Grrrrrr.... A sad day today....

Yep, I've dealt with the same thing on a number of occasions. Luckily, they've recently changed the ordinance enough to make it harder to take my cars, but still fools people of lesser intellect into towing off their total junkers. It used to be, once it was tagged you had anywhere between 3-30 days (depending on the type of infraction and location) to move it or make it legal and roadworthy, or the city would tow it in. If it sat at the impound yard for 90 days it is sold at auction. Now, if it's on private property, they actually have to get a warrant to take the car, but they still stick the same tag to the car, with a letter that warns you that you are in violation of the ordinance. The only give away was that it didn't have a box checked to tell you how long you have to move it. When I called to find out, they informed me that it's just a warning, and if I did nothing then the cop could choose to take pictures and submit them to a judge to order a warrant to get the cars, and they have to tag the car again with the copy of the warrant, and give you 30 days. So I just rearranged my cars (they ran, just not plated) and the neighbor had the junk Corsica with a blown head gasket in his driveway hauled off for scrap, because "At least this way a I get a few bucks for the car. The city is going to come and get it if it's here for another week.". I didn't tell him that that wasn't really the case, I was glad to see that piece of crap gone.

Moral of the story: Always check the letter of the law. Ordinances change all the time, and you might find a loophole.

Tifosi2k2 wrote: I have two other choices: Get it running, insured, registered, "road worthy" (crack in the windshield, so that needs replaced) and be good to go. Not an option right now ($$$). OR I can register it, declare it a "junk" car, which the city says I then have to have FULL insurance coverage on, not just storage or liability, FULL coverage on a car that doesn't run

I am in Sandusky.
What city are you in?

Do you have a clear title?
If yes, getting a car registered in Ohio does not require a "road worthy" inspection, just a quick trip to the BMV. There should be no need for windshield repair. Some areas need a smog check. Are you in that area?

In Ohio, insured means that you carry liability only. If you currently have another car (and this would be a second car on your policy) I bet it is pretty cheap. You can get the exact price by just a quick phone call to your insurance company.

As far as "getting it running" I highly doubt that the city has a person assigned to confiming that it runs. I bet all the city has the capability to do is "run the plates." Get plates and make the car a presentable as possible (4 tires, hood closed, etc.) Do you have the capability to roll the car one foot forward and back? This may be enough to constitute that the car has moved in the last 30 days.

Good point. If it isn't obviously not drivable, just plate it. They're not going to actually check to see if it runs. Just buy a month of the cheapest liability insurance so you can get the plates. The plates are good for a year, and they're not going to knock on your door for proof of insurance, so I wouldn't even bother insuring it the whole time if you are low on funds.

Although, I once had my GTI tagged for unknown reasons. When I got home and saw the tag I called the cop to see what was up. He said he didn't think it ran because "it obviously hasn't been driven in a while". I guess most people don't have perfectly running cars that don't get driven for months at a time. He asked if I mind if he stops by to verify that it runs. I said "Sure! I'll give you ride around the block in it. It's pretty fast!" I jumped it and had it idling in the driveway when he came back, and he just slowed down and gave me a thumbs up as he drove past my house. Most of them aren't that nice about it.

In my city, you are allowed one un registered car.

16vCorey wrote: the neighbor had the junk Corsica with a blown head gasket in his driveway hauled off for scrap, because "At least this way a I get a few bucks for the car. The city is going to come and get it if it's here for another week.". I didn't tell him that that wasn't really the case, I was glad to see that piece of crap gone.

So, only you're allowed to have project cars?

I'm glad I don't live next to you Corey, you sound like a real nice guy.

Shawn

Trans_Maro wrote:

16vCorey wrote: the neighbor had the junk Corsica with a blown head gasket in his driveway hauled off for scrap, because "At least this way a I get a few bucks for the car. The city is going to come and get it if it's here for another week.". I didn't tell him that that wasn't really the case, I was glad to see that piece of crap gone.

So, only you're allowed to have project cars? I'm glad I don't live next to you Corey, you sound like a real nice guy. Shawn

Trust me, it was no project car. It was a beat to hell and back Corsica that didn't run. His daughter left it there after it died down the street, and it was the closest place she knew she could make it to. She limped it there and it never ran again. I really didn't care one way or the other. He actually wanted it gone too, but wanted his daughter to take care of it, since it was her car. This just gave him the motivation to take care of it himself, and I wasn't going to be the one to tell him that the letter was really just a warning disguised as a tow tag. I'm glad you don't live next to me too, you sound like an shiny happy person that jumps to conclusions.

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4513.65 http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/505.173

These are state codes, local ordinance may have expanded provisions.

Find out what your options are...then act.

I get my hackles up when someone tries to tell me how to act on private property.

Bruce

This is America and it is completely berkeleying ridiculous. You should fight this.

in ca we can have the car in plain view on the drive way. no registration or anything. my nova is registered non-op but its not insured. i know different city's do weird things, you might want to check on if you can put a little 100 dollar shed in your front driveway and use that for storage. basically cover it up with a tin can. you can check all the local laws and stuff at the local library.

16vCorey wrote: they're not going to knock on your door for proof of insurance, so I wouldn't even bother insuring it the whole time if you are low on funds.

not exactly accurate...Ohio does "random" proof of coverage checks by mail. Ohio will send you a request for proof that the vehicle was insured durring the period (usually a year) since the last time its registration was upped. I say "random" because I was dinged when I was 17 for no insurance (90 days liscense suspension,work priveleges, had to carry a special insurance rider...SR70 I think or something), and since than ding, I have had 3 such mailings, while NO ONE I know has had one ever. Anyway, they can check to make sure you have insurance, its just not that likely.

