1. 

   Concerned Resident
   

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   Does anybody else have a problem with a person who works
   out of Ballard Auto and Muffler? This person drive a tow-truck and uses it to move about 15 to 20 cars around residential streets.
   The bulk of the cars and trucks end up between 70thNW and 80thNW on the East side of 15th.

   As we speak there are 5 within site of Whittier Elemt. keeping parents/teachers/staff from parking.

   You may have seen these vehicles and how many are filled with car parts or tires.

   The police say to call and in 3 days they will mark it for towing (after an additional 3 days). This is not a case of a family who is having car problems. This is a man who is running a wrecking yard and is parting these cars out for sale, which makes him a bussiness....A call the Dept. of Planning and Permits end up with my being told they can't do anything as he isn't opperating at an address.

   The guy is a dangerous person who attacked my neighbour and threatend to kill me...
   If everybody could step up their calls to the police regard "abandond cars", maybe we could push this to another neighborhood (which is the olny choice given by the police....make it a hassle and he will move)

   Thanks.

   Posted 4 years ago #
2. 

   zeke you
   

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   I know exactly who you're talking about. He's left numerous cars on our block (just north of LH Elem) in the past, until a neighbor confronted him about it...and received the same death threat from him. He is extremely hostile...alarmingly so. We called the cops, but he towed all the cars away and hasn't been back since. He'd show up in the middle of the night and transfer parts from one car to another making all sorts of racket.

   The problem is that he's savy. He gets tow notices posted on his windshields all the time, but he removes the notices and moves the cars a block or two every time. It's totally frustrating.

   Posted 4 years ago #
3. 

   Concerned Resident
   

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   The authorites ALSO know exactly who I'm talking about.

   The problem is not that he is "savy", the problem is with the issue not being addressed by the authorities.

   A "savy" person would not invest the unreal amount of time it takes to constantly
   be driving around, looking for impound stickers amd moving cars....Maybe it's the meth that makes that behavior seem like a good idea. The post midnight parts tranfer is an issue here too...

   Thanks for the support.

   Posted 4 years ago #
4. 

   sjblackford
   

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   Last year we had a problem with him, on 8th Ave NW he was parking right in front of our house so we couldn't park there, at 61st St. He made lots of noise in the middle of the night. He's been doing this for years. If he is making death threats, the best thing to do -- even though it's a big pain the neck -- is to go to Superior Court and get an order requiring that he stay a certain distance away from you, like 500 yards, for a year. If he works within that distance of your address, that's his problem, he still has to stay away. If he doesn't stay away, you can call the cops and get him put in jail. The more times he does it, the longer he stays in jail. Also death threats should be reported to the police because a threat to kill is felony harassment and he can do prison time for that. If more than one person complains, the police will have to pay attention. This is the only way to hold him accountable.

   Posted 4 years ago #
5. 

   zeke you
   

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   By 'savy' I simply meant he's figured out a way to work around the system. I won't bother to hypothesize about why he does it. Technically, he's obeying the letter of the law by moving those cars before they're towed. But as sjblackford mentioned, he can certainly be prosecuted for making death threats. I will certainly talk to my neighbor who received the threat and see if he's interested in pursuing it further. But it's up to him I guess...

   Posted 4 years ago #
6. 

   seattletree
   

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   How about petitioning the city for residential only stickers?? i read someplace what must happen in order to have this pass, but if you know your neighbors and they are willing, why not? then carfarmer has only hours before he must move them, i don't recall how many hours, but it isn't a whole day. Clearly this involves your major time and effort, but with the way the neighborhood is changing it may just be the best bet yet. We had a run in with a giant motorhome that sported several liveaboards and a real hostile man with his big dog and the dog's leavings.

   Posted 4 years ago #
7. 

   AJL
   

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   It is my understanding that a business cannot use a city street for parking vehicles. I spent some time several years ago researching this, since we have a similar problem (minus the death threats) with Enterprise Rent-a-Car. According to the Seattle Municipal Code, the city prohibits owners/operators of parking lots, garages, new or used car lots, service business, car rental agencies from using streets or alleys. Apparently conviction for violating this can cause revocation of the business license (SMC 11.70.200). Perhaps you might try calling the transportation department or the city council chair of the transportation committee (it was Jan Drago in 2006).

