Sunnyvale California cracks down on car repairs in driveways

Mercury News ^ | 4/4/07 | Stephen Baxter

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

Amateur car mechanics working in their driveways will face some new rules, including a ban on major repairs and working on more than two vehicles at once, the Sunnyvale City Council decided Tuesday night.

Minor repairs and maintenance such as oil changes are allowed in driveways, and can be done from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The new law forbids more than two projects at once, and all cars being worked on must be registered to a resident of the home or to an immediate family member.

The council voted 4-3 in favor of the new rules, with Councilmen John Howe, Chris Moylan and Ron Swegles opposed, in part because of enforcement concerns.

The move also comes after some Lakewood neighborhood residents complained that neighbors were drinking beer and socializing in driveways while car projects lay idle.

Two car hobbyists spoke against new restrictions at the meeting Tuesday night, saying the new law is too broad.

[martin_fierro]

I dunno. Just learned about the darn airstrip. < |:)~

[wastedyears]

Turn it back into an airstrip. Send those people to a state where they can enjoy freedom, like little Johnny learning how to change oil and check fluids at 11PM with his dad because he can't go to sleep at night. Why can't the Democrats do it for the children?

[Teacher317]

You’d stop a hospital run to fix a headlight? What are you getting treated, a hangnail? ;^)

[AnAmericanMother]

Could be considered racists, don’t you think?

Nah, man. The jockey-boy is white. Some PC person must have repainted them all recently.

[Chena]

Every time I think about what it’d be like to live in the lower 48, maybe move to a warmer climate Outside, I read something here on FR that reminds me how blessed we are to be living where we do.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Actually, they wanted an Afro-American lawn jockey. It’s just that there aren’t many A-A’s in Maine.

[super7man]

I bet the problem was more than just drinking and socializing, but there are laws to handle that. This is just a case of punishing the many for the sins of a few.

I hope it is a law that will be selectively enforced only upon some complaint.

[afnamvet]

Damn! There goes my 5 Chevys with the hoods up. Next will be my 7' x 15' pile of Bud cans.

Sad to see conservatism being outsourced in my state to others.

[PAR35]

Looking at the two pictures, looks like they built houses right on top of the service area.

[azhenfud]

"....neighbors were drinking beer and socializing in driveways while car projects lay idle."

Normal neighbors are now outlaws, social police gotta legislate a change in their "class". The neighbors need to set out a Martha Stewart patio furniture set complete with umberchute and sip their beer from steins.

[wastedyears]

I’ll take a Chevy :)

[CORedneck]

Current law -> you are permitted to do anything unless otherwise specified by law.

Liberal Law -> You are not allowed to do anything unless permission is granted by the authorities.

Reminds me of my old jack@$$ manager from my old job. Liberal democrat.... If I worked for him any longer, I would have had to get permission from him to take a dump. He was already a pr!ck about going to a different floor to take one instead of staying on the current floor and sometimes waiting 15 minutes before it is your turn.

Cut to the chase. The leftist mindset (sic) is: everything not commanded is forbidden.

[Always Right]

You’d stop a hospital run to fix a headlight? What are you getting treated, a hangnail? ;^)

Actually, my example was considering both headlights being out. And perhaps an overcast night with no moon and poorly lit streets and a high deer population.

[GSlob]

The good citizenry of Sunnyvale would be much better served by electing to their city council a trained parrot parroting one simple phrase “none of my business!”. Besides the obvious economy of public funds [the upkeep of a parrot ought to be much cheaper than of the city councilman], the added benefit would be decrease of corruption at the city hall: has anyone ever heard of a corrupt parrot?

[JamesP81]

Apparently, working on cars is too manly for the nancy boys in CA. Gotta keep those rednecks in line, ya know...

[AuntB]

I wanna complain that people don’t have enough junk cars sitting around and are driving my property values up.

LOL!

Like the place I moved from. 15 illegal aliens moved into a rental. They had 2 acres to hang out on, but no, they all had to be in the street all the time. Between my daughters home and mine we lost about a million dollars, so these 'migrants' could take over the entire neighborhood. The realtor couldn't even show the properties because of the annoyance of them trying to drive down the street.

[Larry Lucido]

So much for priate property rights.

Arrr! Pirates have property rights too!

[wideminded]

Lakewood neighborhood

Glorified trailer park.

I think I rented a room there many years ago when I was working on my first job. Even back then it was obvious that the houses were not built for the long run. But I'm sure they are all still standing and too expensive to tear down. A coworker who had also lived there said that everyone there was either on their way up or on their way down.

[KarlInOhio]

The move also comes after some Lakewood neighborhood residents complained that neighbors were drinking beer and socializing in driveways while car projects lay idle.

Hank Hill would be greatly disappointed if that was Texas.

[Armedanddangerous]

Helpful hint

If you want a lawn jockey, the area around Pigeon Forge Tennessee/Dollywood park is the place to get one.

It seems as if there are 400 places in that town where you can buy a lawn jockey or a confederate flag. 8-)