From: David Cole (DavidCole@tk7.net)
Date: Sat Sep 13 2003 - 20:28:23 PDT
Sounds like the code enforcement guys are twisting the law around a bit to
suit their purposes.
A lot of good points have been addressed by others.
I think it is smart to first pursue the ACLU and guys like that, but if
that goes nowhere (which it might - I've taken worse cases of
discrimination to the ACLU and they didn't feel it met their purpose at the
time), then I would suggest that you line up all of your paperwork in a
very neat order, time lined, etc. Get the name of a good lawyer who deals
in disputes such as this, and pay them a visit, layout all of the
documents, and ask for help. It's in your best interest to be as organized
as possible before you approach an attorney or else you will pay them to
organize things for you at about $150/hour or so.
I don't think it will take long for a competent attorney to find the proper
angle, make a few phone calls and get the city off your back. Some of
these cities are getting totally out of control regarding these code cops.
Their interpretations of the law often gets very creative.
Good Luck,
Dave
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 12:31:37 -0700 (PDT), Jumpmaster
<the_real_jumpmaster@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Howdy, folks...
>
> I'd posted a problem similar to this to the list a
> couple of years ago. I've moved since then (same
> town, different area) and am now being harassed by the
> city again.
>
> The problem appears to be with problematic
> (politically correct) neighbors. The set that live
> across from my house are flaming liberals and would
> appear to have some degree of contempt for my M1009. They also do not
> like my '68 Mustang.
>
> The code enforcement half-wits sent me letters about
> my vehicles. I called them and they explained that
> these "neighbors" said that I'd towed them here. The
> only one towed here was the Mustang because it was not
> registered/insured and therefore would have been
> illegal to drive here. The CUCV was driven here and
> probably has enough power to pull their tiny little
> house off its foundation. The code enforcement idiot
> didn't seem concerned with the CUCV but stated that
> the Mustang falls into the "Antique Vehicle" category
> this year. Woohoo...
>
> The city considers vehicles over 35 years old as
> "antique vehicles" where the state considers them
> antique at 25 years. He's telling me that since it's
> an "Antique Vehicle" now, that it must be continually
> screened from view regardless of operating condition,
> inspection or registration. I read the law and that
> just doesn't make sense. The way I read it, you could
> have a '74 Pacer with crappy paint job parked on your
> driveway (unscreened) as long as it's registered and
> operable BUT a '68 Mustang IN ANY CONDITION must be
> screened from view (in the garage, behind a fence,
> etc.) What would the advantage be of having your car
> considered an "Antique Vehicle" when you could just
> have it operational and let it remain parked on your
> driveway? I don't get it.
>
> I asked about a car cover and he said that wasn't good
> enough. The car runs and drives and is otherwise
> fully operational. Same with the CUCV. I thought
> about getting Antique Vehicle plates for the Mustang,
> but that statute reads like it would still have to
> "screened from ordinary public view."
>
> Any ideas? Anyone else live in Texas and have these
> problems? I read in Deja where this new law had been
> considered a victory for antique vehicle enthusiasts
> because you only had to have inoperable vehicles
> screened from view. The way I read the statutes, it
> doesn't say that.
> http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/tr/tr0068300.html#tr021.683.071
> http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/tr/tr0068300.html#tr028.683.077
>
> Sorry this is so long...people like this just make me
> want to move out to West Texas where your nearest
> neighbor would be about 30 miles away or more.
>
> And please don't tell me to just park it in the
> garage. If I'd planned on doing that, I wouldn't have
> asked for guidance here. :-) I would really like to
> get an M35 or M109 and sit that squarely in the
> driveway, but I'm sure they'd find something to harass
> me about that too.
>
> If anyone can make sense of any of this, please e-mail
> me directly. It may be able to help others on the
> list later, but I don't want to risk tying up the list
> with this.
>
> T. Bloxom
> 1985 M1009 CUCV and 1968 Mustang "Special Interest Vehicles"
>
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-- Dave
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