   All that said, as far as I can tell this code is not really enforced and the police and parking enforcers don't seem to know anything about it. I haven't pursued further, since Enterprise is no longer parking on our street (too many neighbor complaints), although they continue to park and leave their vehicles on the street. My next step was going to be calling the mayor's office and specifically asking about this provision.

   Posted 4 years ago #
8. 

   Concerned Resident
   

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   AJL,

   That is the crux of the issue....he has no business license. A search with the city
   shows nothing under his name, nor does he have a valid tow-truck license (according to the state of WA).

   Its just a drag.

   Posted 4 years ago #
9. 

   SallyJohnnson
   

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   We have an interesting addition to this drama...the Papa Johns dump truck was on 77th (west of 15th) this weekend and someone from a local furnace company was tossing scrap metal and parts into the dump truck. Apparently the car part farmer works with local businesses to 'recycle' their metal by having them deposit the goods into the larger trucks parked on our neighborhood streets.

   I am starting to take photographs of the cars to build a case to complain to the city. If anyone can post descriptions of this guy's vehicles I'd love to add them to the list. Regular 'offending vehicles' I know of:

   Blue Camaro
   Papa John's Dump Truck (filled with parts in back)
   White Chevy (filled with parts in back)
   Blue Chevy (filled with parts in back)
   Black Tow Truck

   Posted 3 years ago #
10. 

    mc7
    

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    Hmm... it would be kind of hard to stay on top of moving one's vehicles around if the tires were suddenly inoperable. If it was my neighborhood this would be a tempting thought.

    Posted 3 years ago #
11. 

    SPG
    

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    Are any of these vehicles registered? Do any of them have current tabs?
    What you need to do is find a parking enforcement officer and talk to them. These guys/girls are usually pretty lonely as everyone sees them as the bad guy, so if you have something for them to do to help I'd guess they'd be happy to at least hear you out.
    A few hundred bucks a pop and this guy will think twice about where he leaves his junkers.

    Posted 3 years ago #
12. 

    jj
    

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    I guess you could just remove the tires, but that would probably cause some other problems.

    Posted 3 years ago #
13. 

    SallyJohnnson
    

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    Great ideas and questions, sadly none would work. Many tires are already flat...he tows the inoperable junkers to the streets and leaves them. Unless the actual tow truck tires were flat, he'd just tow them. He keeps the tow truck in front of Ballard Muffler most of the time. Probably to keep it away from vandals. Ironic. Anyone want to come picket the place with me? *sigh*

    I've spoken with SPD and they said parking enforcement is all over his cars (has been for years). They even have 'secret' markings in the hope of not tipping car farmer off before they can tow. Alas, he knows all the secrets and moves the vehicles before they get removed.

    SPD once did a 'sting' on these cars...rounded them up and took them to the impound yard. Next business day, car farmer paid to release every one of them.

    Thanks to AJL for the Drago tip. I am now in contact with her office and hoping they can do something. It is a sad state of affairs when the best apparent course of action is to get him to threaten someone so a restraining order can be filed. I don't know about all the others being affected by him, but there are many ppl on my block with kids and we are pretty mad about being both irritated and scared out of our minds every time one of his vehicles lands in front of our homes.

    Posted 3 years ago #
14. 

    HL
    

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    Make some noise (squeaky wheel and all..) with the city. This guy gets away with it because he knows that *most* people in Seattle are too passive to challenge him in a way that is effective. Though it does sound like the city hasn't been much help.

    Maybe he's related to Hugh Sisley over in Ravenna?

    Posted 3 years ago #
15. 

    chopper 74
    

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    SPG, no, current tabs aren't required to be parked on our streets. Sad, yet fixable.
    (if the SPD sees them moving, different story)
    Anyone seen a petition?
    Better yet, both a petition and enforcement.
    That'd be nice.
    Car Farmer, yer pissin' off the neighbors, dummy. A lot of space is available, find it, before Joe Diamond snags it all.

    Posted 3 years ago #
16. 

