Hi all. Preface this with all is well. All my Vehicles are legal, (now,) parked legally, and insured. I like Big Vans, and I cannot lie. But somebody sure doesn't!
I guess I should have seen this coming. I heard a knock upon my door. Seeing as how this is America, You don't have to answer that. Or the phone. Leave a message.
Turns out it was City Code Enforcement! I got 4 stickers! One for the Sheriff's truck, that's not even mine! I did just drop my utility trailer on the street the night before, for reverse Murphy's Law reasons. Little did I know...
So. I was in violation of a new City Ordinance, targeting "Trailers and Oversize Vehicles." Also, both Dodge B Vans, tagged for, "Abandoned, Nuisance, or Junk vehicles." Cabin Cruiser lacked a Reg sticker, (water pump, Mopar, Ugh.) Dogvan was on jackstands in the front. (O2 sensor.) They didn't tag the Chevy Ext, which was parked in the street.
Now, granted, Sheriff Issac's F150, is parked the wrong way, has 2 flat front tires, and looks like shit. But He wears a bullet proof vest to work. He can park his garbage in front of my house. Anytime. Forever. I do not care. But the City does.
"I've been trying to contact you for about a month now about this situation. We've gotten 4 complaints..." "Oh?" "Well, that F150 isn't mine, It's Sheriff Issac's!"
"Oh... Well. You're going to get the Certified letter, and,,, We're going to have to do something about all those Vans..."
Hot times in the City 3 Big Vans don't look real pretty! Someone thinks my Vans look Shitty Hot times in the City
Next time she shows up call me N Ill park Big Red on top of her car ... lol
SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS '93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB '92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
Everyday above ground is a Good Day!!! Never Stop Vannin'
Member of Break Away Vanners Host of Spring Break At Shenandoah Acres Family Campground
Owner & Creator of Wizard's Van-In Videos Member of Riding High Truckers from 1982 to 1996 2nd Member of The Toopa Sinner Tribe Member of Free Bird Vanners 1996 to Present Member of Cape Atlantic Truckers South Jersey Host Club of Freeze Out Certified Nats Judge Member of Shenandoah Valley Vans
I had the same problem years ago. Finally figured out which neighbor it was and told her if she did it again, I would have my friend bring down his crane and place her car on top of the light pole. She told me I couldn't, I told her I had enough in savings to cover any fines and lawyer fees and to try me. Never heard from the city anymore. That was about 10 years ago. LMAO
Thanks Guys. I am highly amused by the whole thing. I've kept up with the inspections on the Fleet of Old Girls for 5 years, the Mopar water pump put a hurt on the schedule, and I'm late. Oh well.
Like said, Immediately got in touch with City CE, the County, who registers vehicles in Texas. Put the trailer up in the yard too, the night before. Worked on B250Dogvan yesterday, lowered it down, moved it up a foot. Snicker. Moved the Big Block up across the driveway on my other neighbors side, he doesn't mind either. This makes it way more visible when you pull up to the stop sign, and Boy! Does it look cool! `Easier for my neighbor Janet to pull in and out, She's cool too. I blew up a tire on Campervan. Hmmm? Blasted 3 rolls of trimmer string and policed the area, hosed it all down.
Today, I put all the paperwork I needed together went down, got a Temp Reg dated 30 days out from 8/1, Another nice Lady at the County Treasurer's office.
Turned in the 2 current registrations at the city. CE Lady, "Looks great, thanks! Leave a copy on my desk." "Yes Ma'am!"
Everybody's happy. But 2 days in a row, just before I was leaving, in walks the Head Inspector. THE Man. The Legend. Maybe it's just coincidence, maybe the plot thickens. You be the Judge. Will Bill need to request a hearing? Hmmm.
I leave The Legend inside, and drive STRAIGHT HOME. The Legend, almost beats me there, pulling up to the stop sign across the street from my house. Just as I am parking...
Stay Tuned
BBC Blue 1990 Chevy G30 L19 7.4 EXT Church Van, maternity division
DogVan 1988 Dodge B250 LA series 318 Wedge 5.2 TBI A500
Cabin Cruiser '94 Dodge B350 www.xplorermotorhome.com/ Xplorer MH model 230 230 hp LA series 360 Wedge MPI 5.9 A518 OD auto
You guys always go off saying you moved to Texas to get away from overintrusive regulations and overzealous neighborhood standards and cops hassling you about your vans and cars, but I have lived in my current house for 20 years, and a rental in the same neighborhood for five years before that and parted out cars, had non-running hulks, done engine and transmission swaps in my driveway, and not once have I been hassled by cops or neighbors about it. Makes me glad I live in Tacoma, WA in a place without a homeowners association instead of someplace with yard nazis that go around complaining if you have an old car that doesn't move for more than a week.
