[sigtauenus]

OK, so I got Code Enforcement called on me due to my newly acquired 68 Coupe that has collision and fire damage.

http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/showtopic.php?tid/1436079

Notice says I have 7 days to correct the problem, and theat the specific issue is "Vehicle has neither valid license plates nor a valid inspection decal."

Since there is a neither and a nor in there, I'm thinking I just need to go ahead and register the car and I'm ok for now, right?

Of course I'm going to call the city and ask for sure, but there's no point paying for the registration and insurance if I need to get it inspected too... I just pulled the engine tonight to clean up the burned engine bay.

For right now, I just want to know if I need to clean out the garage to pull this thing in, or if I can just pay the 100 bucks to insure and register it for now and get it inspected once it is drivable again.

 

[Hemikiller]

Was this covered in the driveway or out in plain sight? I had some zoning issues a while back, it was my fault the cars were out in plain view with no plates....

 

[Apprentice]

It has little to do with owners comfort, it boils down to how you're local code is written as far as how much they require of you as the owner of such a car. The enforcement is blind to circumstances, how it is parked and kept on your property is what makes it fair game for them, you are at their mercy. The way they see it it is at a minimum a hazard (liabilty) to the community and must be insured and of record. Not negotiable nor are their any loopholes for you other than out of site out of mind. A car cover will not work either. What worked for my brother was a canvas instant tent garage. They are cheap and it is considered an enclosure, which will keep you and you're car off their "to do list" Hope this helps.

 

[70sportsroof]

Since the car is not mobile, how are you going to get an inspection sticker, particularly since it would fail an inspection due to the collision damage and absence of a motor. Does Virginia have a registration class for non-operable vehicles? California has this type of registration.

As for insurance, I paid about 100 bucks a year for comprehensive on the non-operable 65FB, but the insurance requirements of the state require me to have liability, unless registered specifically as a non-operable vehicle. Thus, I could not register the car with comprehensive coverage alone. Will your insurance co. even write liability coverage on a non-running car? If not, then again, how do you register the car.

Man, I feel your pain. I think your only solution will be to pull it into the garage other somehow meet the legal requirements to have it enclosed (if that is your state's legal requirement).

 

[sigtauenus]

Technically I am in the wrong here according to the code, but I'm working on a car that is not an eyesore, is not unsafe in any way, ie, not up on jack stands or anything like that, and will be operational again in a matter of weeks.

Incidently, it does still have a valid NY inspection sticker, obviously no longer applicable due to the accident and the fact that the car is now in VA, but point being, it was a recent accident, not something that happened in 1985 and the cars been sitting under a tree for 20 years type of thing.

I do have it sitting outside, but all of the fire damage was limited to the engine bay and under the dash. The only external indication is the burn spot on the top of the hood from the excessive heat. The car externally looks great and it is not an eyesore. The fact that I have the engine pulled is not obvious unless you open the hood and look in it.

This is not an initially 6-12 now going on 18 month project. I plan on having the engine bay stripped and painted this weekend, change the gaskets on the engine and hopefully have it installed back in by the end of next week. After that its just a matter of wiring everything back up, which I have all the parts needed on hand. I just need about 2 weeks to do it. This is not a full-blown restoration, just a repair.

This and some other Code issues has me seriously considering moving outside city limits, as this will not be the last mustang project I take on.

I saw one of the neighbors that I suspected might have made the call (she has openly admitted making calls before on other neighbors) and told her that we were going to be finished up the project soon and she said "take your time, I don't care!" Funny, ALL of my neighbors always express the same sentiment. 2 of the neighbors on my culdesac have 16 year old kids that have expressed interest in buying the coupe when its done. One neighbor helped me with pulling the battery (it was burned open with acid leaking out), another helped me push the car off the trailer. Except for the possibility that a realtor made the complaint, I have no clue who it would have been based on how cordial and supportive all my neighbors are with me.

I know the code is the code, and there are no exceptions, even if its a nice car or not an eyesore, but its just really disappointing that someone in my culdesac, who is openly friendly with me, perhaps even someone who has helped me with the car or expressed interest in buying it, called the Code Enforcement.