    Underpants Gnome
    

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    It would seem to me that these vehicles would fit the definition of junk motor vehicle as defined in SMC 11. If so, they should be towed every 24 hours.

    SMC 11.14.268 Junk motor vehicle.

    A. "Junk motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle meeting at least three
    of the following requirements:

    1. Left on private property without the permission of the person
    having right to the possession of the property;

    2. Left on a street, alley way open to the public, or on municipal or
    other public property for twenty-four (24) hours or longer;

    3. Extensively damaged, such damage including but not limited to any
    of the following: A broken window or windshield, missing wheels,
    tires, motor, or transmission;

    4. Apparently inoperable;

    5. Having a fair market value of Five Hundred Dollars ($500) or less;

    6. Without a current certificate of registration or a current and
    proper vehicle license.

    B. Vehicles in Violation of this Section. Junk motor vehicles are
    subject to impoundment as provided for in Chapter 11.30 SMC in
    addition to any other penalty provided for by law.

    Posted 3 years ago #
17. 

    Ernie
    

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    Member

    Here's another possibility, check to see if his truck has the special "Wrecker" license:

    SMC 11.22.160 License plates -- Wrecker.

    Every motor vehicle wrecker shall obtain a special set of license plates in addition to the regular licenses and plates required for the operation of such vehicles as provided in RCW 46.80.060. (RCW 46.80.060)

    SMC 11.22.180 Display of license plates -- Wrecker.

    The special set of license plates required by Section 11.22.160 shall be displayed on vehicles owned and/or operated by a motor vehicle wrecker and used in the conduct of his business as provided in RCW 46.80.060. (RCW 46.80.060)

    Posted 3 years ago #
18. 

    SallyJohnnson
    

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    Thanks for the ideas everyone. I asked about the Junk Car law...SPD requires the car owner to try to start it with an officer present before they will do anything.

    As for the tow truck license, Ballard Muffler denies this truck is used for his business. 'It's just my employee, it's his truck.' Tow truck owner/car farmer is not officially in business, so he would claim the tow truck is nothing more than his transportation, not a wrecker.

    Posted 3 years ago #
19. 

    eric
    

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    this guy sure expends a lot of energy not being in business...

    Posted 3 years ago #
20. 

    SallyJohnnson
    

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    You are not kidding. I just checked out the city municipal violation page on the 'Papa John's' part-filled dump truck (which was just parked in front of my neighbor's house), and this guy has over 30 (!!!) years of car violations. Leaking oil, junk car, illegally parked during peak hours, on and on. Any neighborhood resident would be broke from all the fines.

    Also has over 10 aliases. Yep, lots of energy on his non-business.

    Posted 3 years ago #
21. 

    jubbjubb
    

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    We need the ASBO alternative. It may not work perfectly in Brittan, but it seems a good course.

    Posted 3 years ago #
22. 

    SallyJohnnson
    

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    I wonder if Public Nuisance would apply here:

    SMC 10.09.030 Public nuisance defined.

    For purposes of this chapter a "public nuisance" is a condition which
    wrongfully annoys, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health
    or safety of others, or unlawfully interferes with, obstructs or tends
    to obstruct, or render dangerous for passage, any public park, square,
    street or highway, or any other public place; or in any way renders
    other persons insecure in life, or in the use of property, and which
    affects equally the rights of an entire community or neighborhood,
    although the extent of damage may be unequal.

    I would say the entire neighborhood is 'wrongfully annoyed.'

    Thanks for the ASBO reference jubbjubb...made me think of this.

    Posted 3 years ago #
23. 

    Underpants Gnome
    

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    It seems to me that the cars would meet at least three of the requirements for Junk Motor Vehicle, even without including the inoperable component:

    1)Left on street 24 hours;
    2)Extensively damaged;
    3)Fair market value less than $500;
    4)Not currently registered.

    Remember, the vehicle only needs to meet three of the above. So if these cars do not meet the definition, what exactly would??? Sounds to me like this is a municipal code that is not being put to the intended use. It is just like the code that says that vehicles over 80" wide cannot park over night on streets (unless the stree is considered "Industrial, etc.) The 80" code alone would be enough to tow every one of the RVs parked over night on any street north of Market. So basically the codes are not being enforced or used as intended.

