Dearborn Steps up Nuisance Vehicle Enforcement
Starting November 1, Dearborn Police will step up enforcement of nuisance vehicles stored on private property to preserve the quality of neighborhoods and remove safety hazards.
To avoid a $500 fine, police are encouraging residents who have a title to an unwanted vehicle to take advantage of the City’s amnesty program by calling Rusko’s Towing at 313-274-4550.
The unwanted vehicle will be towed away without cost.
Residents who want to keep their vehicles are encouraged to move any that meet the definition of a nuisance into storage inside an enclosed structure. This includes vehicles that are disassembled, stripped, dismantled, can’t be driven or are in a state of disrepair.
Vehicles found to be inoperative for any reason could be in violation of the nuisance ordinance, known as City Ordinance 13-2.
This applies to property owners who store, or allow to be stored, a nuisance vehicle.
After November 1, vehicles found to be in violation of the nuisance ordinance will be tagged by the Police Department. Residents will have 72 hours to remove or properly store the vehicle.
After that, the homeowner may be responsible for towing/storage and a misdemeanor violation punishable by a fine up to $500.
“When you’re finished working on your car, push it back in the garage,” said Police Cpl. Mike Nelson. “Leaving them out is neighborhood blight.”
Nuisance vehicles also can be dangerous.
They often have broken glass, sharp metal protrusions or are mounted on blocks or jacks that might become unstable.
Because they frequently block access for fire equipment to adjacent buildings and structures, nuisance vehicles also constitute a fire hazard.
They can serve as a breeding ground for insects and rodents.
October 6th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
If the city would just enforce the ordinances they already have then they wouldn’t have to have a special date to ‘start’ enforcement. If they cannot enforce what they have on the books then take them off – they are no good if no one really cares.
October 7th, 2011 at 5:18 am
“They can serve as a breeding ground for insects and rodents.” Sounds like City Hall (:>)!!!!!!!
October 7th, 2011 at 5:38 am
wonder how much we the taxpayer will be on the hook for the “free towing” from Rusko’s? Someone has to pay the towing bill when it comes in…
October 7th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
I understand that Tugboat O’Reilly is planning on personally driving a tow truck to clear his neighborhoods around him of these cars, don’t forget he has had past experience driving a tow truck, as well as ice cream trucks.
October 7th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Amen Donna, I could go on for hours on all the ordinance that go un-enforced in Dearborn if they did thier jobs they wouldn’t have to step-up to catch up.,
October 8th, 2011 at 10:39 am
I would much rather the police step up the traffic patrols. The cars that fly up and down my residential street, run red lights and go 70 down michigan ave are much more of a treat to me and my family then “nuisance” not moving vehicles. Priorities are so backwards around here!
October 10th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Highly agree, concerned…then swiftly moving to “steppin-up enforcement” of concert-level boom cars and non-existant mufflers!