Hi. Lurker looking for advice

[kate4924]

I posted every now and then on the old Nest, but mostly I just lurked on the D&R board, as DH and I have spent the past year gutting and renovating our entire house. It's been a lot of hard work, but the downstairs is completely finished, and the upstairs will be done sometime in the next 6 months. I love my house, it's my baby. We also spent a lot of time and money fixing up the outside, and the landscaping. I smile every time I pull into the driveway. There is just one problem - the crazy lady that lives across the street.

I don't want to go in to every detail, but she is seriously crazy y'all. She has a different feud going on with almost everyone on the street, but I am not going to get into all of them right now, just one.

About 5-6 years ago a couple bought the house next door to her. They wanted some privacy, so they planted several of those evergreen trees that grow real fast and are kind of bushy, I can't remember what they are called. They don't encroach on her property at all, and I actually think the look really nice, but according to another neighbor the crazy lady really flipped her lid when she realized she couldn't see down that part of the street anymore. Well, unless she came outside. In retaliation, She went and bought a really old, really ugly rusted up Aerostar van, and parked it on the street right in front of their house. And I don't think it has EVER been driven. It hasn't moved since we moved in a year ago. In fact, thought it was their van.

She has 2 vehicles, an SUV and a 4 door sedan, so I suppose that when they asked her to park it in her driveway, she said something like "There is no room, so sorry." I don't know why it is not parked in front of HER house (well, except she wanted to piss off the dudes that planted the trees, making it impossible for her to spy on everyone) And, truth be told, I am kind of GLAD it's not in front of her house, because then it would also be in front of OUR house.

But I HATE looking at it. And I feel terrible for those people, because their house/yard looks amazing, yet no one can see it because of that stupid van. But mostly, it just really really bugs the crap out of me that someone would be so petty and immature. I thought about asking her about it (Hey, what's up with the van? Why would you park it in front of someone Else's house and NEVER move it?) But after hearing from some other people down the street about different issues THEY have had with her (3 different couples) I really don't want to do ANYTHING that could put me on her shit list.

Plus - I really think she is actually crazy, like mentally imbalanced. She recently told DH that someone stole her lawnmower, and replaced it with a broken, smaller version of the same lawnmower.... just to screw with her.

So since I don't want to say anything to her directly...what can I do? Because it's parked on the street, I don't think the neighbors can claim it's on their property (I am sure they would have by now, if they could) and it has current tags and state inspection stickers...and she lives RIGHT there, so I can't say it's abandoned, can I? Is there ANYTHING I can do?

Thanks for any advice you can give me!!

[Jalapeñomel]

Can you call and have it towed?

[OHMBLEEGOHHHHH!]

Is this a codes violation? The officer in our town is ALL OVER THAT SHIT. You have to move it every so often, I think.

I would also have them look into having it towed somewhere secret. But I'm a fan of immature slightly illegal retaliation like that, as long as it's not me doing it.

[emjacobs]

Most areas require vehicles parked on the street to be moved regularly, there might even be an ordinance requiring that you park vehicles registered to your household in your driveway, on your property, or directly in front of your house. Get it towed on to her front lawn.

[amandasw]

we had neighbors who did that (not in spite of anyone, but they had a old crappy van that sat unmoved forever taking up a parking space). where we live, it can be ticketed and towed for not being moved often.

[kate4924]

Jun 27, 2012 12:10:20 GMT -5 OHMBLEEGOHHHHH! said:

Is this a codes violation? The officer in our town is ALL OVER THAT SHIT. You have to move it every so often, I think.

I would also have them look into having it towed somewhere secret. But I'm a fan of immature slightly illegal retaliation like that, as long as it's not me doing it.

Who would I call? The police? Or some gov officer?

[cbwm1]

Do you have an HOA? Ours has rules against this very issue. If you do have an HOA, you might be able to call one of the board members and have them handle the issue.

If no HOA, definitely check city ordinances like everyone else suggested.

[smock]

Steal the van and replace it with a smaller, broken van?

[melindafelinda]

Ignore it. She will die eventually.

[kate4924]

Jun 27, 2012 12:10:42 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Check your city ordinances. Our city has a law prohibiting the parking of vehicles on the street. Also, call your homeowners' association. Or call the police and report it abandoned.