    Posted 3 years ago #
24. 

    SPG
    

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    The SPD is stretched pretty thin and to be honest, they seem to be in the siege mentality of don't piss anyone off even if you have to let a lot of crimes go unanswered. Sometimes I long for the abundance of bored, fat, suburban cops just looking for anyone doing anything to break their boredom.
    You might have better luck with the parking enforcement officers. They seem to want to make friends after a long day of getting yelled at and nothing but the evil eye while on the job. Ever talk to one of them when you're not getting a ticket?

    Posted 3 years ago #
25. 

    Regulator
    

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    Failure to be properly licensed? https://fortress.wa.gov/dol/mls/wali/guidesheet.asp?intTranId=784685

    (or how about Failure to pay WA state Business & Occupation tax? or take it one step further with Failure to pay federal income taxes?)

    Failure to comply with environmental regulations for an auto wrecker?
    ( http://www.ecy.wa.gov )

    Posted 3 years ago #
26. 

    jj
    

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    So this guy works for Ballard Muffler? Should we just complain to the business?

    Posted 3 years ago #
27. 

    Edog
    

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    Regulator and SPG are on to something. Aside from this threat to kill people, this is not an issue for the police. Some community association or local business group is going to have to spend some money, or find some attorney willing to donate some time, and bring suit against this guy/business. Without being an atty, I don't know which way to go, but I suspect given the run off issues, that the environmental way is the way to address it. This would force a regulatory agency to step in, make a judgment, and enforce fines.

    As for his threats, as someone who has been threadend with gun, I would not take that lightly. That alone should earn him a few months in the county lock up with mandatory counseling.

    I'm not big on false bravado and direct confrontation, really I’m not. But I think the way to handle a murder threat, it to face it head on as I would someone trying to size me up as a mugging victim/opportunity. When he says that, it is EXACTLY SAME AS punching you in the gut and telling you to go home and be afraid of him. Shout at the top of your lungs, get your neighbors involved, and be completely un-rational about it. Make a public scene, and the police will have to get involved. Make him as scared as he makes you. He says this hoping you'll be afraid and be fearful of confrontation, better just to get it all out and done with.

    Posted 3 years ago #
28. 

    SPG
    

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    I wouldn't go and pick a fight with a known psycho. Call the cops. A murder threat by someone standing in your front yard is a priority response.
    You can get city departments to do their jobs by calling them. If they refuse, you contact the manager of that department. If they give you a runaround, contact the City Council. Worst case is it's three phonecalls. Usually two does it.

    Posted 3 years ago #
29. 

    Edog
    

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    I found this interesting.

    http://www.yelp.com/biz/ballard-muffler-and-radiator-seattle

    Posted 3 years ago #
30. 

    umy
    

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    There is something missing to this story: Does the car farmer keep all of the cars registered and tabbed? In Seattle there is an incredible law that allows the police and parking enforcement to give tickets to parked cars with expired tabs. Seems like the cars this guy uses would also need to get emissions inspection too. The cars need to have license plates too. Please explain.

    Rick

    Posted 3 years ago #
31. 

    SallyJohnnson
    

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    Yes, they are all registered and tabbed, with current license plates. It's not that he is not getting ticketed, it's that he shuffles his cars around as soon as they are marked for ticketing/towing, and threatens ppl who ask him to stop. He claims he is doing nothing wrong, but at the 73rd hour of being parked on a street he is, in fact, breaking the law. It just takes 2-3 weeks for the city to prove it with markings and by then he moves the cars.

    We've enlisted a few offices with the city to help. I will post back when I hear more.

    I AM STILL LOOKING FOR ANYONE WHO KNOWS OF SOME VEHICLES TO ADD TO THE ORIGINAL LIST ABOVE. ALSO IF YOU HAVE BEEN THREATENED BY HIM PLEASE LET ME KNOW. The city needs this info. All they have right now is blog posts from ppl saying he's a pain who makes threats but that won't help with anything formal.

    Posted 3 years ago #

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