HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) — It’s a rule that’s been on the books for months, but now an update could make it easier for Hopewell police to identify and tag cars they think aren’t in driving condition.
Some are calling them junk cars that should not be in the public view in a neighborhood, or on city streets. According to law makers, this rule does not apply to businesses that may be working on vehicles. Expired inspection stickers, dead tags, or anything not being driven could be classified as an inoperable vehicle.
“First takes by people when they come into the city means a lot,” says Wayne Walton, a city council member who was on the prevailing side to make the current law stricter. “People come, oh, this is kind of a neat little town to be, but if you come in and see a bunch of junk cars sitting on the side of the street, I am not sure I want to live there.”
From July 2014 to June this year, city officials say Hopewell police tagged 787 cars classified as eye soars. Just last week, council voted to make the law even stricter. Property owners are not allowed to hide any of those cars under a tarp.
“Hopewell has passed a law that I think is invalid,” says Tony Zevgolis, one of only two council members who voted against the stricter rule that now prohibits residents from hiding vehicles classifies as inoperable under a tarp.
Zevgolis votes against the update to the law after two of his own cars were tagged.
“It affects every home in Hopewell that doesn’t have a garage,” says Zevgolis. “I have been fighting this for six months to make it equitable to everybody.”
Some residents have been calling police to report the location of vehicles in violation. A first time offense could cost you $200 and a second offense is $500.
8News spoke with one man whose Ford pick-up was tagged. The vehicle is in his back yard and he said he’s working on fixing the vehicle. One of his neighbors says it does not bother her that his truck is in the yard.
“If it was on the street, I consider it an eye soar, it’s taking up space that somebody else can park, but his case, the vehicle in question is in his backyard, and I don’t have a problem with that,” says Darlene Dunbar.