We don't have a homeowners association. And, ok, I feel like such a dummy, but how would I check our county's ordinances? Is there a certain government office I could call?

[amandasw]

do you have a non-emergency line for your city? you can call that number to report all sorts of things.

ETA: our police website says something to the effect of "To report a non-emergency crime that did not just occur, or a nuisance activity, use the non emergency number ___"

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2012 12:17:52 GMT -5 smock said:

Steal the van and replace it with a smaller, broken van?

LOL!

I would call the non-emergency police line if you have no HOA that you can deal with.

We have our own crazy neighbor... she was always screaming at her kids and screaming obscenities loudly on her back patio. Her lights were on 24/7 and she must be on some serious drugs. We finally called the cops on her. Turns out she had a warrant for her arrest, so they took her for the night.

The officer that we complained to called us back about a week later to tell us she's being evicted (condo association is kicking her out) AND she lost custody of her kids. I feel so relieved for those kids. I wish we wouldn't have waited to long to complain...

[mypunkinpie]

Our city codes are listed within the City Attorney's Office but you can Google your-city-name-City-Ordinace and you will probably find what you need.

[ribasaur]

Call the non emergency police dept number. They should be able to tell you what is up.

[kate4924]

Jun 27, 2012 12:14:30 GMT -5 Que? said:

Ditto LHC. If she's never moved it, maybe it's not even registered.

I reported my neighbor to the city for a derelict vehicle bc it was sitting on the street for months.

It is registered, unfortunately. I only learned of all this drama because her tags were about to expire, and we were at a cookout down the street, and everyone was saying how they couldn't wait to call and report it. Then on the last day of the month new tags went on.

**Funny enough, about a week later, the tags were stolen, and she called the police. She came over that afternoon to ask DH if he had seen anything, he said he had not, and that's when she told him about the lawnmower.

[OHMBLEEGOHHHHH!]

At our borough office, we have a codes department. I'm not sure how it works in bigger places, though.

[kate4924]

Jun 27, 2012 12:17:52 GMT -5 smock said:

Steal the van and replace it with a smaller, broken van?

Ok that made me laugh so hard I just spit soda all over my computer screen!!

[malibu]

Jun 27, 2012 12:17:52 GMT -5 smock said:

Steal the van and replace it with a smaller, broken van?

You never fail to make me laugh, smock.

[emoflamingo]

There should be a code compliance office for your city/town. Ours will ticket a vehicle that is not moved every 24 hours (they mark the tires) and then tow it after a number of days after that if it has still not moved.

[tulip]

So the van is registered? So what. I bet after sitting that long it won't start.

Call the City, raise a stink until it is gone.

Call every week & get all the other neighbors to call.

[kate4924]

Ok, so I found this - any lawyer types that can translate? Is this basically saying crazy ladies can't park their car in front of your house for a year?

Sec. 22-252. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Abandoned motor vehicle means a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that:
(1)
Is left unattended on public property in violation of a state law or local ordinance, for more than 48 hours;
(2)
Has remained for more than 48 hours on private property without the consent of the property's owner, regardless of whether it was brought onto the private property with the consent of the owner or person in control of the private property; or
(3)
Is left unattended on the shoulder of a primary highway.

[OHMBLEEGOHHHHH!]

I'm assuming 1 would apply.

[lkoenig]

Jun 27, 2012 12:21:42 GMT -5 calamity said:

Jun 27, 2012 12:17:52 GMT -5 smock said:

Steal the van and replace it with a smaller, broken van?

LOL!

I would call the non-emergency police line if you have no HOA that you can deal with.

We have our own crazy neighbor... she was always screaming at her kids and screaming obscenities loudly on her back patio. Her lights were on 24/7 and she must be on some serious drugs. We finally called the cops on her. Turns out she had a warrant for her arrest, so they took her for the night.

The officer that we complained to called us back about a week later to tell us she's being evicted (condo association is kicking her out) AND she lost custody of her kids. I feel so relieved for those kids. I wish we wouldn't have waited to long to complain...

was this the same crazy lady you had posted about a month or so ago?

[emjacobs]

Jun 27, 2012 13:59:15 GMT -5 kate4924 said:

Ok, so I found this - any lawyer types that can translate? Is this basically saying crazy ladies can't park their car in front of your house for a year?

