Will water and sand be the next oil?

[aczlan]

It just occurred to me ... maybe the policy here was created as a means to reduce Yard Cars - the Camaros and Oldsmobiles on cinder blocks in the front yard, being gradually stripped over several years to sell parts.

Just a hunch.

Could be.

Aaron Z

 

[ericm979]

California's planned non op fee is a one time flat $21. Once you have non opped a vehicle there's no more fees until you return it to operational state. Then you have to pay whatever the registration fees would be, but no extra.

You used to be able to just tell the DMV that you hadn't operated the vehicle (by filling out a form) and unless there were citations on it proving otherwise, they'd believe you. That got abused a LOT, including by me when I was a teenager buying motorcycles and fixing them up. I can understand why they changed the law.

If you buy a vehicle that's been sitting with expired registration and wasn't non opped, the fees (including late fees) need to be paid by you or the seller. However once the vehicle is off the DMV's computers they have no way of calculating the fees so they assume that it's been off the road and don't charge the back registration. Last time I checked it was 4 or 5 years.

 

[oosik]

You may own the land... but the government probably has rights to the water.

Under normal circumstances, you are absolutely correct Steppenwolfe. However - this is NOT a normal situation - not by a long ways.

 

[kenmac]

This is EXACTLY how it was forever until it was seen as untapped revenue... collect a fee for a vehicle sitting in your garage up on blocks... I have several of these and it is a real chore to go through the process... nothing has changed except the law...

Generally, DMV wants me to have the vehicle inspected and then proceed as a never before registered car... and this is when I get my elected officials involved and they order a archival search and all the documentation is there... just not on the computer... plus I have my title, last registration and same address... lots of hoops to go through!

Guess we are still somewhat in the stone ages here.
Vehicles up till about 1971 weren't even titled here.Just Bill of sale only.
Some trailers still aren't titled here.Bill of sale only

 

[ultrarunner]

Guess we are still somewhat in the stone ages here.
Vehicles up till about 1971 weren't even titled here.Just Bill of sale only.
Some trailers still aren't titled here.Bill of sale only

I like the stone ages...

In many respects life is simpler...

I spend a lot of time and energy on compliance issues... compliance issues that did not exist prior...

Fire Inspections, Weed Abatement, Rental Inspections, Smog Checks, etc... I always come out OK... but my wallet is a little lighter and time spent.

The Weed Abatement is often the most time consuming... good thing I have been dealing with it for decades... too bad once the assigned inspector knows the lay of the land they retire or get reassigned or go out on disability….

Poor Mom has been written up so many times and each time it was an inspector that can't read the assessor map... the property in question is city owned but we get the brunt of it because the city fence stops well short of the property line...

Last year I received a Certified Letter from the city list dire consequences including lien and forfeiture...

For the life of me... I could not understand as my rental property is in tip top shape with long term tenant and all permits, fees, rent board, etc... up to date.

The property next to me is an eyesore... a neighborhood dumping ground and full of broken glass.

I want to meet with the inspector and the inspector said the letter is self explanatory!!!

I go to city council and say I have no idea why I received the letter and also that inspector has been unresponsive...

The head guy is directed by city council to address my complaint... this is a city with almost 450k population.

Here is the problem... it was the lot next to me... the eyesore lot all along. The original citation notes stated, "Property to the left of 1234 Main Street"

They used my address for the reference since there was no address for the vacant lot...

This took days to resolve over a period of weeks and when it was done... all I got was sorry... we made a mistake?

 

[oosik]

Ultrarunner - I make no excuses for the manner in which your situation was handled by your city government. However - and, again, this is no excuse - this is but an example of the manner in which most all private party situations are conducted/handled by local government. I was a government employee for 18+ years. When we would attempt to secure answers from other branches of our own government - this is the exact same treatment we would get. I got so *&^%$ tired of hearing - "calm down - what's your hurry - we will get you the answer in a week or so". I told all my government employees - get the answer to the public the day they call - even if it means referring them to some other agency. Do not leave the public hanging out there - swinging in the wind.

You know - if I wasn't such a patient, calm fellow - I'd have long ago been placed in "grey bar city". I had such a viral desire to shoot some of the folks in other areas of the government.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm known for getting the task accomplished and not ruffling to many feathers... especially when I am acting on behalf of others... Mom, Friends or my Employer.

Staying focused and Face Time while creating a paper trail is my go to method...

More than a few times I have camped out at some government office saying nothing is more important than getting this resolved even if I have to wait all day... the elected representative approach also works well as long as you are concise and already gone through channels.

Just seems I'm spending way too much time on this type of thing...

The Air Quality Management District demanded particulate sampling which is very expensive in order to process a permit to operate a Hospital Sterilizer... same as if I wanted to open a refinery... well it sure seemed so.

The application kept getting kicked back.

I went to San Francisco with an empty sterilant cartridge and asked to speak to a senior inspector... As plain as I could... I explained the amount released into the atmosphere is equal to the amount in the small canister for each cycle... he had a moment and then said I could apply for a waiver provided I run no more than 112 cycles per year and document.

 

[California]

I was a government employee for 18+ years. ... I told all my government employees - get the answer to the public the day they call - even if it means referring them to some other agency. Do not leave the public hanging out there

20 years in government. I learned the way to get anything done is learn what that person is supposed to do and walk - drag if necessary - that individual through the various steps he needs to accomplish to arrive at your goal. He can't claim ignorance if you are teaching him the steps he should know to be in the position. Enlist the help of his supervisor to teach him if necessary. Suggesting that can make things go much faster.

 

[ultrarunner]

So true... this is why I am always trying to be helpful...

It is also hard to ignore someone in front of you... after a while people start asking questions.

When I camped out at public works regarding a crosswalk petition... the person was too busy to see me.

The supervisor happened through and said I had been waiting a long time... I said Jim must be a very busy man...

I also added that I have a petition for 98% of the residents signatures totaling 231 homes asking to reconsider the cross walk where a child was hit.

Added I had hoped I would have something positive to report but looks like the Neighborhood Watch was right... we need to get media coverage as Jim is so BUSY...

Would you know public works was out the next day measuring and within two weeks we got our crosswalk...

I did send out a lot of thank you notes...

 

[buckeyefarmer]

You may own the land... but the government probably has rights to the water.

So when it rains so much it causes damage to my land, the govt is responsible????

I will never view the govt owns the rain.