Fun71

x2 on this.

bob p

I think every neighborhood has one bad apple who is a chronic complainer. Our neighborhood has one guy who is always filing complaints about everyone, even though everyone is in compliance with the local ordinances. He's just a complainer, and the code enforcement guys know it, but they still have to investigate whenever he calls them to complain about something. You'd think that they would get tired of this guy jerking their chain.

I was recently visited because this jewel of a neighbor complained that I had "a collection of abandoned vehicles." Of course it was a bogus complaint. All of my vehicles are plated, insured, and in running condition.

When the complaint was filed the temperature outside was below zero, we had a foot of snow on the ground, and it was actively snowing. Because I only drive my 4x4 during the snowy season, I don't bother to dig the other cars out. I just let the snow pile up on them. I guess that really offends one of my neighbors. He complains every year in the deepest part of winter.

Every year it's the same -- I get a visit when the weather is subzero and all of the cars are covered in snow, and they ask me to demonstrate that they're all in running condition. I always politely explain the situation, why I think their request for immediate action is unreasonable, and why I refuse to comply. Then I ask them to consider deferring their investigation until after the snow has melted. They always agree to come back later, and when they see that all of the cars are in running condition they close the books on the complaint.

I've had several visits, always occurring on the coldest day of the year, always complaining that the cars in my driveway are covered in snow. I guess snow on cars in a driveway really bothers some people.

bob p

So if I understand this correctly, in your community it's illegal to restore a car, but it's legal if you pay a $15.00 fee for a permit to do so. In other words, that ordinance has nothing to do with getting rid of "unsightly" cars that are being restored, that ordinance is all about using the police department as revenue collection officers.

MDchanic

Yes. In my ideal neighborhood, everyone would have several cars up in the air, and there would always be someone on the block to borrow an unusual tool from, or enjoy a beer with.

The funny thing is that I live in a tiny picturesque coastal tourist town, right in the center.
Tourists take pictures of me working on my car, like I'm an attraction at Disneyland.
They'd love to get me out of there, but there's nothing they can do, because this is [still] America.

- Eric

MDchanic

And his house hasn't burned down yet?

- Eric

aussie oldsmobile 98

that's a croc of crap!!! a bloody permit! ...I think it would be time to move or put up a 8ft high iron fence!

aussie oldsmobile 98

you could always ring up the crime authorities say that heeeps of cars vist this said neighbour ..late at nite , and visit him real quik/ and leave "know wot I mean"
do this from a pay phone ...and you can be annoymis about this "said tip off"
after all you are a concerned neighbour

Vandy

I had the cops out at my place several times when I lived there. All over minor issues like that. It got to the point to where I had to "drive" my mustang once a day so I'd fire her up at 3 am when I got off work and no doubt woke half the neighborhood up for about a month. Then never had a call on that car again.

It seems like every area in town has rules like this. It's why I'm looking for some land in the country where I can restore my car nude in the grass at noon if I want to

m371961

Back to the OPs comments. Wait until some pinheads in the government decides that new cars should have the computers set so no one can drive over 75 MPH except for emergency vehicles. The tech is there and nobody needs to drive any faster.

Tedd Thompson

And with all this neighborly love around is why I live where I do with only one neighbors house visible to me and the ability to rev my engine or shoot a 30-06 if I want to... Life is good without people.....Tedd

Destructor

My neighbor has had a 68 Camaro SS with rust sitting in the side yard for at least 20 years.

rustyroger

America is "The Land of the Free"?. I wonder what car owners in China are allowed to do.
Over here you can do minor repairs (What a minor repair can be is not defined) to get a broken down vehicle running at the roadside.
Major jobs like changing an engine are a no-no though.
We can do whatever we want in our own driveways providing it doesn't cause nuisance to neighbors. Noise, paint fumes, or running a repair business from a private residence are regarded as nuisance.
Mostly common sense prevails, however we have our share of jobsworth busybodies. If they make too many unfounded complaints they might find themselves on the receiving end of a nuisance action.

Roger.

1970greensupreme

I live in a high end part of town, everything is kept in my garage. I have a lift, welders, compressor and a car on a rotisserie and on the odd occasion somebody walks by and the see a car 6 feet in the air or a car upside down it usually strikes up a good conversation, LOL

Gary M

F -them. Do what you want.

m371961

I live in the country, Do what I want. However due to my and my wifes health troubles I'm gonna leave. But I will not be woke up at 2 am by one of my a&&hole nieghbors running around his property on a side by side blasting music.
I'm gonna miss this place. Gotta at least get a 2.5 garage with AC.
Sell my long guns and shoot my handguns at a indoor range.
Time for a change. No more rebuilds, just custom clean work.
But I am gonna miss it.

edzolz

I usually do what I want, but I don't waste my time digging up two year old posts just to get more arguments started.

joe_padavano

Today must be the day to resurrect old posts. What is this - the third or fourth so far?

m371961

Ah, I was a little tight and killin time last night and kicked a few back up.

Gary M

Sometimes you gotta kick up some dust