But everything is BIG in Texas .... I think "The Legend" wants a van N his wife wont let him.
SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS '93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB '92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
What has the cop done about his truck ? backwards N 2 flat tires ..
Catfish go get that go cart ....
SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS '93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB '92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
We’ve got 2 daily’s, 2 vans and a 4x4 GMC and we feel like we have the least amount of old steel on our block. Crazy people are giving you that much crap about it.
Sounds like you need a few more vans.. Or a really tall fence.
F**k them! Find out what neighbor complained and make their life living hell. It is nobody's business what you do on your own property. I lived in a neighborhood for a few years and they were always complaining about cars being parked in the yard and noise complaints. The best decision I ever made was to move out into the country. We have neighbors, but they are further away and not uptight at all. I do standing burnouts in my driveway on the regular and have had no less the 2 inop vehicles parked outside since I bought the place and nobody cares.
Edit: not sure about where you live, but in the city limits around here, as long as the cars move every now and then and are on your property, they can't do anything about it. I've known several folks who pump up the tires, and re-arrange their shitboxes on the driveway every weekend. Back them in the driveway so that the out of date (or lack of) plates isn't visible. They would have to trespass to be able to check.
Last edited by tuner4life; July 26th 2019 9:09 am.
Another great day in Vannerland! Thanks Jason! I'll bet you could R&R this '94 B350 360 WP, like by lunchtime. No worries! I am so on this thing Bro. Like a raging Herd of Bloodthirsty Turtles... Maybe another Chevy to even things up! Good thing it's not in frscke1's driveway, although that would be a Blast. If you drop anything, it's rolling into the street.
frscke1 did find me a Rad Ugly Big Blue Stepvan that would easily take up the rest of the front yard.
When the Oversize Vehicle ordinance was passed, it was aimed at commercial trucks in residential neighborhoods. Semis, semi trailers. All trailers. Big service trucks, MH's, etc. This all stems mostly for the crappy F150. I believe whoever complained, didn't know Issac's F150 wasn't mine. When CE showed up, they tagged what they could tag, according to the city code. Sounds like someone doesn't like the Vans, but IDK if that will be an issue. I have complied with the 2 statutes they listed, provided current registration as per request, as per statute. (30 day temp, on Campervan.)
I had parked my utility trailer on the street, so technically... So. In the yard, everything is legally parked. They may, or may not say anything about the Big Block EXT? My neighbors shiny new $50,000+ F250 4XDcab fleetside Oilfield service truck parked right in front of it has a similar wheelbase, the Cab is just as tall. Similar if not heavier GVWR.
The EXT is 12 passenger, not 15. So not a PE CDL Bus. (Pay no attention to that digit in the VIN, lol) The listed unladen weight on the Reg is 6100lbs. 9100 GVWR. I've parked it in the yard before, but you have to grow grass, or else you get weeds. Well. You get weeds anyway, but I digress...
My apparently highly unsightly, visibly offensive, and allegedly annoying Fleet consists of; In front parked at the curb, a 2014 Ram 1500 Shorty, and a 1990 G30 EXT, one on each side of the driveway. In the driveway left to right; 1987 19ft Searay Seville 4.3 OMC CB, A tow dolly behind the boat, 1988 B250, 1994 B350 Xplorer, 4x8 utility trailer.
Geez, It's only 3 Big Vans, a pickup, a boat and 2 small trailers...
We'll see. Like I said I am highly amused. IDK if they can really do anything. I relish the interactions with the City. They are all really nice. The Legend, remains consistent. Priceless when he pulled up here though. He is a good Inspector.
He reminds me of one of my 2 Union "Bosses." Leonard, "You do it out of Love," and Carl, "You do it out of Fear." You guessed correctly. Carl made a homeowner Lady cry once, and we chewed on his ass, mercilessly! Annual company ocean fishing trips were EPIC...
Wait until I jack up and RIP and Tear into the highly visible Cabin Cruiser, in order to R&R that wonderfully designed Mopar water pump. Talk about all A**holes and Elbows. Better stock up on Pizza and Beer, make a few calls, All Hands on Deck! They're gonna love that!
I will strive for the Fleet to always remain a part of Vanning history. Loved by all. Well...
As a side note, Burnouts!! Every car show in the park here they park a fire truck over by a designated concrete burnout box poured on the road in front of the Park. Carnage ensues. Hilarious every time.
Quality Parts. Line it up. Safety First. Good Wrenching!
Wedgy, I'm not sure that the same policies would apply in your area as where I live in SE Michigan, but we had a nuisance blight officer harass us once when my son was working on his racing Cutlass Supreme.
Now, I'm in the last house at the very edge of the township limits, the car was about 100 feet back from the road, and we have a privacy fence... someone had a real hard on over that car!
