Apparently, West Virginia is trying to make it a misdemeanor, with punishment up to and including jail time, to have an inoperable vehicle on private property that is not indoors. http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=62524 Not cool - call or write your elected reps and make sure they know this is a really stupid bill. Bring on the power of the HAMB!
Why are they always so interested whats in your backyard? I know why they are always flying over my house with helicopters all summer long, but for regular everyday citizens, why is the contents of your property so important to them. I wish they could just do their job, run the government, help people in need, and give people their privacy. Always making up for lost revenue I guess. I was always told to clean your own back porch before you tell your neighbor to clean his. Sorry for the rant , I just got out of chemo and I'm a little edgy!
The scary thing is that none of us are the least bit surprised by this kind of bullshit..yeah,I don't want upside down Vegas in the front yards around here (Tennessee),but my shit is out of sight,unless some "official" decides to trespass in my back yard,behind my fence..I know it's coming any day...
We'll see. Sen Deem knows that people in WV aren't going to allow people on their property that they don't want on their property. Sen Deem has property not far from me that is posted and if true I'm sure the conflict between what he wishes for his property and for others will be pointed out to him. Sen Deem isn't a guy who would usually go for something like this so I'm surprised to see his name attached to it. We'll see what he has to say.
I'm not a lawyer but it seems to me that the bill provides for hobbyists. However, a motor vehicle, or major part thereof, shall not be considered an abandoned motor vehicle if: (a) The owner of the motor vehicle is storing the motor vehicle on the owner's property; (b) the motor vehicle is being stored for the purpose of using its parts on other motor vehicles owned by the owner; (c) the owner owns other motor vehicles similar to the motor vehicle being stored; and or (d) the owner is a business licensed to do business in the State of West Virginia and not in the primary business of offering motor vehicles or parts thereof for sale. I had to sign in to get this so hopefully the full link will work for anyone who wants to read it to see if they read any loophole I'm missing. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_S...illdoc=sb49 intr.htm&yr=2009&sesstype=RS&i=49
That's not at all what the bill reads. I love SEMA to death, but they seem to be trying to draw attention to themselves in the last year or two by blasting these exaggerated announcements any time any bill comes up in any state that even mentions the word "car". I think they would do better to quit crying "wolf" and get involved only in those that could possibly hurt the hobby.
I have won this argument before with a city inspector. The rule was poorly written, and it was pretty easy to fight, but I believe it is being re-written due to me winning. It stated something similar with no unoperable vehicles that are not enclosed. First I took off the plates and called it a storage unit. That worked for a couple of months, then he came back with a poor argument about it not being a proper storage unit. Next I took four 4x4's and a piece of plywood and made a lean-to over it. He was really pissed and probably would have come back again but I got it fixed in the next month.
I have to agree, sema is starting to sound like the NRA. I used to be of the opinion of do what you want on your property, but then I had some new neighbors move in and in two years time they have accumulated an unbelievable pile of sh@t!!! There's got to be 100 tires, at any given moment at least 4 80's era chevy trucks being combined into 1, 3 jeeps currently being combined into 1, 3 s10 pickups being combined into 2, 2 snowmobiles that they bought & couldn't get running so they shoved over on the side of their barn. Then there's 3 old fiberglass caps they tossed in the tree line, because they no longer have any trucks they would fit on. Then there's 2 aluminum bass boats that are sitting bow tipped forward so they're full of water... I could keep going on, but I think you get the point, all of this isn't visible from the road, but you can see from my kitchen window, dining room bay window, bedroom window, patio, from my swimming pool... It's real fun to have family and friends over, everyone always likes to discuss the garbage dump next door. I can't wait for the township to pass something... And yes, I was here first!!! It's people like my neighbors who ruin it for all of us!!! It's not that hard to be considerate of others...
Here is a copy of the letter that I emailed to the members of the West Virginia Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I have received a reply from one Senator who stated that she would express my concerns before the vote was held on the bill. Jim Dear Member of the West Virginia Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, This letter is to express opposition to S.B. 49 that has been introduced for the fourth time by Senator Frank Deem. S.B. 49 seeks to redefine "abandoned motor vehicles" to include unlicensed or inoperable vehicles stored on private property. Under current law, the abandoned vehicle law applies primarily to vehicles on public property. S.B. 49 would make violation a misdemeanor offense punishable by substantial fines, community service and jail. As a collector/restorer of antique, classic and street rod vehicles for over forty years, I wish to cite the following flaws in S.B. 49 as it has been introduced. <DIR>S.B. 49 would give authorities an inordinate amount of power in determining the disposition of project cars. S.B. 49 would make it extremely difficult for West Virginia hobbyists to maintain inoperable collector vehicles on private property. S.B. 49 demonstrates a clear disregard and lack of understanding of the vehicle hobby and the rights of hobbyists. S.B. 49 makes no legal distinction between an owner using private property as a "dumping ground" and a vehicle enthusiast working to maintain, restore or construct a vehicle. </DIR>Please consider the above points carefully before you cast a vote on S.B 49. The preservation and restoration of vehicles adds tax dollars to the coffers, but also has a "ripple effect" on the economy from the sale of parts and materials used during the refurbishing process, to wages earned by those in the associated automotive industries such as body, upholstery and mechanical repair shops. The presence of restored vehicles in parades, shows and festivals around West Virginia adds to the quality of life in the Mountain State. It is always gratifying to hear spectator comments such as "I haven't seen one of those in years" and "I remember when your Grandfather had one just like that". By depriving the auto enthusiast of the ability to have access to the resources needed to keep those vehicles on the road, we will surely lose a bit of our cultural heritage. I ask for your help in defeating S.B. 49. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Well done Jim. Your letter would be a good model of clarity in addressing this issue to anyone's representatives. Thanks for posting it. Charlie
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