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Should Lawrence residents be allowed to keep non-working vehicles in their driveway?
| Response | Percent | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 59% | 873 | |
| No | 36% | 539 | |
| Not sure | 4% | 59 | |
| Total | 1471 | ||
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Comments
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denak (anonymous) says…
Why shouldn't they, it is their property. Granted if it is an eyesore and makes the neighborhood look like a ghetto, then maybe they should put a cover over it in order to make it look nice but I don't see where the city has a right to tell a homeowner he or she can't.
LogicMan (anonymous) says…
If they at least appear operable (no flat tires, etc.) and have a properly displayed valid license plate, yes.
libertarianjim (anonymous) says…
NO! Our supreme Gestapo should seize the property, throw the human vermin in jail, and redistribute their assets among law enforcement agencies as they do with people who smoke marijuana.(Satire, for those of you who don't recognize it or are supporters of tyranny.)
Liberty275 (anonymous) says…
My vette sat in my driveway over the winter, not because it won't run well enough to do 12 second quarter mile runs but because it will kill you if you try driving it in the snow and I don't want salt on the underside.
It's MY yard. Idiot politicians need to keep their nose out of it.
edson443 (anonymous) says…
People are worried about a socialism when they should be on the look out for a communism.
OonlyBonly (anonymous) says…
I voted "yes" but with reservations. A temporarily disabled vehicle should be okay - but turning a driveway into a salvage yard is a definite no-no.
edson443 (anonymous) says…
Please allow me to correct my statement. People are worried about socialism when they should be on the look out for the rise of communism. It would be nice if LJW provided an "edit comment" option. Thank you.
toe (anonymous) says…
Here, I found a freedom I was not using. The government can have it, I am not using it.
autie (anonymous) says…
only if they cousins an they gots a couch tied to the top of the car.
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
autie,
Thet rhemands me, did you throw away thet terlet ya had on yer back porch yestidy?
My cuzin luiz got too drunk las naght an fell over n hit his head and broke my terlet. So, if'n you still got it, and I kin get my ol truck started I'd lak to pick it up.
Thanks Cuz.
Pywacket (anonymous) says…
Should be okay if they're using it for some producative purpose--such as a greenhouse for the vigorous young plants they have growing in flats on the floor and seats.
Or if it's being used as a cozy semi-detached extra bedroom when Cuzin Earl comes to visit from Hot Lick. Of course, in that case, it should have some curtains on the windows for the sake of propriety.
boltzmann (anonymous) says…
edson443 (anonymous) says...
"People are worried about socialism when they should be on the look out for the rise of communism."
So you are equating not being allowed to junk up the neighborhood to communism?
honeychild (Mel Briscoe) says…
i wuz bout to make a cuzzins post, autie, butt you bete me to it.
you no yer a rednek when....
you has a house with wheels on it butt 3 cars in tha yard that don't.
rooster (anonymous) says…
I think there should be a petition for a grace period of 12 months. If the car can't run in 12 months it's gotta go.
LarryNative (anonymous) says…
It's trashy and lowers the value of the neighborhood.
imastinker (anonymous) says…
Cars should be registered. If they are registered whose business is it if they work or not?
BABBOY (anonymous) says…
Lawrence is funny, funny place...................
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
again, if people can junk up there yards and trees with junk they call art, then I can junk up my driveway with a 43 desoto convertable. It is a "collector's item". ha ha!!
Ahm, gonna put a terlet in ma frunt yard and plant some flowers in it. or maybe a tractor tire. Theyz way cool and ah meen it.
alm77 (anonymous) says…
I pay property taxes, why can't I let my car sit in my driveway? I think it's ridiculous that you can get a ticket for an expired car in your own driveway! I could understand a ticket if car parts are laying around it for days or even the flat tire scenario, but just a car in the driveway? What's next, that we *have* to park in our garage? (although I gotta say, I wouldn't complain about that too much, I've been trying to get the husband on board with that for a while....) There is too much intrusion when it comes to what's parked in our own driveways.
newmedia (anonymous) says…
Yes, provided you are living in it !!
del888 (anonymous) says…
It's my property. Answer is 'YES'. City couldn't tow anyway without trespassing.
mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
yes, yes and yes
Ricky_Vaughn (anonymous) says…
denak (anonymous) says...
