boat in my driveway???

[Scaaty]

Re: boat in my driveway???

Ayuh,..........

I'm Sure Glad I Don't live where you guys live,..................

I'd be doing 25 Years to Life, for all the Boats,+ other Junk laying around My spread............

Yeah man! And I got two Bayliners out there too! If we here (small waterfront private HOA) see someone WITHOUT a boat in the driveway, we fine them 'till they do..

 

[Scaaty]

Re: boat in my driveway???

Glad I live in the country too.
But there will be a subdivision surrounding me in the next couple of years. Rumor is they will be million dollar homes.
I wonder if the new neighbors will gain the right to butt into my business. I hope not.

I'd get out NOW! Near me is the Capital Forest. There has been shooting and dirtbiking there for years (DECADES!)
Now the million buck perfect lawn/no other life Sub's are going in. California money. They don't like the noise and gunfire at the shooting pits...guess whos will win this battle?

 

[ParallaxBill]

Re: boat in my driveway???

Yeah, I wish my kids were out of school or better yet out of the house or I'd be out already. In fact it's a Kalifornia developer that owns the land surrounding me, about 1,000 acres way over here in NC. Why couldn't they just stay out there on the left coast?????

I hope to retire some day on my dad's farm outside Chester, SC just 50 miles south of Charlotte. It's not that far out I know, but it's 70 acres and I can park my boats where I want. I hate big cities.

 

[valkyr]

Re: boat in my driveway???

PB, where abouts are you in NC?

Used to live up in the foothills in Wilkesboro until a few months ago.

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: boat in my driveway???

Try to work past the idea that no one should be able to tell you how to use your property - that's debatable stuff that won't help you in the least when you have your day in court.

Contact the building official who issued the summons and ask where the ordinance or statute can be found and reviewed. If they can't or won't provide an answer contact their supervisor and work your way up the food chain until you find someone who can either direct you to the ordinance or arrange to have the summons dismissed. Avoid arguing whether there was a violation - they'll likely tell you that's what court is for and refuse to discuss it further. Instead, focus on your interest in making sure you're in compliance with the ordinance.

If you find that there really is such an ordinance and you're in violation of it correct the violation as soon as possible and bring evidence that you've done so with you to court. Don't show up arguing that the ordinance is unfair etc. - that's business you should take up with the City or County if it's an ordinance violation, or your legislator if it's a statutory violation.

If you find that there is no such ordinance make a complaint to the building official's supervisor. It's possible (likely in many places) that the inspector has little training and only knows that the ordinances exist on a list but has never actually read them.

Another option is to contact the prosecuting authority and request that they direct you to where the ordinance can be found, provide it themselves, or direct the citing official to do so.

If all else fails, request a copy of the ordinance when you make your court appearance.

This seems like a lot of work, but you'd have had this resolved by now if you hadn't asked everyone else (police, fire, etc.) whether they think parking your boat in your driveway is legal. Their opinions make no difference - your business is with the citing official (or their department at a minimum), the prosecutor, and the court.

My point is focus your effort where it will actually do you some good. Right now you've accomplished nothing productive and only have a good case of heartburn for your troubles.

 

[zell66]

Re: boat in my driveway???

sorry to hear about that, I have my 18' boat in the driveway and my 30 travel traler next to my garage.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: boat in my driveway???

Upon visiting the building dept they stated that there is no law dealing with this issue but it is still not legal to have a boat on the driveway. They could not produce any documents regarding this issue. I have to appear in court. Please advise.

Appear in court for what charge?
Did they dismiss the initial charge or not?
If there is no law, there can be no charge, end of story.
They are wasting your taxpayer dollars.

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: boat in my driveway???

They're wasting tax payer dollars - or - they're merely doing their job and he's asking the wrong people the wrong questions and as a result doesn't understand what's taking place and why.

I see how it must be frustrating, but a logical approach will nearly always bring you to it's solution - whether you like the solution is another matter all together.

Remember, the building official didn't write the Ordinance but they are paid to enforce them all, not those which are they personally agree with or are popular.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: boat in my driveway???

Then whomever is issuing the citation should know what ordinance is being broken. You should not have to go to court to find out what law it is you broke.

The police do not issue you a traffic ticket with "I do not know what law you broke, just pay up or show up in court".

 

[jeeperman]

Re: boat in my driveway???

They're wasting tax payer dollars - or - they're merely doing their job and he's asking the wrong people the wrong questions and as a result doesn't understand what's taking place and why.

I see how it must be frustrating, but a logical approach will nearly always bring you to it's solution - whether you like the solution is another matter all together.

Remember, the building official didn't write the Ordinance but they are paid to enforce them all, not those which are they personally agree with or are popular.

WHAT?
If the citation writing official IS DOING their job then they should now the laws that they are required to enforce!
Or at least know how and where to find the law.

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: boat in my driveway???

WHAT?
If the citation writing official IS DOING their job then they should now the laws that they are required to enforce!
Or at least know how and where to find the law.

I was very clear in making that point in my previous post and if you read it you'll see that we couldn't agree more.

 

[shipoffools]

Re: boat in my driveway???

