Just got this by email from SEMA Action Network. URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT Anti-Hobbyist Inoperable Vehicle Bill Introduced in Arkansas; City, County and Local Affairs Committee Hearing Scheduled for Wed., Feb. 2 Legislation (H.B. 1252) that would allow cities to remove inoperable vehicles from private property if the vehicle is deemed a nuisance under a local ordinance has been introduced in the Arkansas State Legislature. The bill will be considered by the Arkansas House Committee on City, County and Local Affairs on Wed., Feb. 2, 2011. We Urge You to Contact Members of the Arkansas House Committee on City, County and Local Affairs (List Attached Below) Immediately to Request Their Opposition to H.B. 1252 For those interested in attending the hearing to voice opposition, the Committee will meet on Wed., Feb. 2 at 10:00 a.m. at the following address: Room B, Mac Building 1 Capitol Mall Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 · H.B. 1252 provides no reasonable safeguards for legitimate automotive hobbyists that choose to work on inoperable collector vehicles on private property. · H.B. 1252 could outlaw the repair or modification of certain motor vehicles that are undergoing restoration. · H.B. 1252 could outlaw the maintenance of parts cars for motor vehicles undergoing restoration. · H.B. 1252 establishes no provisions that would enable vehicles located out of public view to avoid being cl***ified as abandoned. DONT DELAY! Please contact members of the Arkansas House Committee on City, County and Local Affairs immediately to request their opposition to H.B. 1252. Please e-mail a copy of your letters to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Thank you for your ***istance. Arkansas House Committee on City, County and Local Affairs Representative Charolette Wagner - Chair Phone: 870/561-4600 Email: charolette.wagner@arkansashouse.org Representative Jane English - Vice Chair Phone: 501/257-7670 Email: jane.english@arkansashouse.org Representative Toni Bradford Phone: 870/879-5270 Email: toni.bradford@arkansashouse.org Representative Tommy Lee Baker Phone: 870/563-8277 Email: tommylee.baker@arkansashouse.org Representative Kathy Webb Phone: 501/258-1949 Email: kathy.webb@arkansashouse.org Representative Davy Carter Phone: 501/605-1346 Email: davy.carter@gmail.com Representative Tracy Steele Phone: 501/374-8788 Email: repsteele@yahoo.com Representative Denny Altes Phone: 479/646-8981 Email: aaltes@aol.com Representative Linda Collins-Smith Phone: 870/378-1434 Email: Linda.Collins-Smith@arkansashouse.org Representative Jon S. Eubanks Phone: 479/438-0533 Email: Jon.Eubanks@arkansashouse.org Representative David L. Brans*** Phone: 870/448-2408 Email: davidlbrans***@hotmail.com Representative Sheilla E. Lampkin Phone: 870/723-6449 Email: Sheilla.Lampkin@arkansashouse.org Representative Jeremy Gillam Phone: 501/729-0042 Email: jeremy@growing49.com Representative Andy Mayberry Phone: 501/888-3522 Email: andymayberry@windstream.net Representative Betty Overbey Phone: 479/885-6479 Email: Betty.Overbey@arkansashouse.org Representative Josh Johnston Phone: 501/556-1951 Email: josh.johnston@arkansashouse.org Representative David Fielding Phone: 870/234-6143 Email: david.fielding@arkansashouse.org Representative Nate Bell Phone: 479/394-5665 Email: nate@natebell4arkansas.com Representative Tommy Thompson Phone: 501/208-2007 Email: tt4rep@att.net Representative Leslee Milam Post Phone: 479/518-0331 Email: leslee.post@arkansashouse.org
I would bet the best reading would be all of the exclusions to these laws. Do the laws apply to almost every repair shop, body shop, new car dealer and used car lot that has clunkers sitting around? Probably not. Do the laws apply to all the Arky trucking and lumber companies that have old trucks sitting around? Probably not. Do the laws apply have anything to do with the price of s**** metal and how much the clunkers could be sold for to finance social programs? Of course not.
Duncan, I tried to respond last night but my computer's acting up. I'll be checking on this today, even though I've not located the bill yet. I know a couple of the guys on that commitee and I'll try to corner them. I'll let you know what I find out. Wish I'd known about it a couple of days earlier, I guess I missed this one.
Okay- little update. I just talked with one of the representatives on this committee. This bill was pulled by the sponser pending a clause to be included for exempting auto restorers and rebuilders (that's why it's not found on the website). The representative stated that he had old stuff too, and that there was a swap meet in his district that kept him from agreeing with this bill as it was written. He stated that he would keep on top of this. He said that they had received "a ton" of emails from SEMA on this issue. I'll keep my eyes on this from this end and if I hear anything else, I'll p*** it on.
