| Author |
Message |
    
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 556
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 3:48 pm: |     |
I am seeking advice on a moral dilemma...
My neighbor has two ugly abandoned cars in their driveway and it is driving me and some other neighbors batty...trust me when I say they are not going anywhere..
We have dropped many polite hints to them over the last year and even suggestions on what to do with them (donate for tax break, etc). I even offered to pay to have the driveway repaved if they got rid of them (and still stand by that offer). They keep saying they will do something about it soon but don't.
I know Maplewood have strict laws about abandoned cars but I really wish not to get the police involved....my neighbors are really nice people...
What would you do...?
Start a Revolution or shut the hell up... |
Nohero
Supporter
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 5001
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 4:01 pm: | |
Depends. Do they have "Bush/Cheney" stickers on them?  |
anon
Supporter
Username: Anon
Post Number: 2566
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 4:06 pm: | |
I think NoHero is being silly, but maybe he has something there. In the middle of the night stick Bush/Cheney stickers on the cars. If they are not gone in a day or two stick Kerry stickers on them. |
anon
Supporter
Username: Anon
Post Number: 2567
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 4:08 pm: | |
I'm waiting for Libertarian to tell you that it's none of your busness what your neighbors have in their driveway. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12188
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 4:19 pm: | |
Scrotis, you confirm my suspicion that you are a decent fellow. Since you have been kind thus far, I think the next step is to be firm, which won't be easy. Tell them you've been talking to it about them but it's really time to act. And tell them that you don't wish to involve the police, so would they please deal with the matter.
"This is the only thing my signature says." |
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 558
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 4:42 pm: | |
Thanks Tom-
I feel like I am in a Catch 22 here...if I say something to them I am the bad guy and if I call the police I am the bad guy, so what would it matter what path I take? I'll admit, sometimes it just seems easier to call the cops...but I won't... 
Anon/NoHero-well, the ugly SUV type has a bunch of patrotic stickers on them (flags, etc.)...
Start a Revolution or shut the hell up... |
spw784
Supporter
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 836
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 4:52 pm: | |
are they truly abandoned? Are they registered, insured, etc... Can they be called abandoned if they are currently up to date with registration, insurance, tags, etc. ? |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6958
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 4:57 pm: | |
If the cars are sitting in the owner's driveway, by definition the owner hasn't abandoned them. S/he is parking them in his/her driveway for an extended period of time and has every right to do so. Why are these cars bothering you so much?
|
george H
Citizen
Username: Georgieboy
Post Number: 105
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 4:57 pm: | |
Moral dilemna my a**.Ill do you one better.My neighbors have 4 cars that havent moved in over 2 yrs.They disregard notices concerning them,so whats the next step? Eventually something will happen but till then Im stuck looking at them everyday and can only hope a tree falls on them or they catch on fire. |
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 560
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 5:01 pm: | |
spw-784-not up to date on anything...for quite a while...
Joan-if you saw them, you would understand...aesthetically speaking they are nothing to write home about and puts a real damper on the surroundings....besides, the youngest neighbor have been storing beer in one and throwing the empties i nthe other. We had to put a stop to the weekly gatherings last summer...
Start a Revolution or shut the hell up... |
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 561
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 5:05 pm: | |
what is the law on this in Maplewood...
George H. don't give me any ideas!
Start a Revolution or shut the hell up... |
george H
Citizen
Username: Georgieboy
Post Number: 106
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 5:13 pm: | |
This isnt a moral dilemna.Its a quality of life issue.My life.Not to mention my property value.No matter how nice I keep my property,the sh*t house next door will always detract from it.Some may question whether there are problems or issues that caused this situation to reach the pt. it has.Some folks are just trash,and this is the way they live,not concerned about anything outside their little sphere.It makes me wonder though that if the outside is so bad,what can inside look like.This will be my last post on this topic as it only pisses me off more to have to re-visit what has been an on going thorn in my side for years.By the way,the cars are not licensed or inspected and that by definition makes them illegal to keep on your property in Maplewood. |
aquaman
Supporter
Username: Aquaman
Post Number: 685
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 5:14 pm: | |
Scrotis,
I have 2 perfect solutions:
1. Start a Revolution!
or:
2. Shut the Hell up!
Get back to us and tell us how it worked out!
Thankey. |
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 562
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 5:18 pm: | |
Aquaman-
Oh don't you worry, a day will come when a revolution over this matter occurs and my army will hopefully be the MP!
Eat and Drink tonight for tomorrow we ride....!
Start a Revolution or shut the hell up... |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12189
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 5:27 pm: | |
I believe unregistered cars do have a certain status. I'm not sure it's called abandoned, but many places don't allow them, because they are basically 3,000 pound pieces of junk.
I think talking to them first is better because, as Miss Manners says, the law is a blunt instrument. That's why it's a last result.
Maybe you should request that your neighbor get the job done by a certain time. The implication, whether you state it or not, is that you'll escalate it if he doesn't meet the recommended date.
Sometimes, some people act more effectively when they are given deadlines. It works better than "before too long" or "one of these days."