My son spoke with a State Trooper he knows, who told him to buy a cheap car cover and put it on the immobile vehicle. As long as it's covered, it doesn't even need to be registered/plated! -Bingo!
And he said if the blight officer ever dared to walk up onto our property, to press charges against him for trespassing.
-Yes sir! ;)
-It's been such a LONG TIME... BlueShift>> 1981 Dodge Ram B250 Custom Sportsman Maxi Van
It's what you learn after you know it all, that counts...
Are you living to work, or working to live?
Learning from my own mistakes is good, learning from yours would be much better!
Issac yanked up the truck into his driveway, sold it about a month later.
Catifish, Nice... love yer show!
Reed,
I love my Country, I love The Republic of Texas. Mean people are the problem. I just didn't know about the nicer neighborhood class distinctions/look down nosey people, when I bought the little "Brick house in Town,' Nothin fancy, I assure you. I can only imagine the code 3 carnage, had I bought over in the Country Club...
I came here to see Mom in 2014, on Vacation, never went back. California Sucks. My Family has owned and farmed land here in Hockley County for going on over 100 years, since the early 1900's. Dry Farm. Where Colonel Scott, U.S. Army, in 1830 said, "This area is so desolate, No-one will ever live here..." Wrong.
I ended up in Cali due to Dad entering the Marines right after Pearl Harbor. 2 wars, long story. I moved back here when I realized Mom wasn't going to be here for very much longer. So. Good Call. We enjoyed that 18 months.
A**holes are everywhere, you just have to deal with them appropriately. I do have room in the yard for a couple of Rectrans Discoverers...
That outta co the Trick!
Last edited by frscke1; December 24th 2019 11:28 am.
A new ordinance was passed in Sacramento about 7 months ago that makes it illegal to work on your own vehicle on your own property within city limits if it requires the vehicles to be out of operation for more than 24 hours. Absolutely insane.
You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers This town ain't big enough for the both of us And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Jim & Lucy Newkirk 1965 Chevy Bad Influence 1981 Chevy-the Love Shack 2012 Chevy Van , 2020 chevy van 2020 Chevy van Sapphire Sweet. Club Vannerz. vanninvanner@comcast.net
Ordnance prob tryin to stop yards lookin like scrap yards in town … people try to fix .. nope cant fix it. Buy another veh… 1st one sits for yrs.
SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS '93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB '92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
Ordnance prob tryin to stop yards lookin like scrap yards in town … people try to fix .. nope cant fix it. Buy another veh… 1st one sits for yrs.
The ordinance here applies to your garage and even an enclosed shop. The "idea" presented was to keep people from doing repair work and charging for it.
You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers This town ain't big enough for the both of us And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Yeah, they can piss off with that. The small town where i live has even taken to ticketing cars that aren't parked "properly" in front of the owners houses.. Anything they can find fault with. Word on the street is that it is because of a small local shop (and not a good one) with family ties to the local police working to keep shade-tree guys from doing any work on the side. Luckily I live just outside of town and can park as many as I want however I want on my property without issue. And I'll work on who-ever's cars I want to whenever I want to.
I could never live in any city limits. I'd end up in jail.
Our city code has the same language that I read about I believe it was in Stockton, Charlie. It includes driveways too. (Don't dare park on the grass. OMG! .)
The regulation goes on to say something like: "Only tools may be used that are in common use, that are typically found in a normal home garage, no specialty automotive tools may be used." Written by a Moron. Coming to a town near you, might be already. It is here. I was surprised. Let's review shall we?
All I can say about that one is I am no Mechanic, but there's lots of garages and awesome home shops in town here that probably look alot like your shop Jason. My single car garage meager tool inventory alone would blow a wide open hole in that "normal use," theory. LOL.
Van On! But I often wonder just how long do we really have left to drive what we want...
Our city code has the same language that I read about I believe it was in Stockton, Charlie. It includes driveways too. (Don't dare park on the grass. OMG! .)
The regulation goes on to say something like: "Only tools may be used that are in common use, that are typically found in a normal home garage, no specialty automotive tools may be used." Written by a Moron. Coming to a town near you, might be already. It is here. I was surprised. Let's review shall we?
All I can say about that one is I am no Mechanic, but there's lots of garages and awesome home shops in town here that probably look alot like your shop Jason. My single car garage meager tool inventory alone would blow a wide open hole in that "normal use," theory. LOL.
Van On! But I often wonder just how long do we really have left to drive what we want...
I'm just waiting for that proposed mileage tax to come through that seems to get brought up every year. Though, I don't know how they plan to tax that on a vehicle that has exceeded its mechanical limits. Unless they make you junk the vehicle when that happens. We gotta save the rods, muscle, vans, and classics.
You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers This town ain't big enough for the both of us And it ain't me who's gonna leave