The two who sponsored this bill are Tommy Baker and Betty Overbey. Maybe they need to get a few hundred emails about it Bob, thanks so much for what you've done in contacting your Rep.
Done. Thanks for the heads up Duncan, and the update Bob. Really, what is the difference here compared to a boat or camper in someone's back yard? Where does it stop. If it's in my yard and complies with my neighborhood's covenants (that I signed before I bought the house) it is no one's business and certainly not within the rights of the city to seize. Doesn't the Cons***ution protect against seizure of property? :/ I don't care if you can see it over my fence or from Google earth. Get away from my fence and stay off the dang computer snooping my yard. Commies...
No to mention, what cons***utes and inoperable vehicle, if I have a car that I've driven every day for years and then develops a leak and gets parked till I fix it, is that now an abandoned vehicle? Seems very vague to me. I p***ed this to a coworker in Arkansas that has a couple cars on his property, I'm sure he'll be all over this like white on rice.
Damn idiot politicians at it again. Several years ago, the quoram court in White County p***ed a "Junk ordinance". Several of us who owned salvage yards got wind of it before it became public knowledge, and got it repealed by threatening to sue. The county attorney advised them to repeal the ordinance, because the way it was worded, if we sued---we would win. City of Searcy even tried an ordinance that would make even owing an inoperable car in your own garage a violation. Local car guys got up in arms and nipped that one before it got off the ground. Biggest lie in the world---"Hello, I am with the government and I am here to help."
No prob. Glad my job puts me in a place to talk with these folks regularly. They're mostly decent people that just get sidetracked. Like plowing a garden with a mule, sometimes you have to jerk the reins a bit. They were on top of this,though, thanks to SEMA and their email campaign.
It's back up for discussion again in the morning...I wrote Leslee Post the first time this was brought up as I have known her for years... [FONT="]From:[/FONT][FONT="] Mark Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 10:13 PM To: Post, Leslee Subject: H.B. 1252[/FONT] Leslee, I certainly hope you are going to vote against this bit of so******t legislation... H.B. 1252 provides no reasonable safeguards for legitimate automotive hobbyists that choose to work on inoperable collector vehicles on private property. H.B. 1252 could outlaw the repair or modification of certain motor vehicles that are undergoing restoration· H.B. 1252 could outlaw the maintenance of parts cars for motor vehicles undergoing restoration. H.B. 1252 establishes no provisions that would enable vehicles located out of public view to avoid being cl***ified as abandoned. With so many attacks on our personal freedoms as American citizens, is this further infraction really necessary? What a person does on their own property is of no concern to anyone other than the owner...what purpose does this bill serve? As one of your cons***uents, I would appreciate your consideration of my opinion on the matter...as a fellow American, I implore you, please vote AGAINST this ridiculous bill that does nothing but strip away the ability of people to partake in a hobby that is relaxing and not endangering anyone. Sincerely, Mark Stanberry Ozark, AR [FONT="]"Hi Mark,[/FONT] [FONT="]You have some very valid points. There were a lot of concerns from the committee. The bill was pulled down to be amended. I will share your concerns with Representative Baker. Thank you, Leslee[/FONT]" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="][/FONT] Not sure how it's going to turn out this time though...hopefully they'll shoot it down.
Have you ever noticed the common theme of these bills, telling you what you can or cannot have on your personal property. You wonder what the real agenda is.
Got the sema alert this morning that it p***ed the Arkansas House and now goes to the senate. http://echo.bluehornet.com/hostedem...945650940&ch=29BAF73DF3F2EE103B4502C8BE720CCF
You've got to be kidding me... I hope I always have more to do in my life than worry if someone has an old car or two on their own property. Geez... I never thought a bill like this would ever even be thought of much less proposed in Arkansas.
How they voted http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/***embly/2011/2011R/Pages/Votes.aspx?rcsnum=337&votechamber=House
Well I see my local rep. voted for this! I wish I could say I was surprised!!!! That's just typical of this town. They hate working cl*** people around here. Thanks Mrs. Roebuck!