 

[johnmcooper]

...Except for the possibility that a realtor made the complaint, I have no clue who it would have been based on how cordial and supportive all my neighbors are with me...

In our city, our tax dollars pay a code enforcement officer to just drive around the city looking for violations. Doesn't matter that your neighbors aren't bothered by your projects, the city will still write you up!

I have an 86 Jag, fully registered, insured, and operational under a car cover in my driveway. The left front tire only holds air for about three days. The tire went flat, we were in the middle getting ready for my sons wedding, rehearsal dinner, out of town guests and didn't get around to filling the tire up for about a week. Got a letter from the city complete with color pictures of the flat tire telling me to fix the violation with 7 days of the letter or face further action. So, I put air in the tire!

 

[sigtauenus]

Actually, we have the same thing. But, when the guy stopped by and talked with my wife, he said he doesn't actually write up citations unless there is a complaint. He said he has seen the car for a couple weeks and was suprised it took somebody so long to complain, and that he waited until there was a complaint before he came by to see us.

Just spoke with the city, ins and reg is all I need (can hold off on inspection), called USAA and their affiliate American Collectors Insurance will cover me for $47 a year. I think taxes and tags will run about $70. Not too bad of a fix.

 

[Red68GT]

Sam, thanks for the USAA affiliate tip

 

[Marc4d]

Maybe someone wants to buy your car?And they called code enforcement to kinda help you come off your car.The idea could be a lil far fetched but dont be surprised and let us know if some foolio comes to your door with an offer or you find a note on it .....Marc

 

[sigtauenus]

Sam, thanks for the USAA affiliate tip

No problem. Been with USAA a long time now, but this is the first I've actually spoken with the American Collectors. I'll have to post more info on them as soon as I find out. If they are anything near as easy to work with as USAA then they might be a keeper.

 

[sigtauenus]

Maybe someone wants to buy your car?And they called code enforcement to kinda help you come off your car.The idea could be a lil far fetched but dont be surprised and let us know if some foolio comes to your door with an offer or you find a note on it .....Marc

Hmmm, I had not thought of that at all. Wow, that's kind of an interesting idea though... I'll have to keep an eye out for anybody with that kind of nefarious intention.

 

[HokieDave]

Just register and Insure it, then get a set of Antique plates for it. There is no need for a Virginia inspection. As long as it isn't your daily driver and you've got the antique plates, there is no safety inspection required for the vehicle.

 

[sigtauenus]

Do the antique plates cost any more than regular plates in VA?

 

[HokieDave]

No, I think it is even cheaper. I think it is only $25.

edit: I forgot to add, that is a one time fee, you do not have to renew it each year. There are no month and year stickers on the plate, and no expiration on the registration.

 

[kdrop]

That is a good possibility. Its an old trick if they have a house listed in your area and think it may affect the sale of the house.

 

[sigtauenus]

Well, I got it insured for $47 for the year, and was able to transfer tags off another car I just sold for $4 good until June, so plenty of time to get this car back together now.

On another note, it turns out the code guy hit 3 of us on my cudesac and came out for a 4th guy today. When he hit the 4th guy he said something to the code enforcer about all the activity and the code guy says "give you one guess who it was..." 4th guy names her, and the code enforcer says "yep, same as always." Apparently this has been going on for numerous years now and I just moved in here about 18 months ago.

Turns out it is my next door neighbor, whose daughter babysits for us 1-2 times week, I play poker with him, my wife plays some other card game with her, and he's a retired Marine to boot (I'm still an active duty Marine). I mean, come on, WTF?

I'm going to talk to them very nicely, call them on it, and ask that they let me know next time I do something to upset them before calling code enforcement. Heck, we along so well, I still don't know why she called. Only one way to find out...

 

[stangg]

If I were you, just let them know that some jack-arse has been calling code enforcement on some of the the local folks... so they better be careful on how they present their property. Let them know your feelings as if you don't know who they are... see if they 'fess up... My guess is they won't and then you'll truly know who your freinds are.