Hello fairfuxians,

I parked my car on the street, 3 houses down from my parents house, with for-sale signs in its windows. I just got a $40 ticket from the nice people over at the Fairfax County Police for "82-5-19"..

"82-5-19: It is illegal to park a vehicle on a public road for the purpose of selling or offering the vehicle for sale or rent. "

The area I parked it in is one of those general areas random people park in, since its in front of a creek. I can't park it in front of my own house since other vehicles take up the spaces.

I called the police non-emergency number and Mr. Personality on the other end told me to park it in my yard if its for sale, which is actually a zoning violation ("It is a zoning violation to park vehicles on lawns for more than 48 hrs.")

Has anyone gone to court over this kind of violation? The only argument I have is that I didn't ONLY park it there to advertise it for sale, its just my parents' vehicles take up all the other available space in front of our own house.

Pay up and move on.

Geez Wrote:
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> Pay up and move on.


Are you saying this because the ticket is too difficult to fight, or because you're an anonymous douchebag with nothing really to contribute, yet want to comment anyway?

What kind of car? I'm looking for a reliable used car.

Well, I don't want to pay it because I honestly don't think I deserve it.

I *assume* that the statute is for the shady unlicensed "dealers" that sell cars privately as a business, like the guy who has about 8 cars for sale at the Burke Centre Shopping Center next to the Chipotle. (Although that IS private property)

I'm advertising a car for sale, on my own street, parked where I normally park it. I just don't understand why putting a for-sale sign in a car and parking it where you normally park it is illegal. It's not impeding traffic, causing a nuisance or blocking others from their rightful parking space.

As for the car, its a Toyota Corolla and it's on Craigslist. The posters on this board kind of scare me so I'm not putting any more details here than that :D

They could still have gotten you in front of your parents' house (if it's a public street). They got me for it in front of my house.

I had no fucking idea that it was illegal. I parked the truck out there for almost 20 years....what the hell difference does a For Sale make?

I didn't fight it because my only defense was that I didn't know...."ignorance of the law..." and all that. Plus, I wouldn't waste a morning out there for a lousy 40 bucks. Just chalked it up to "education", next time, I'll make room in the driveway...

be sure to fight this uncostitutional law, hire 2 of the best lawyers and set a court date, what have you got to lose?

-
FCPD patrol certain areas more than others. For example, University Drive in front of the GMU Field House gets visited regularly because students park illegally near the entrances. FCPD parking enforcement specialists usually write 10 to 20 tickets to students who have failed to notice the "NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER" signs.

Most GMU students do not know that a hang tag is not needed on University Drive.

You probably had the vehicle parked in a conspicuous place and got nailed for it.







------------------------------------------------------
> Hello fairfuxians,
>
> I parked my car on the street, 3 houses down from
> my parents house, with for-sale signs in its
> windows. I just got a $40 ticket from the nice
> people over at the Fairfax County Police for
> "82-5-19"..
>
> "82-5-19: It is illegal to park a vehicle on a
> public road for the purpose of selling or offering
> the vehicle for sale or rent. "
>
> The area I parked it in is one of those general
> areas random people park in, since its in front of
> a creek. I can't park it in front of my own house
> since other vehicles take up the spaces.
>
> I called the police non-emergency number and Mr.
> Personality on the other end told me to park it in
> my yard if its for sale, which is actually a
> zoning violation ("It is a zoning violation to
> park vehicles on lawns for more than 48 hrs.")
>
> Has anyone gone to court over this kind of
> violation? The only argument I have is that I
> didn't ONLY park it there to advertise it for
> sale, its just my parents' vehicles take up all
> the other available space in front of our own
> house.

unimpressed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Geez Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
>
>
> Are you saying this because the ticket is too
> difficult to fight, or because you're an anonymous
> douchebag with nothing really to contribute, yet
> want to comment anyway?




No I said it because of what you posted, to wit:
"82-5-19: It is illegal to park a vehicle on a public road for the purpose of selling or offering the vehicle for sale or rent. "

Geez Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No I said it because of what you posted, to wit:
> "82-5-19: It is illegal to park a vehicle on a
> public road for the purpose of selling or offering
> the vehicle for sale or rent. "


But it WASN'T parked "for the purpose of selling". It was parked where it is normally parked, it just happens to have a for sale sign. That's the difference. The law saying "for the purpose of selling" makes me think of people who park cars in gravelly lots on the side of major highways, not small residential streets.