Wow...Ms Post voted "yea" for it, I had been in contact with her about this and another bill that hasn't even been brought up for a vote yet (not H.A.M.B. friendly unless you're concerned with wanting your state to stand up for it's tenth amendment rights...and just say NO to the REAL ID law that's supposed to go full force May 11)... It figures, She's from this city, and is of the same political persuasion as our flaming former mayor. The city has been reeeally intrusive with it's har***ing people who own old cars, I had a run-in last year with the "code enforcement officer," who, it turns out, is NOT a real police officer. The guy came to my Mother's house right after Dad p***ed away YELLING at her about the truck in the front yard, I told him to leave, he said he didn't have to. Long story short, he left threatening he would be back...he hasn't. I guess he'll have more ammo now with this so******t BS if it p***es the state senate...
Here's the text of what the AR House p***ed...I'm going to attempt to lobby the state senators to either be more specific about what cons***utes an inoperable vehicle, or strike the references to vehicles completely out, as most municipalities already have ordinances on the books that allow them to remove vehicles...it's a stretch, but, go big or go home. Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law. *KLL021* 01-12-2011 11:50:45 KLL021 State of Arkansas 88th General ***embly A Bill Regular Session, 2011 HOUSE BILL 1252 By: Representatives T. Baker, B. Overbey For An Act To Be En***led AN ACT TO ALLOW CITIES TO REMOVE VEHICLES FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Sub***le 13 TO ALLOW CITIES TO REMOVE VEHICLES FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ***EMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 14-54-901 is amended to read as follows: 14-54-901. Municipal authority. Incorporated towns and cities of the first and second cl*** <s>are empowered to</s> may order the owner of lots and other real property within their towns or cities to cut weeds; to remove garbage, rubbish, and other unsightly and unsanitary articles and things upon the property, including without limitation abandoned or inoperable vehicles; and to eliminate, fill up, or remove stagnant pools of water or any other unsanitary thing, place, or condition <s>which</s> that might become a breeding place for mosquitoes, flies, and germs harmful to the health of the community, after the town or city has provided therefor by <s>an</s> ordinance <s>to that effect</s>. SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 27-50-1101(a)(1)(A), concerning removal of an abandoned piece of private property, is amended to read as follows: (a)(1)(A) When a vehicle of a type subject to registration under the laws of this state, an implement, or a piece of machinery is found abandoned on private or public property within this state or is parked on private or public property within this state without the authorization of the property owners or other persons controlling the property, or after notice from a municipality that the vehicle, implement, or piece of machinery cons***utes a nuisance under local ordinance, the municipality or the property owner or his or her agent may have the vehicle, implement, or piece of machinery removed from the property by a towing and storage firm licensed by and subject to the rules of the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board.
These kind of bills anger me. We are paying and voting in officials so that they can tell us what we can and can't have on our property? I understand keeping the yard mowed, garbage disposal, etc, because that can affect the owners and surrounding neighbors health and home values. I can even see interjecting if you live in a nice neighborhood but have a rust bucket rusting away in you front yard, that it could be said you need to put it somewhere else. It just amazes me that we have people homeless, jobless, and many government funded agencies falling apart and on the verge of bankruptcy, but lets not worry about that, we need to figure out what to do with these cars on people's properties that don't run! Ridiculous....
This comes from letting those yahoo's meet every year instead of everyother year like before. Who in the hell voted for that.
Vote them OUT next time! Quit voting them in again term after term. They dig power, and they'll abuse it at every opportunity. This is proven nationwide, time and time again.
I am not a lawyer, but certain "hobbies" of mine that have to do with things not necessarily H.A.M.B. related force me to keep up with pending legislation, as well as laws already on the books, and "policies" that have no legal grounds to stand on which municipalities try to implement and/or enforce because they just don't like something. The more I read, and the more I interact with these people who are supposed to be p***ing laws that are based upon the wishes of their cons***uents, the more my blood pressure rises to darned near stroke levels...they promise one thing, get elected, then their outlook changes. I'll stop with the rant, right now, and submit my question to you other arkies who might have an answer: Do you know of any attorneys who happen to be "car guys/gals" that would be able to contact the appropriate person(s) with something that would challenge this bill on grounds that it's vague in it's description of what cons***utes a vehicle inoperable, thus leaving it wide-open for abuse by the crooked, vengeful, and otherwise untrustworthy city officials that this state is overrun with?
House Bill 1252 was defeated in the Arkansas Senate this week and is now officially dead. State senators Johnny Key and Eddie Williams spoke out strongly against the bill. Senator Williams in particular said he had old cars and parts cars and that the bill was very poorly and vaguely worded. Hats off to these senators and the others who voted against it. When I find out which senators voted for and against, I'll post it here. And yes, hillbilly, the vague wording with no protection for hobbyists is when SEMA opposed the bill, precisely because it leaves it wide open for abuse
The Jalopy Journal