"This is the only thing my signature says." |
Lawman
Citizen
Username: Lawman
Post Number: 8
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 6:06 pm: | |
It violates local law to have an uninspected unregistered vehicle out in the open on your property. If you report this to the Town Building Department they will issue a warning followed up by a summons. |
Ace789nj
Citizen
Username: Ace789nj
Post Number: 226
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 9:31 pm: | |
Scrotis, Don't feel bad about making the call, just make sure you call the right people. Calling the police will most likely get you nowhere, there's nothing they can do. If there really are two banged up cars just sitting rusting away you need to call the town's code enforcement officer. You don't have to give your name, just tell them the situation & they'll be sure to "notice it in passing" BTW. take some pictures, if you find that time has gone by and suspect the town did nothing, stop by the town hall and drop off the pics.
That being said, is it really that big a deal? Are they obviously ready to be junked or can they claim that they intend to get them up & running? Do they have a rear yard/garage where they wil be out of sight? |
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 563
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 9:16 am: | |
Thanks Ace-
No it is not a big deal, but they are just both so unsightly...I know I shoouldn't let it bother me that much but it does (as well as a couple of other neighbors).
One is definitely junkyard bound. The other can be fixed but we are waiting on an irresponsible 19 year old to do it.
They use to have a garage, but I found out it basically rotted away to nothing...hint...
Start a Revolution or shut the hell up... |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 946
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 9:21 am: | |
Maybe you could offer to buy them a pair of tonneau (sp?) covers...
My brother drove - and frequently repaired - a Porsche.
He kept two (!) junker cars that were the same make and model so he would have spare parts at any given moment. He kept them in the driveway but under covers and everyone thought he had 3 Porsches....that actaully ran. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10469
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 9:31 am: | |
LOL, KMK.
A neighbor had an old 1950s Ford Pickup in his driveway for a couple of years with the intention of restoring it. He finally gave up when he realized he didn't have the time or money to do the job.
A friend in Chatham has two Morgans, one for the street and one for Vintage SCCA racing. A neighbor asked that he keep those "old wrecks" in the garage because they destroyed the tone of the neighborhood.
There is no accounting for people. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6961
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 5:05 pm: | |
If your neighbor is really tossing empty beer cans in one of the cars and just letting the garbage sit there, it could be a health hazard since rodents are fond of nesting in such vehicles. You might want to alert the health department if this is the case.
It does sound as if one or more code violations are present here and contacting the code enforcement office in such a case is not inappropriate, especially if you and your neighbors have already spoken with the cars' owner and received no action. |
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 568
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 5:21 pm: | |
Joan-
You may be right...God, why can't people take hints!?!?!
-SLK
Start a Revolution or shut the hell up... |
maplewood fan
Citizen
Username: Mplwfan
Post Number: 279
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 8:35 pm: | |
I think this is a terrible situation for you SLK - my suggestion is MOVE. You right wingers are always into taking away peoples rights, now you want to take my god given, traditional way of life, founding father's vision to have old cars in my drive way taken away? What's next taking away a women's right to choose? |
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 572
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 8:16 am: | |
Maplewood Fan-
I will give you the benefit of the doubt since your post is so overtly sarcastic that I can't tell if this it is your actual position...
My position, along with most of my neighbors, have nothing to do with politics. How silly of you to even bring this notion up. Yet again, I am surpirsed that it took this long to emerge.
It is a question of "quality of life' and for this neighbor to have respect for his fellow neighbors and surroundings. The fact that we, out of respect, spoke to him multiple times about it and he still won't do anything shows his lack of respect for others.
Besides it is ILLEGAL to have such vehicles on your property, especially if they are using them as trashbins....
Typical liberals, always finding "rights" in the Constitution that aren't there...right to abortion, right not to be "offended" or made to feel "uncomfortable," right to store junk cars in your driveway...
And just for your post, I am calling the Town this morning out of spite towards you not my neighbor.
Or maybe I will befriend your neighbor and have the cars towed over to his/her driveway...see how you like it.
I humbly tried to be the good guy and find common ground for all involved but maybe this is the wrong approach....
I want to thank you all for your thoughtful advice on the matter and hope I don't dissapoint some you with my decision...I do have a few hours to decide on this and possibly change my mind.
Thanks for the "motivation" Maplewood fan. Your such an inspiration....
Start a Revolution or shut the hell up... |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 1029
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 11:54 am: | |
Hopefully the code enforcement people will motivate your neighbor. In the meantime, consider the advice of a very old and smart relative of mine: if you hate it and can't realistically do anything about it, don't look at it. Applies to a lot of life situations, IMO.
hoping the cars will be out of sight soon -
MC |
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 587
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 11:55 am: | |
Good advice MJC...my problem is I care too much not to look....
And by the way, I haven't called yet...
Start a Revolution or shut the hell up... |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 1030
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 1:37 pm: | |
call |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 528
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 1:39 pm: | |
ironic that you keep going on and on about this and still haven't called even though you care so much...start a revolution or shut the hell up, to quote someone... |
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 598
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 5:15 pm: | |
tomorrow for sure...
Start a Revolution or shut the hell up... |
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