Granted if it is an eyesore and makes the neighborhood look like a ghetto, then maybe they should put a cover over it in order to make it look nice but I don't see where the city has a right to tell a homeowner he or she can't.
==================================================================
Why does it have to look nice? It's not your property.
deadanimals (anonymous) says…
What? Are they changing the laws or something? It is currently against city code to contribute to "open storage" on private property - including "storing" a parked car on a driveway.
beatnik (anonymous) says…
We allow demolition by neglect and have houses in horrible condition but we would ticket a junk or inoperable/unregistered car in the driveway of the house next door?
gogoplata (anonymous) says…
The fact that this is even a question to be asked in a "free" country disturbs me.
We are a nation of busibodies where you have too many people telling other people how to live. I believe in freedom and liberty and I would like to see we the people rise up and get rid of politicians and government officials who would even think about such a thing as this.
lawrenceRezident (anonymous) says…
Just because I have a bath tub and three broken down cars on my front lawn gives you no right to judge! If I had four cars, a bath tub, and a a riding lawn mower on it's side then I could most certainly understand... After all we need standards right!
sierraclub (anonymous) says…
Not sure.......so glad that I cannot make a decision..... Not sure rocks!!
footnote (anonymous) says…
We have neighbors who drive just two of their six vehicles. Four cars and trucks have been tagged but immobile for years. Another more distant neighbor has two immobile vehicles along w. assorted debris littering his driveway. All this is legal acc. to the laws of our fair city. Only strong neighborhood covenants will protect quality of life and place in Lawrence if the City fails to see that immobile vehicles are blight. Ownership of a vehicle by itself should not be a license to litter.
remember_username (anonymous) says…
Reminds me of the gas crisis in 1979. President Carter asked all Americans to do what they could to reduce fuel consumption, so I started taking public transportation and walking everywhere. Two weeks later I noticed my (late model in fine condition) car was missing. Turned out the city had it towed as it had not moved and was considered abandoned. Apparently, there was some fellow who's job was to go around and mark tires to ensure vehicles were moved occasionally. It cost me 50.00 to get it back, and I didn't feel much like doing my part after that. So I have to ask how does the city no if it's a "not working" car? How do you define "not working"? Is there a real law being considered here or is some pollster just bored.
LadyJ (anonymous) says…
Park it in the back yard, put a fence around it, take a door off, put straw or a blanket in it, get a dog to put in the fence, and it's a dog house. If you don't have time for a dog, two chickens and it's a chicken coup. Problem solved.
FarneyMac (Pádraig O'Connell) says…
just another socialist plan from our kenyan overlord
stimulus, cars on blocks in driveways, and posercare live unprecedented
darwin bless you all
rlsd (anonymous) says…
Only if it is temporary, why would anyone want a non-working vehicle in their driveway???
CWGOKU (anonymous) says…
Better there than in the street or on the lawn.
Autie, about that time of year to get out the bug zapper and styrofoam cooler. Skeeter season is gonna open soon.
dulcinea47 (anonymous) says…
Yes, but they should have to be registered. If they have to pay for it, it should prevent most people from having some crappy car sitting there for ages.
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
Good point Paulette2
I guess for all of the soldiers ( our son's and daughter's) who are currently serving America in Iraq we should tow their vehicles.
After all our rights is what they are fighting for!!
bendover61 (anonymous) says…
Why would a person walk and take public transportation because Jimmy Carter or any other politician asked therm to?
dani36921 (anonymous) says…
so i totaled my car, it is sitting in my driveway right now. Are some people really telling me I can't have it in my driveway?? Granted we don't want it sitting there any longer than someone else but still, it is our property. Don't like it? Don't look at it.
blackfox (anonymous) says…
Its private property! As long as its not on the area where a sidewalk is or on the city right of way, who cares? If its leaking fluids, then that could be a different story. Laws like this are "big brother" at its best.
