix their wagon” he said, the next day I came home to find manure spreaders, ploughs, seeders, plus a big mother tractor and combine parked on my front lawn.

The inspector came by, looked around, big smile “your 100% legal Mr. Henry”. I told him to tell “whoever” that it would be gone in a couple of weeks, if they complained again it would be back for good. “Will do”, he laughed.

I never had another complaint. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[bondo]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am definitely going to find and read the exact law, to see what technicalities I can use. They aren't threatening to tow or confiscate anything. They're threatening large fines and even jailtime for the home owner. Somehow I doubt anyone ever gets jailtime for having too many cars visible. I probably have some leeway in this regard because I am not the homeowner, and my dad is not 100% responsible for my actions. (although he is 50% responsible for my existence)

I'll keep you posted on developments, and I'll put up a driveway pic (the 914 is probably the ugliest car there)

Thanks again,
--Royce

[Jake Raby]

I went all over the state while I was there... We flew to every base there and i had plenty of time to see what was outside of alot of them.

I know that Northern cali is much better than SOCAL but still there are simply too many things that limit ya.....

BTW, I have set off an M58 fragmentation grenade down in my "bottom" when we dug our fish pond, made it easier to get the landscape prepared for the Caterpillar that followed!

[mikester]

Can't we all just get along...

[dmenche914]

get a copy of the law that they cite aginst you, and let us see it. I fouhgt a law in Redwood City that gave $20 tickets to people with for sale signs in their cars. They were raking in about $1000 per month on this. I fought it, and it was ruled ILLEGAL as worded in the city code (they can do it, but must have a notice sign posted at each location they write the ticket) Their code was in violation of state code!

Now get this, I showed them state law, and asked them to dismiss, they did not and made me go thru three levels of appeals (hoping I'd drop it no doubt) they knew they were wrong, the city council, the chief of police all knew it, but kept writting the tickets. I even got a phone recording from the issuing officers captian, who said he believes I am right, but wants me to fight the ticket anyway!

After I won, it took three months to get MY money back from them. also within several months, they started writting those tickets again. This time I wrote down all the phone numbers of the people that got the ticket, then I called the captain, and told him that he was not supposed to write them anymore, and he better dismiss all them new tickets, this guy tells me there is nothing he can do about already written tickets (false! calif vehicle code allows for issuing agency to dismiss any ticket in interest of justice within 30 days) I told him I have the phone numbers, and will tell the people that got the tickets how I fought it, and how the police know it is an illegal ticket. He stopped me and told me to have the people call him, and he will take care of it, which I did, so far after about 6 months, no more tickets like that are being written in Redwood City.

Talk about crooked cops making $12000 per year off illegal tickets, tickets that if any of them cared to read the vehicle code, they would find illegal. Yet they continued to write them, until caught not once, but the second time. These guys won't even think of refunding the prior years tickets. Heck they wouldn't think of giving back what THEY stole from the public. Nice little racket they had going. Bastard cops. Pretty smart too, keeping the fine at $20 so most people would just pay it, not me!

At any rate, read the code, and any law that the code cites as authority. You might have to go to a council meeting with this. They can have laws on the books, but you may find those laws to be illegal, so be sure to get the entire code, with references to state laws.

There are laws that have said that visual tastes can NOT be used for laws like these. Now they can pass building codes for safety, and make you remove blight that hobors rats. But cars is another matter, and unless there are CCR's for your property, the number of cars should not be enforcable by them.

let me know how this goes. I really get worked up with government intrusion, and will help you fight this anyway I can.

Are the cars in running order, and licesensed? That can make a difference.

some times a car cover might be enough to get them off your back.

Also did someone complain? or was this just an over active code enforcer, this too can make a difference?

dave

[lapuwali]

I think it's fair to say that the cops are not at fault here. The money doesn't go into their pockets., it went into the city's pocket. The problem was with the city council. The cops were told to issue the tickets, and they did what they where told. After you fought it, they stopped, the city council no doubt told them to start again, and they did what they were told.

Find out who on the city council started the whole thing and raise a stink, or they'll just get re-elected. They're no doubt causing other problems you just haven't come across, yet. No doubt they were involved in getting that illegal ordinance passed in the first place.

Give the cops a break. They don't pass the laws, they just enforce them.

[anthony]

I agree with most of what people have written about not wanting to be told what to do but (yes, here it comes) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) things can get out of hand.

I wish people would use their garages for their damn cars. My neighbor to the right has his garaged filled with a boat, motorcycles and a bunch of junk and always 3 or 4 cars on the street. My neighbor accross the street has his garage packed to the gills with junk. It's so bad that they can't even walk through their garage. And they always have 3 cars parked out front. For a few years he had an ugly boat parked in the driveway and 3 rusting ATVs on the side of the house. My neighbor to the left converted half of his garage into storage so with two driving teenagers and his extra car he has four cars parked out front. It really would be a lot nicer if everybody used their garage for it's intended purpose and we had half the number of cars out on the street.

[nebreitling]

yes. this is all pansy-assed California's fault. very nice, gentlemen. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

[bondo]

Ok, I read the law, and talked to the code enforcement guy. Here is the story: Cars in use are ok to have visible. _STORED_ cars are not. So I'm going to put a car in the garage, put two on the side of the house, and sell two. (I was selling two anyways). The remaining ones which will be used daily will remain on the driveway and everything will be hunkey dorey. If anyone wants to help me out, you can bid on this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...item=2478176196 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(strangely enough this was not one of the cars they complained about, probably because it looks completely normal from the street)

In case you're wondering: yes, the engine from it is going in the 914 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Thanks for the support guys,
--Royce

[SLITS]

Hmmmmm Los Osos - they couldn't sell the effin land so they used to give it away at the local theatre during intermission.

Ahhhhh - Montana De Oro - drugs and sunsets on the beach - that was the life!

[bondo]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I found out nobody complained. They just go around looking for trouble. Cited 10 people on my street. At least now I know I don't have any enemies (except the county)

--Royce

[fiid]

I think someone (Arnie) told the CA cops they have to write more tickets to keep their jobs. Enforcement of just about everything seems to have increased significantly in the last few months.

Seems like you have a resolution though - good on ya.