Sec. 22-252. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Abandoned motor vehicle means a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that:
(1)
Is left unattended on public property in violation of a state law or local ordinance, for more than 48 hours;
(2)
Has remained for more than 48 hours on private property without the consent of the property's owner, regardless of whether it was brought onto the private property with the consent of the owner or person in control of the private property; or
(3)
Is left unattended on the shoulder of a primary highway.

I'm not a lawyer type but this is saying that an abandoned vehicle is any vehicle that is 1) on public property (parked in front of a house) for more than 48 hours, 2) on someone's property without the consent for 48 hours even if consent was given when it was brought on the property, or 3) on the side of a highway unattended (broke down cars)

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2012 14:01:19 GMT -5 lkoenig said:

Jun 27, 2012 12:21:42 GMT -5 calamity said:

LOL!

I would call the non-emergency police line if you have no HOA that you can deal with.

We have our own crazy neighbor... she was always screaming at her kids and screaming obscenities loudly on her back patio. Her lights were on 24/7 and she must be on some serious drugs. We finally called the cops on her. Turns out she had a warrant for her arrest, so they took her for the night.

The officer that we complained to called us back about a week later to tell us she's being evicted (condo association is kicking her out) AND she lost custody of her kids. I feel so relieved for those kids. I wish we wouldn't have waited to long to complain...

was this the same crazy lady you had posted about a month or so ago?

Yes! I'm so glad we finally called. It's been real quiet over there now

[eightangryreindeer]

omg

call.the.non-emergency.number.report.the.van.as.abandoned.

You want the ordinances that are referred to in the definition.

[lkoenig]

Jun 27, 2012 14:03:50 GMT -5 calamity said:

Jun 27, 2012 14:01:19 GMT -5 lkoenig said:

was this the same crazy lady you had posted about a month or so ago?

Yes! I'm so glad we finally called. It's been real quiet over there now

oh god good, I'm really happy to hear all of that worked out for the best, I was actually worrying about those poor kids after you posted...

[WOT?*]

Jun 27, 2012 13:59:15 GMT -5 kate4924 said:

Ok, so I found this - any lawyer types that can translate? Is this basically saying crazy ladies can't park their car in front of your house for a year?

Sec. 22-252. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Abandoned motor vehicle means a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that:
(1)
Is left unattended on public property in violation of a state law or local ordinance, for more than 48 hours;
(2)
Has remained for more than 48 hours on private property without the consent of the property's owner, regardless of whether it was brought onto the private property with the consent of the owner or person in control of the private property; or
(3)
Is left unattended on the shoulder of a primary highway.

I'll pretend to be a lawyer-type because I don't have a license at risk, but I'd interpret this to read that because it hasn't been moved or driven for an extended period of time you can call and request they have her move it (preferably in front of her house) or have it towed. I would question the "unattended" because she put new tags on it, keeps an eye on it and the neighbors know it's hers so technically it's derelict but not abandoned but if it hasn't moved, you have an argument.

[kate4924]

Jun 27, 2012 14:07:08 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

Jun 27, 2012 13:59:15 GMT -5 kate4924 said:

Ok, so I found this - any lawyer types that can translate? Is this basically saying crazy ladies can't park their car in front of your house for a year?

Sec. 22-252. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Abandoned motor vehicle means a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that:
(1)
Is left unattended on public property in violation of a state law or local ordinance, for more than 48 hours;
(2)
Has remained for more than 48 hours on private property without the consent of the property's owner, regardless of whether it was brought onto the private property with the consent of the owner or person in control of the private property; or
(3)
Is left unattended on the shoulder of a primary highway.

I'll pretend to be a lawyer-type because I don't have a license at risk, but I'd interpret this to read that because it hasn't been moved or driven for an extended period of time you can call and request they have her move it (preferably in front of her house) or have it towed. I would question the "unattended" because she put new tags on it, keeps an eye on it and the neighbors know it's hers so technically it's derelict but not abandoned but if it hasn't moved, you have an argument.

Exactly what I was thinking, you just said it much better. She even called the police and had a patrol car come out when someone stole her tags. So it seems like it would be difficult to argue that the van is abandoned. I'm going to call the code enfrcement office when I get off work.

[mrsjuleshs]

The road is publilc property and it hasn't been moved in over 48 hours so it should apply. We have had vehicles like that towed from our neighborhood a few times over the years.