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…
Pack rats love to nest in old cars that don't move. Think about it. When your property infringes on your neighbor than it's a problem. Think about it! Cities are forced to make rules about stuff like this because people are stupid.
BuddhaDude (anonymous) says…
It's better than parking it in the streen or on the lawn.
2002 (anonymous) says…
So, "it's a free country" means that you are given personal rights in the Constitution that allow you to negatively impact your neighbor because your personal rights supersede? I'm not sure that this is what they meant when they said "live, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." And then, "it's my property, I should be able to do what I want?" does this mean that your neighbor should be able to hold loud parties 24 hours a day, because "it' their property."
I don't think that government should have overly restrictive regulations, but I think that a inoperative vehicle on a property indefinitely is well beyond reasonable. And I am sure that there is no constitutional protection for this.
The wise framers of the constitution did not intend to provide the right to have a car (or buggy) on cinderblocks in your front yard. Incidentally, they also did not intend to make heath care a right either.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…
Having a trashy yard lowers neighboring property values. There's a difference between having an operable vehicle that's seldom used and having an inoperable rusting hulk drizzling toxic waste into the storm drains.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…
The reason for "not sure" is because there isn't a definition of inoperable given. If I'm switching from winter to summer tires, my vehicle is "inoperable" while it's up on safety stands, but that's a temporary condition that will be resolved in half an hour. If I had to do an engine rebuild, it'd be inoperable for quite a bit longer than an afternoon, but I'd still like to be able to do that work at home without the City threatening to tow the car away. If I yanked the engine and let the car sit in the driveway in pieces for months on end, I could see the City's point, though. Maybe vehicles should have to be registered, kept free of debris, and appear to be complete to be allowed to be stored in a driveway for an extended period.
BorderRat (anonymous) says…
You may call it a junk car, I call it a Mother-in-Law suite.
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
So what has brought this issue forward? How come the writer of these stories has not shared that information?
Is a car without a battery, but properly tagged and insured considered inoperable> one would guess so, but yet the car is tagged.
Again, why has this issue been brought forward?
Sounds more like an easy way to raise some revenue. Who will cite these owners of these vehicles? Will it be on complaint basis or will Neighborhood Resources drive around to look for inoperable vehicles?
How many unrelated, inoperable vehicles can a property have on it?
What is the reason behind this "all of a sudden" change, when in fact the city has had an ordinace on the books for some time regarding inoperable vehicles. If they cannot be in the driveway, where then are they to be? The street , I understand, as it is public right of way, but a driveway?
I would rather see the city require their city employees who take vehicles home, put those in their driveway. It seems like a liability for the city to have those expensive trucks sitting on the street, subject to hit and runs.
What say city commissoners about city vehicles?
shout - look under the hood
vega (anonymous) says…
I think that whoever from LJW staff asked this question had in mind not one but usually several inoperable vehicles (no wheels, no doors, no engine) and other junk parked for extended number of years in some neighborhoods. I don't know about property values - but it certainly may discourage someone to buy a house next to or across a pile of rusted metal.
autie (anonymous) says…
In my town you cain't have no inoperated vehicals in your driveway out front if it ain't got no current tag. You just gots to put them out back in the backyard or by the shed cause the city don't allow no salvage yard in the front yard no how...consumer1 I feels the pain for what I red bout you on the other stringed sounds like you falled off the roof a couple times or sumthing and I know bout that my nees and hip and hand and two fangers and my showder gots that aritrightus but we still go to work and stuff and go fshiing and huntin so it don't make no difference if you got a still but i cain't taukboutit ether.
blackfox (anonymous) says…
So, does every person have to make their neighbor happy nowdays? How can whats on another persons property affect the value of the property next to it? It is appraised by the county. Bottome line, its your property so who cares what a neighbor thinks!! Thats why I live in the country, neighbors cant say a darn word about what I do or have!
nickhawk (anonymous) says…
Since my neighbor seems so concerned about it, how about I just park it in my neighbor's friggin driveway. I paid for the driveway. Do we then evaluate the aesthetics of the vehicles to determine if they ruin the property values of the neighborhood? A nice car is okay, a beater is not? I'm glad we don't have any REAL problems to worry about.
