Michigan man must sell all of his 216 unregistered cars on property.

[fleming442]

Sorry, but I think it's his property and he should be able to do as he pleases. Judging from the satellite imagery, I see no "town" or "township". 'Round here, there called counties (could have the same laws).
I agree that it's a case of "come heres" screwing with the locals.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Unless someone can prove that his collection is harming someone or something, they should give him some time to sell off his collection. I'd rather have a neighbor with old cars than one who collects venomous and large constrictor snakes. If this law was on the books when he moved there 15 years ago, then he was really dumb with all of this. He moved to the wrong place with his collection.

He should do what it takes to meet his quota. Someone in his position, or someone who might inherit a collection like this, might consider creating a corporation or LLP and then transferring ownership of the cars to it. Then rent some land to store his cars while he is selling them off. He might need to get a trailer to move things, but he would get the township off his back. For some reason local governments are a bit more respectful when dealing with corporation rather than individuals. Then all of his legal and accounting expenses become tax write offs, and he may get more respect. If nothing else it would buy him some time.

I don't think that the township wants to take any of his cars. They might need to pay him for what they take under constitutional eminent domain law. I suspect that their next step is to go back to court, and get a court order. If he violates that order, then he gets fined for contempt of court.

does a bank robber's problem only start when he/she is caught?

Well just for some perspective, when this man started collecting cars 50+ years ago, American society was tolerant of eccentrics who hoarded things and people who didn't keep their grass cut short, but very intolerant of homosexual rights. Times sure have changed. So North of the border you think a guy who collects old cars is criminal felon, eh? Thanks for giving us a Canadian perspective on things. I would never want to live there.

 

[fleming442]

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 60.05)
I'd say he should be grandfathered in or at least given a reasonable amount of time. The law looks 4 years old to me, but I ain't no lawyah.

 

[pontiacgp]

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 60.05)
I'd say he should be grandfathered in or at least given a reasonable amount of time. The law looks 4 years old to me, but I ain't no lawyah.

Before there is any hearings there is always negotiations that take place, it could be he agreed to sell 20 cars a month since it doesn't sound like an Order that a judge would apply unless there was joint submissions on that arrangement. This is not something that could be grandfathered in and since he is not actively doing anything with the cars getting rid of the cars causes him no harm. There is no reason to have a lot filled up with abandoned cars.

 

[fleming442]

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 60.05)
I'd say he should be grandfathered in or at least given a reasonable amount of time. The law looks 4 years old to me, but I ain't no lawyah.

Before there is any hearings there is always negotiations that take place, it could be he agreed to sell 20 cars a month since it doesn't sound like an Order that a judge would apply unless there was joint submissions on that arrangement. This is not something that could be grandfathered in and since he is not actively doing anything with the cars getting rid of the cars causes him no harm. There is no reason to have a lot filled up with abandoned cars.

But, it's just fine to enact a law on an old man and his private property for no apparent reason? If it were within actual "city limits" which I can't see, there may be a case. I see no "city", or any reason for neighbors to complain. If they don't want to look at it, they can build their own fence on their own property. There is very little road frontage at play here.

 

[pontiacgp]

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 60.05)
I'd say he should be grandfathered in or at least given a reasonable amount of time. The law looks 4 years old to me, but I ain't no lawyah.

But, it's just fine to enact a law on an old man and his private property for no apparent reason? If it were within actual "city limits" which I can't see, there may be a case. I see no "city", or any reason for neighbors to complain. If they don't want to look at it, they can build their own fence on their own property. There is very little road frontage at play here.

If I lived near him I would be complaining, it's obvious the "old" man does not maintain his property and who knows what he is doing to the land with all the rusty old cars. Plus I have read of the rodents that roam his property. He is doing nothing with the cars except letting them rot so what's the big deal in making him comply with the rules. If he wants to keep his cars then all he has to do is to move to an area where he can load up his property with junk cars. I doubt very much he was not warned several times about the infraction long before anything was actually done.
When you say "his private property" he may own the buildings but unless he has obtained a land patent he most likely does not own the land. Most people just have a warranty deed which just applies to the buildings

 

[oldsmobile joe]

i say "follow the money". whenever reasonable logic doesn't explain the actions being taken, there is only one conclusion i come to and that is money. either one of his neighbors is looking to sell his property and wants to raise its value, or a developer, real estate agent, government entity is eyeing the properties potential value.
no I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but i do believe in greed.
joe

 

[307 Regal]

I'm sure y'all are well aware by now of where each other stands on the old dude's predicament.
Unless anyone feels like going to his place and helping him sell, or helping him keep them, there's no point keeping the beef going here.
I know this isn't too heated yet but the sooner you let it ride, the better.

 

[fleming442]

I just happen to live out in the country, and can see this happening everyday. It ticks me off. City dwellers move to the country, then the road gets paved, speed limits lower, 1.5 lane back roads get lines, etc. I have some hillbilly hoarders near me (One of them are inbred- think Deliverance). I don't give a crap about what they do.
There are 2 kinds of people in the world: those that enjoy freedom and those that want to take it away.

 

[pontiacgp]

The guy has been living in there and collecting cars for 15 years, not 50 like some think. The ordnance he contravened was already on the books when he bought the house 15 years ago. If he had build a large building to store the cars in then he would have complied with the ordnance. If they allow him to do it then anyone anywhere in the town could park scrap cars anywhere on their property. He admitted that he has too many vehicles and agreed to get rid of them.

and for those of you who view this as the government unilaterally imposing laws on people here is the process to make an ordinance