I want to advertise it for sale when I drive around, now I have to put up and take down the sign every time I leave and then park...


(I am the OP, I finally registered)

Perhaps you missed the "or offering" part of that.

Seems to me you advertised illegally and are trying to find a way out over a $40 ticket.


GUILTY! NEXT.

Don't pay any attention to the police apologists on this site. They live in a fantasy land where every law on the books make 100% perfect, unequivocally-logical sense. I know where you're coming from, in my opinion they need to re-write that ordinance to distinguish between having a For Sale sign and parking your car temporarily near your house or running into a Wal Mart, and the people who leave junkers laying around on random patches of land for indeterminate amounts of time.

jimmy jingles Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Geez Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > No I said it because of what you posted, to
> wit:
> > "82-5-19: It is illegal to park a vehicle on a
> > public road for the purpose of selling or
> offering
> > the vehicle for sale or rent. "
>
>
> But it WASN'T parked "for the purpose of selling".
> It was parked where it is normally parked, it just
> happens to have a for sale sign. That's the
> difference. The law saying "for the purpose of
> selling" makes me think of people who park cars in
> gravelly lots on the side of major highways, not
> small residential streets.
>
> I want to advertise it for sale when I drive
> around, now I have to put up and take down the
> sign every time I leave and then park...
>
>
> (I am the OP, I finally registered)


If it's on a state maintained highway and it has a For Sale sign posted on it, its in violation. How was the officer supposed to know your intent? From what I understand, the ordinance's is to keep people from parking their "For Sale" car for long periods of time on the street, becoming an eyesore, and taking up the precious precious precious parking spots.

Also, I'm vaguely remembering a county ordinance that makes driving around with For Sale signs on your car illegal. So you might not want to present that as your defense if you do go to court and fight it.

Fairfax County for some reason doesn't like cars being sold.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/2009 08:52PM by Clobbersaurus.

Clobbersaurus Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Also, I'm vaguely remembering a county ordinance
> that makes driving around with For Sale signs on
> your car illegal. So you might not want to present
> that as your defense if you do go to court and
> fight it.
>
> Fairfax County for some reason doesn't like cars
> being sold.

Hahahaha.. Okay, I guess its hopeless. I'll just pay it. Good to know that driving around with a sign is illegal too, that would have just added insult to injury.

I just found a whole box of For Sale signs.. Time to screw over the people of Fairfax county.. mmwahaha

Post the car on Craigs List

Arlington Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just found a whole box of For Sale signs.. Time
> to screw over the people of Fairfax county..
> mmwahaha


Nahhh, wouldn't work....I had my for sale sign on my truck for well over a month before I got the ticket.

The heck of it was, I did sell the truck to a guy that saw it while driving by my house. I just had to split the profits with FCPD!

Let see.. $3 = 6 DONUTS .. wowwwww $40= 80 DONUTS ....Thank you POORER

It's about time the cops started cracking down on assholes who do annoying things. I'm glad to see people getting busted for these eyesores, parking on top of neighbor's driveways on the street, etc.

yeah, parking my clean, late model car where it normally gets parked, in a group of other cars about 70' away from the closest driveway or another house, with a small "for sale" sign sure is irritating.

I think you wanted the other "parking ticket" thread, with the BMW.

so much rage....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/2009 08:50AM by jimmy jingles.

Complete Fairfax CCounty Code: http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=10051&sid=46


Section 82-5-19. Parking for certain purposes prohibited.91

__________
91. For state law authorizing counties to prohibit parking of vehicles for commercial purposes, see Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-1224.

__________
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person:
(1) To park or place any automobile, truck, trailer or other vehicle upon or in any street, alley or parkway for the purpose of selling or offering the same for sale or rent;
(2) To attach or place any sign or lettering upon any automobile, truck, trailer or other vehicle parked in or upon any public street, alley or parkway indicating that such vehicle is offered for sale or for rent;
(3) To park any vehicle from which any merchandise is being sold upon any street in a business district;
(4) To stop a vehicle at any time upon the highway for the purpose of advertising any article of any kind, or to display thereupon advertisements of any article or advertisement for the sale of the vehicle itself. (3-13-69; 1961 Code, § 16-123.)

