Does junk law go too far (8/25/05)

I have a few thoughts or concerns I would like to share. Understand first of all that I have not totally made up my mind for or against the new city ordinance (regulating junk cars).

I do, however, have some concern about the precedent of their junk car ordinance.

The article on Tuesday, Aug. 23 in The Commercial Review told of the “stricter ordinance.”

It appears that the good council members have decided any vehicle that cannot be legally driven is classified as junk.

Here is a hypothetical: I buy a car and it has problems. However, because my job only pays “X” amount of dollars I can’t afford to fix it for a month. I have no garage so it has to sit outside. So is this car junk? Sounds like it. Sounds like if the city finds out they can and may come and tag it for removal.

What if I was retired and on a set income? Would I have to sell my only car because I can’t afford to plate it anymore?

What if I only need another month to save the money?

Now I must confess I am not knowledgeable when it comes to state law or BMV regulations concerning motor vehicles.

Do we really have to plate them within 30 days or do we have to simply transfer title? This I am not sure of (to my own embarrassment). However, I think there is a deeper problem emerging.

Let me ask you, if I had a garage to put the vehicle in would the city be so anxious to have to have it removed off my private property? I think not.

I realize that those charged with looking after the city’s image have a huge task when it comes to balancing public needs and the rights of the people who live within the city’s jurisdiction. I am just not comfortable with them looking into some yard, someone else’s private property and saying “hey, I don’t like what you have done so you must change it or we will step in and change it for you and then you will be fined.”

Where does it stop? Should the city start monitoring trees, swing sets, bicycles, the color of siding on our house? Really, whose business is it if someone wants to own a dozen cars and site them in their front yard or a dozen cedar swings?

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want the city of Portland to look trashy. I don’t want to come into town and see trash piled two stories high blowing onto the street.

Still, what if in my chase for “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” I decide I want a 1965 Chevy to sit in front of my bay window? Should I have to plate it to make some bureaucrats happy? How about some cranky person who only likes Fords? Should I really be made to remove it or cover it up? Tell me where does this end?

Don Thomas

Portland

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