Terry Olson is generaly correct in how to respond to such a citation. Ask to see a copy of the law or ordinance that has been broken. You may have to go to court to prove you have done nothing wrong, but the time for complaining will be after the legal issue is settled.

On that note: boaters and anyone who participates in an activity that involves storing large objects, trailers, boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles etc, would do well to keep track of local ordinances regarding what you can and can't park on your property. Often well meaning city councils in an effort to keep undesirable clutter under control will pass draconian laws with no consideration of how they will effect legitimate activity.

If you live in a neighborhood that falls under the control of an association, God bless you. These organizations can control all manner of property use, including your ability to park an SUV with a company name on the side in your driveway.

In the end it is important for all of us to pay attention to what is going on in our local government to insure our ability to enjoy our private property is not unduly curtailed.

 

[brwalkersk8]

Re: boat in my driveway???

I live in a neighborhood with similar restrictions and as a result my wife lets me park the boat in the garage instead of her car.....for me the nieghborhood association and their stupid rules work to my advantage. I never have to put a cover on the boat.

 

[Lootas1]

Re: boat in my driveway???

I live in a recreational area. A friend here had a boat in front of his house and a neighbor complained to the county. They told him he couldn't have it there. So he bought a vacant lot nearby and put it there. He was summoned to court as it seems you can't store a boat on a lot not adjacent to your home. He paid a fine and put his boat on a buoy where it was cut loose, he said, and was destroyed on my beach. I'm fortunate to be on a deadend road with a neighbor who has about six vehicles and maybe as many boats so we get along just fine and no one has complained about my two boats, camping trailer and firewood all piled on the county road!

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: boat in my driveway???

On that note: boaters and anyone who participates in an activity that involves storing large objects, trailers, boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles etc, would do well to keep track of local ordinances regarding what you can and can't park on your property. Often well meaning city councils in an effort to keep undesirable clutter under control will pass draconian laws with no consideration of how they will effect legitimate activity.

If you live in a neighborhood that falls under the control of an association, God bless you. These organizations can control all manner of property use, including your ability to park an SUV with a company name on the side in your driveway.

You have to remember that all laws are written to the lowest common denominator. In this instance the casual hobbyist isn't the target, but they get caught in what is usually a well-meant effort to regulate the slobs who would have junk all over the yard if it were allowed.

I don't care how much you value individual liberties, you'll be complaining when your property value suffers because your neighbor wants to live like Sanford and Son. Your right to throw your fist into the air ends where the next guy's nose begins. Sure you have the right to throw your fist in the air but the next guy also has the right to not catch it on the tip of his nose. Whose rights are more important, his or yours? The goal is a happy medium - respect for individual liberties while providing REASONABLE regulation.

Associations, at least in my area, do not have the force of law. Typically what exists here are covenants that regulate outdoor storage, fences, sheds etc. Associations can only pursue civil litigation to attempt to remedy violations of the covenant and this almost never happens. They aren't usually well organized and rarely if ever have the funds necessary to pursue litigation. If it isn't a violation of city or county ordinance there really is no viable enforcement mechanism.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: boat in my driveway???

My friend's dad live in an addition in Naples, FL. He parks the boat in the garage because it can't be in the driveway. He drives a Ford Explorer Sport Trac because he can't park a pick up truck there overnight. They were ok with the Sport Trac because it doesn't looks like a real pick up. My cousin lives in an addition where they can't have basketball goal, fence, shed, etc..He put up a decorative water fountain and they confronted him about why he didn't apply for an approval before he installed it. He just kinda ignored them and nothing has happened. Like Terry said, those rules were designed to keep the neighborhood look nice and hold value.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: boat in my driveway???

I was very clear in making that point in my previous post and if you read it you'll see that we couldn't agree more.

My apologies, I read your post to suggest that the building official was issuing a citation without knowing what code was being violated.

On a side note, when we were house hunting, I made sure there were no adverse covenents or rules that I could not live with in the subdision before I made any offers to purchase.
Kinda like also investigating the surrounding area for landfills and old dumpsites
or undesireable industrial/commercial/farming activities.

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: boat in my driveway???

most places municipal codes say that boats, motor homes, camping trailer, may not extend past the front of the house, and all must have valid registrations, and be runnable, or under repair. that's how i get away with it.

That about sums it up for most city dwellers.
I live in an area that requires parking permits and those SOB's still give you a ticket if your not parked within 100 feet of your residence. One time I had my truck up in the yard loading it up for a camping trip and came out to a ticket on my window. Read: Fire Hazard..........
I can't wait to move back to the "hills" where I can pee in my backyard and work on my truck in the driveway...
Good luck my friend, I know what your feeling right about now... Keep your cool.

 

[tic]

Re: boat in my driveway???

I used to live in an apartment complex in Vail, CO... My hobby/sport back then was whitewater kayaking.. I had my 11' long 2' wide kayak on my back deck and was angrily told it was illegal for me to keep it there. I rented that property, the kayak wasn't an eye sore to neighbors, I never saw what the beef was. After that I just left it on top of the car and there was nothing they could do.