I've been through this, and have dealt with local ordinances for over 30 years.

First off, you need to READ the EXACT ordinance you are allegedly in violation of. Don't take the policeman's word for it. He's not a lawyer.

There is usually an exception. Local ordinances sometimes exclude race cars, allow 1 project, require a tag, allow a time limit for repairs, etc. Find the loopholes.

Next, you probably need to get it off the property for a bit. Can you take it to a friend or family member's house for 30 days or so?

Here's what you are looking for: The police will be back. Make sure they see that you have complied with their original request (the car is gone), with no need to talk about anything with you. They will record the visit appropriately (probably with pics).

Step 2: Bring the car back. First, do the bare minimum you need to to make it road legal. Get a tag, and insurance, if needed. Park the car in the exact same spot, with the correct tag clearly visible from the street. This will piss off your neighbor, and the police will be back. They will find your car to be legal (you should not have to fix the windsheild). They might give you a little grief, but show them all the paperwork, and you will be set. You will not have to prove that it runs. They will again record the visit, and not be able to find you guilty of anything. This will be their 3rd trip, so your neighbor will be starting to loose credibility.

Step 3: Cancel the insurance. That stuff is expensive, and there is no point in having it on a non-running car. You will get a refund from your insurance company for the unused balance. Do it legally- even if that means turning in your plate. But KNOW what that loophole was (racecar, etc). The car will be technically legal (because you are going to paint a number on it, or whatever), but still pissing off your neighbor.

Step 4: Turn the car around so that the tag (or lack thereof) cannot be seen from any public street, or from the property of Mr. Disgruntled Neighbor, or alternately cover it with a car cover (better). Mr. DN will probably once again call the police. They are generally not allowed to enter private property without a search warrant, and will therefore not be able to see the tag or VIN. Additionally, they will be on their 4th trip, each time observing the car in a different position (so it is obviously in use). By this time they are getting a little pissed and Mr. DN has lost all remnants of credibility, so they will probably not push it any further. That's good, cause you don't want to go to court. But if you HAVE too, you still have that loophole.

Vandelism is not cool.

Good luck!

Man, it sounds to me like it would be easier to just make it legit and be done with it. That way you at least get to enjoy the thing.

yeah ohio makes you sign the "proof of insurance" paper to get your plates and they do random requests by mail. i have one registered vehicle without insurance - i registered my 40 when i got it since i was there anyway and wanted to get my historical vehicle plates(lifetime w/ no renewal fee) before the rates went up. i'll call my agent when i start driving it.

but you can just go to the BMV and get a tag - they don't e-check down by you. tagged = legal.

this crap right here pisses me off. People that have nothing better to do with their lives than come up with stupid rules and ordinances pertaining to people who like to tinker with cars because they "see" them as unsightly. How about this? Go find yourself a f'ing hobby that doesn't involve being in everyone else's business.

HOAs piss me right off the f'ing wall. I once got three "HOA Citations" in my g/fs neighborhood all in one night. 1) Noise citation, they heard a loud vehicle going through the neighborhood that night and believed it to be my car.... 2) Parked in the wrong direction on the street and 3) Offensive Sticker on back window, pertaining to my "F-THIS" sticker. Oh and did I mention all of these were hand written on notebook paper and signed by the HOA president of her neighborhood....

Good luck with this deal dude, I hope all fairs well and once everything is said and done you can keep your project at the least cost to you.

I live in NE PA where some people have more "project" cars than street drivers. I keep my race car in the garage. Projects which are left outside (none right now). Get pushed down to the back pf an 80 ft drive way. I am in a private development. Unless there is a crime in progress the police must be invited in. The only way someone can find out the status of my vehicles is to do some major trespassing. Not good for one's health.

This isn't an HOA. It's the police, so it deals with city ordinances.

Ordinances are not exactly designed to be an enemy of the people. They're supposed to keep crappy cars from piling up in your neighbors yard, keep other dogs from crapping on your sidewalk, and keep your neighbors crap from depreciating the value of your crap.

When cities/towns/municipalities are kept clean, they become nicer places to live, and property values are higher.

Ordinances are just another set of laws that keep the peace.

The higher the density, the more strict the ordinances, because when you live in a city or suburban house, if yours is the only crappy one on the street, no-one will want to buy the house next to yours.

In low density areas, you rarely find these same ordinances, because most of the time the property sizes are so large that a few untagged cars aren't noticed, and if they are, the properties aren't worth that much anyway.

I would drive it to Pittsburgh, leave it in my yard (No neighbors) until you eventually forget about it.

Maybe it is for the best to get the project going . Find a local towing yard or salvage yard and ask for some storage space cash and cheap . Scour country side looking for a barn and off farmer jones so cash or clean up work for storage . Be creative and don,t wear anything flashy make them think you have little money . if farmer has beer cans around offer case of beer a month . post at local beer store NEED STORAGE for project car we are building for overseas military person . <<<Evil but times is tough

check the ordinances for sheds/storage/etc on your property then:

• tarp

seriously, something light and easy like that might be nice when it comes to rainy days and wanting to get some work done on the project. if you can make it legal to keep the car on your property this way spending $60 on supplies, it's better than spending $60 on court fees with a different loophole.