Hydra (Roger Ford) says…
The cjity should be more worried about all the abandoned cars along Iowa and 23rd Street!
Ya know the the ones at Laird Noller, Dale Wiley's, Crown Chevy and all their ilk!!
Think of the money the city could make if they were all tagged!!!
Damian666 (anonymous) says…
Cars are eyesores, even the most expensive ones.
Cars should ideally be kept in the garage.
If the car doesn't move, it should be towed, your property, my property, anybody's property.
The poll #s were deliberately skewed this morning.
Damian666 (anonymous) says…
If you feel compelled to have disabled cars on your property, why not move to Arkansas?
Ricky_Vaughn (anonymous) says…
@ 2002
Do you not understand the concept of private property?
gccs14r (anonymous) says…
"Do you not understand the concept of private property?"
There's no such thing. All there is is a concept of temporary exclusive use, subject to regulation.
K_Verses_The_World (anonymous) says…
I can see the day coming when even your home garden
Is gonna be against the law.
Bob Dylan - Union Sundown
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
I am gonna mess this up but some of you will still get it.
Nobody has cars parked in their driveway,
nobody
A little help from the genius who coined the origianal phrase please.
gogoplata (anonymous) says…
You don't own your property. The government does and they will tell you how to live. Now get to waving your flags and telling everyone what a free country we live in.
Move along people, nothing to see here.
Yeoman2 (anonymous) says…
I have been working on restoring a 1966 VW for a number of years now. When I started, it was in my driveway and I worked on it for several years before one of my neighbors bitched to the city. (I was told that some ordnances are not enforced unless somewone bitches to the city) I hung a Christmas angel inside the car and strung Christmas lights inside and around the car, and it served as a Christmas decoration for a few months. I finally moved it into my shop and am continuing to work on it. I have continued to pay taxes on this car in the form of an off-road registration, but that does not seem to molify the wonks in the city hall, they need to make sure someone notices them after the yard signs are taken down.
Richard84 (anonymous) says…
Didn't have time to read all the comments, but what about a car on a public street? I have lived in the same place in NE Lawrence for 2 1/2 yrs and there is an old white mustang on my street that has never moved. Looks to be in fairly good/working condition.
I don't care that it just sits there and most people won't even think twice when entering our hood. The mailman/lady probably hates that they have to dodge it 6 days a week.
workinghard (anonymous) says…
blackfox--Even though they pinked you, Damian deserved it. Damian is always trying to start something, then gets upset when people respond.
cozy (anonymous) says…
I think it depends what kind of car. If its some beat up POS eyesore and the rest of the property reflects this, then thats not OK because it would lower property values in that area. (well, except if the whole neighborhood is like that. lol) But of course to decide whos car was OK and whos wasnt would receive complaints about treading on people's rights.
My car has been in my driveway, but it is not beaten-up looking. It will cost ~$1500 to fix. (needs a new engine if anyone wants to offer to fix it! Its a 96 Honda. :) ) I was going to have it fixed, then I found out I was pregnant and kept the money to fix it, but now I can have it fixed since that situation did not go as I had expected. :( Anyway, it has been sitting in my driveway for the past year or so. The rest of my property doesnt look bad. My grass is always cut, my landscaping doesnt look bad, etc. But really, I dont think anyone should be able to tell the property owner what to do with THEIR property.
HOMETOWNBOY (anonymous) says…
Just another way for the government to take away our rights as law abiding tax paying american citizens. What free country?
blackfox (anonymous) says…
Let me re-phrase my comment towards "damian666". What kind of sick life do you live that you think ALL cars are eysores? You must be a young, think you know it all type of person?? So I guess you got to read my response "workinghard"?
txron (anonymous) says…
welcome to bama land
manONmoon (anonymous) says…
edjayhawk. Really? How do thoughts like this come about in your tiny little mind.
remember_username (anonymous) says…
But officer, it's not parked in my driveway, it's in my open air garage! Seriously though, officer. I need that non-working car for drinking beer in. You'd get all out-of-sorts if I was drinking beer in my working car.
swampyankee (anonymous) says…
My nose is not running where should I park it?
