Seminole: Junk or a collectible?
County debates rules on rundown cars left in public view
When is an old car junk? And when is it a collectible worth restoring?
Seminole County commissioners are wrestling with enacting new rules that would crack down on property owners who leave rundown cars in public view. At the same time, commissioners say they don’t want to infringe on someone’s desire to restore an antique automobile.
“The question is: What truly designates a junk vehicle?” Commission Chairman Jay Zembower said. “We could have someone that has a 1958 Studebaker, that they’ve had on their property for 10 or 15 years and that they’ve inherited from a family member and their intent is to restore it. Is that junk?”
Under Seminole’s current code regarding junk cars — which county officials call unfair and vague — an inoperable vehicle must be stored away from public view, such as inside a garage or enclosed space. Otherwise, a county officer can order it hauled away. Businesses can keep cars that don’t run in designated storage yards.
It’s up to the individual code enforcement officer to decide whether or not to cite the owner for having a collectible, according to Seminole’s current ordinances.
“It is difficult sometimes for code officers to make that distinction, because the owner will say it is operable or it is functional,” said Rebecca Hammock, Seminole’s planning and development division manager. “So normally, they will have them start [the car] and see if it is able to move. But it is a judgement call.”
The officer can even initiate the process of having the vehicle towed away at the owner’s expense. That could be unfair for the owner of an old car who plans to eventually restore it, county