I get where you’re coming from, but I think the city’s missing the bigger picture. It’s not just about how long it takes to get a part shipped in—it’s the domino effect. I had a Volvo wagon that sat in my driveway for almost a year because a sensor was on backorder. Meanwhile, I’m juggling family schedules and trying to keep the daily driver running, so it’s not like I can just drop everything and chase down rare parts.
The rules seem to assume everyone’s got time and money to store these cars somewhere else, which isn’t realistic for most folks. What happens if you’re mid-restoration and suddenly you’re out of compliance? Do they expect people to just scrap their projects? Curious if anyone’s actually been fined or forced to move a car before it was roadworthy—does that even happen often, or is it mostly just threats?
That’s what I’m wondering too—how do they even decide which cars are “projects” and which are just junk? Feels like it’s up to whoever’s doing the inspection that day. Has anyone actually had to pay a fine, or is it all just warnings?
It’s honestly a gray area. The city usually goes by visible condition—flat tires, missing parts, expired tags, stuff like that. If it looks like it hasn’t moved in months, they’ll probably call it junk. I’ve seen a few clients get actual fines, not just warnings, especially if neighbors complain. It’s pretty inconsistent though... depends on who shows up and how picky they are that day.
It’s pretty inconsistent though... depends on who shows up and how picky they are that day.
That’s definitely been my experience too. I had my ‘89 560SL under a cover in my driveway for a couple months while waiting on a rare part from Germany. One week, nothing. Next week, got a “courtesy notice” taped to the windshield about “inoperable vehicles.” Guess it all depends if the city inspector’s a car person or not. Still, it feels a bit much when you’re just trying to keep a classic in good shape, not run a junkyard.
It’s weird how much it comes down to whoever’s on duty that day. I got a warning for my old Miata sitting in the driveway—even though it was registered and I was driving it twice a week. The inspector said it “looked” inoperable because it had a faded paint job and some dust. Like, what’s the actual standard here? Is it about appearances, or whether the car actually runs?
I get that the city doesn’t want abandoned cars piling up, but it’s tough when you’re just trying to keep something classic alive. Makes me wonder if I’d have gotten the same notice if it was a newer car under a cover. Is there any way to know what’s “okay” before you get one of those notices, or is it just luck of the draw? Sometimes it feels like they’re just fishing for stuff to write up.