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
Maybe a car deck needs to be built. Or better yet, with all of the vacant commercial buildings for sale, someone is missing an oportunity to have a car storage facility. There are two big buildings on E 23rd looking for something to be put inside. And then all along N. 2nd vacant buildings.
Someone a couple of years ago, had a car condo thingy going around DeSoto. The J/W covered it but of course, never followed up on it later on.
The question still remains, if the car cannot be in the driveway, where is it to be?
At the auction this Sat on E. 15th maybe? A few more out there won't make much difference and BO needs the metal.
vega (anonymous) says…
You can cry my property as loud as you like, your property and neighboring house values are going DOWN thanks to inoperable junk cars next to it. It's the market, stupid. Thanks.
Liberty275 (anonymous) says…
"It's trashy and lowers the value of the neighborhood."
I drive by a thirdgen camaro (the ultimate in mullet cars) a guy has up on jackstands, engine, trans and diff out, about 6 months out of the year, in his driveway. I can only imagine the fun he has with it on select weekends when he has it off the jackstands.
Some people love cars. The rest are "point a" to "point b" people. I can't imagine how boring their point a to point b lives must be.
workinghard (anonymous) says…
blackfox--yes I did, seemed to fit the situation. Seriously, many people do not have a garage or have a single garage, what would Damian have them do? Personally,we have seven vehicles for 2 people, like to have extras for the kids to borrow for when their cars are being repaired. Two for me, and two for the wife so nobody misses work because the car won't start, and an old truck for hauling, a couple extra that always seem to be loaned out. And, yes it has happened that both the wife and I have had car problems at the same time. Is the city going to tell people how many cars we are allowed to own? My insurance agent is not complaining one bit, neither is the county when we go to tag them. Fortunately we have a very long driveway. One advantage, burglers can never tell if everyone is gone.
workinghard (anonymous) says…
Wait a minute, forgot the boat and the motorcycle, sold the RV.
cozy (anonymous) says…
.. I also have a garage, it is currently used for weight equipment. I do not trust the 1980s cookie cutter structure of my townhome to not have the weight equipment on solid concrete floor. The other thing is that the garage doesnt even have an opener! Sorry, but as a small female, I am not going to try to open and close the dumb door all the time without an opener. Its hard enough to get it to lock. So its best not to unlock it in the first place.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…
Liberty, so the guy is running an unlicensed business out of his home?
SpeedRacer (anonymous) says…
Anything to deflect attention from real problems.
Damian666 (anonymous) says…
Blackfox,, My what great self control you have. Kiddies like you just make me laugh. I assume that you and workinghard will always live in that same trailer park. Good luck with that.
workinghard (anonymous) says…
Now who is being childish. I actually own several properties. How about you?
workinghard (anonymous) says…
Need that boat for my lake front cabin in the Ozarks, how about you?
lawthing (anonymous) says…
I personally prefer to leave my abdoned cars on top of my house
karen_10 (anonymous) says…
Oh give it up workinghard. You're trying to trying to justify your existence to a complete stranger. How much sense does that make. I'll bet everything you own is junk and you owe more than the value of it all. You just look plain silly.
workinghard (anonymous) says…
Karen--This from someone who says they french kiss their dad and he gropes her when he's drunk? You're just like Damian, posting just to start something. Curious as to why you cared. You have a very short comment history, 5 before this, even though you have been a user since Sept of 2008. There have been plenty of comments to remark about yet you chose now. Could it be you were defending yourself? Now who looks silly?
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
I say outlaw squeaky wheels. When the tye dye crowd starts gathering at city hall arrest them all for living in the sixeties.
DougCounty (anonymous) says…
My neighbor jes sits on the porch and I haint seen him run for at least a couple of years. Come to think of it, ol' yeller's got arthritis in the hips and haint run for quite a while either. Seems I heard that Dennis Moore haint runnin anymore, and while the pond is up due to the snowmelt, that spillway shore as heck hasn't run for quite a while. Now I'm as worried about property values as the next guy: where do I file a complaint?
workinghard (anonymous) says…
DougCounty---meant to come back this morning and thank you for my morning laugh.