Thanks trogdor, that does help. The (a)(2) section is the one that would doom me in court then. Enjoy your 80 fresh new donuts, officer!

I am going to guess that you are a meter maid or perhaps a police officer. I have been in law enforcement for about 25 years. I too just received one of these parking tickets and was somewhat taken aback myself. Like the person complaining in this post, I consider the intent of the law more than the letter of the law. Meaning that it applied to unlicensed or licensed auto delaers conducting regular business on a public street. Not a homeowner or renter living in an area with limited designated parking having to park an additional vehicle in a public area. I have read the parking section to date and it seems to me, If I can park a dumster on a roadway and get the courtesy of an officer investigating that and giving me some warning to remove it due to the violation, maybe they could do the same for someone who put a for sale sign on the window. And I don't want to hear about how busy the police are; if they have time to ticket a resident for plaing a for sale sign in their vehicle, they have time to let me know I will get a ticket if I don't remove it.

To Protect and Serve Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am going to guess that you are a meter maid or
> perhaps a police officer. I have been in law
> enforcement for about 25 years. I too just
> received one of these parking tickets and was
> somewhat taken aback myself. Like the person
> complaining in this post, I consider the intent of
> the law more than the letter of the law. Meaning
> that it applied to unlicensed or licensed auto
> delaers conducting regular business on a public
> street. Not a homeowner or renter living in an
> area with limited designated parking having to
> park an additional vehicle in a public area. I
> have read the parking section to date and it seems
> to me, If I can park a dumster on a roadway and
> get the courtesy of an officer investigating that
> and giving me some warning to remove it due to the
> violation, maybe they could do the same for
> someone who put a for sale sign on the window. And
> I don't want to hear about how busy the police
> are; if they have time to ticket a resident for
> plaing a for sale sign in their vehicle, they have
> time to let me know I will get a ticket if I don't
> remove it.


The fact is its illegal. Like anything some cops give warnings some dont. The OP could have the signs up while he drives around ect and just remove them when he has to park on a public street or he could keep risking the ticket. Just because a law was poorly written (or maybe they did mean for this instance as well) doesnt make it any less enforceable if the cops wants to. As im sure youve seen with new cops, this is what the new age police officer will be with the you cant have ever done anything wrong in your life hiring standards that have been implemented. The days of people getting warnings and breaks are over.

It is illegal. Obey the way. Nough said. Just sayn.

I have to say that reading this post made me feel a little better about just getting a $50 ticket for placing a "For Sale" sign on one of my cars in FRONT of my house. What a stupid, f-in code! I guess farting is public is also a punishable offense. That will be my next ticket. Oh well.

Kiss my arse, Fairfax County. I'll remember this the next time you ask for donations. BTW, ever think of putting a warning message under the wiper for a day or two. A-holes!!

It is a Zoning Violation, but there is no fine at the moment so you get time to move it. so your better off violating Zoning. Even Better list it on craigslist, meet at a public area for the transaction if your trying to screw someone, or your house if its a legit sale. I would still opt for a local shopping center.

You can thank the illegal alien locusts for this law. This was inacted to prevent every Hispanic overloaded house in FX from becoming a 24 hour used car lot.

Unfortunately, the law applies to everyone. Go ahead and fight but you will lose.

The cops ticketed you because the neighbors complained, guess they don't like you too much. Take your best guess at who called the pigs and get even.

LOL....time to break out the flaming bags o poop.

Blowtorch333 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You can thank the illegal alien locusts for this
> law. This was inacted to prevent every Hispanic
> overloaded house in FX from becoming a 24 hour
> used car lot.
>
> Unfortunately, the law applies to everyone. Go
> ahead and fight but you will lose.


actually, the law was enacted way before Hispanics got here, dumbass

car dealers were pretending being regular harry and harriet homeowner and putting cars up for sale all over the fucking place - THAT'S why the law was enacted.

one Hispanic guy takes your girlfriend from ya and you get all butthurt - sheesh...........

What about our free speech Rights and our 1st admendment rights?