Police explain vehicle-related violations at Mason District meeting
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| An illegal car sale in Mason District. |
If your neighborhood is cluttered with junk vehicles or
commercial trucks, Fairfax County police officers explained what they can do about it at a Jan. 26 meeting convened by
Mason Supervisor Penny Gross for the heads of civic and homeowner associations.
commercial trucks, Fairfax County police officers explained what they can do about it at a Jan. 26 meeting convened by
Mason Supervisor Penny Gross for the heads of civic and homeowner associations.
It could take a long time before an inoperable vehicle is
removed after a complaint has been filed, said Master Police Officer Joe Moore,
who serves as the county’s impoundment officer.
removed after a complaint has been filed, said Master Police Officer Joe Moore,
who serves as the county’s impoundment officer.
When he gets a complaint about an inoperable vehicle, Moore
sends the owner a “courtesy letter” asking for voluntary compliance within 30
days. He then returns to the vehicle and gives the owner an official notice
stating the penalties if the car is not removed within 10 days. When
an inoperable vehicle is towed, the fine ($300 or more) is imposed on the
property owner, while the car’s owner is billed for storage.
sends the owner a “courtesy letter” asking for voluntary compliance within 30
days. He then returns to the vehicle and gives the owner an official notice
stating the penalties if the car is not removed within 10 days. When
an inoperable vehicle is towed, the fine ($300 or more) is imposed on the
property owner, while the car’s owner is billed for storage.
A car, trailer, or semi-trailer is considered inoperable if
it can’t be driven or does not display valid license plates or inspection decal. To remove a car, the burden of proof is up to Moore to show
that it doesn’t run. That’s easy if it’s on blocks or missing a wheel. But
if the owner refuses to drive it, Moore said he has to walk away.
it can’t be driven or does not display valid license plates or inspection decal. To remove a car, the burden of proof is up to Moore to show
that it doesn’t run. That’s easy if it’s on blocks or missing a wheel. But
if the owner refuses to drive it, Moore said he has to walk away.
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| Left to Right: Capt. Gun Lee, Capt. Jim Baumstark, officer Matt Chappell, and officer Cecil Starkey. |
Moore is only permitted to enter someone’s private property
on the same path as a mailman. If the front door is covered by overgrown
bushes, he can go to the side door. A neighbor can give permission for Moore to
look at a house next door but he can’t go on the second floor and look down—and
he isn’t even allowed to lift a car cover.
on the same path as a mailman. If the front door is covered by overgrown
bushes, he can go to the side door. A neighbor can give permission for Moore to
look at a house next door but he can’t go on the second floor and look down—and
he isn’t even allowed to lift a car cover.
Moore said he works with people in hardship situations. For
example, if an elderly widow doesn’t drive and doesn’t know what to do with her
husband’s car, he helps her donate it to a charity. In other cases, he’s dealt with “frequent flyers” who appeal
to the county executive. Once negotiations start, the car can’t be removed
until the process is completed, which could take months. In other cases, the
owner of the car is being investigated by the police for something like
gambling, drug dealing, or money laundering so the detectives ask Moore to back
off until they build their case.
example, if an elderly widow doesn’t drive and doesn’t know what to do with her
husband’s car, he helps her donate it to a charity. In other cases, he’s dealt with “frequent flyers” who appeal
to the county executive. Once negotiations start, the car can’t be removed
until the process is completed, which could take months. In other cases, the
owner of the car is being investigated by the police for something like
gambling, drug dealing, or money laundering so the detectives ask Moore to back
off until they build their case.
Illegal car sales
Other problems Moore runs into are “spillover” cars from the
Culmore apartments in Bailey’s Crossroads parked in adjacent neighborhoods,
tax evaders, and people who always have a yard full of cars because they buy
them at auctions and sell them at a profit. Those types of car sales have occurred on
Durbin Place in Glen Forest and on Braddock Road.
Culmore apartments in Bailey’s Crossroads parked in adjacent neighborhoods,
tax evaders, and people who always have a yard full of cars because they buy
them at auctions and sell them at a profit. Those types of car sales have occurred on
Durbin Place in Glen Forest and on Braddock Road.
You’re only allowed to sell five cars a year, but some
people sell as many as four or five a week, often putting them in other
people’s names. Moore once came across a car registered to a 97-year-old woman
who never drove.
people sell as many as four or five a week, often putting them in other
people’s names. Moore once came across a car registered to a 97-year-old woman
who never drove.
In Virginia you have to prove legal residence to get a
driver’s license, but you don’t in Maryland, so he’s found lots of cars parked
in Culmore with Maryland tags. “We’re losing a lot of revenue in Virginia,” he
notes. He said the police are working on using tag readers that save the date,
time, and GPS location so they will be able to create a database and crack down
on these people. If it can be proved that a vehicle has been parked in Virginia
for 45 days, they can require the owner to get Virginia tags.
driver’s license, but you don’t in Maryland, so he’s found lots of cars parked
in Culmore with Maryland tags. “We’re losing a lot of revenue in Virginia,” he
notes. He said the police are working on using tag readers that save the date,
time, and GPS location so they will be able to create a database and crack down
on these people. If it can be proved that a vehicle has been parked in Virginia
for 45 days, they can require the owner to get Virginia tags.
Matt Chappell, parking enforcement officer for the Mason District Police Station, said he cites violators when there is a safety issue,
like if someone parks closer than 15 feet from a fire hydrant. The law
prohibits parking within 10 feet of a driveway, but Chappell only writes a
ticket for that if someone calls to complain. “I don’t want to cite someone who
is part of the family,” he said. Instead, he usually puts a sticker on the car
warning the owner it will be towed if it’s not moved within 10 days.
like if someone parks closer than 15 feet from a fire hydrant. The law
prohibits parking within 10 feet of a driveway, but Chappell only writes a
ticket for that if someone calls to complain. “I don’t want to cite someone who
is part of the family,” he said. Instead, he usually puts a sticker on the car
warning the owner it will be towed if it’s not moved within 10 days.
A lot of what the police do in these types of situations
depends on the discretion of the officer, added traffic enforcement officer Cecil
Starkey, who covers vehicle issues for the whole county.
depends on the discretion of the officer, added traffic enforcement officer Cecil
Starkey, who covers vehicle issues for the whole county.
Commercial trucks
Starkey told the audience they can call in a complaint if
people park commercial trucks in residential areas. Vehicles are banned in
residential areas if they are more than eight feet high or 21 feet long.
Whether there is lettering on or not is irrelevant, he said.
people park commercial trucks in residential areas. Vehicles are banned in
residential areas if they are more than eight feet high or 21 feet long.
Whether there is lettering on or not is irrelevant, he said.
Regarding the commercial vehicles parked on Daniels Avenue
and other streets in central Annandale, Moore said, a check of the registration
records show they belong to people who live in Annandale. He said the owners
can be cited if the trucks are parked on the residential part of Daniels, but
not if they are on commercial streets.
and other streets in central Annandale, Moore said, a check of the registration
records show they belong to people who live in Annandale. He said the owners
can be cited if the trucks are parked on the residential part of Daniels, but
not if they are on commercial streets.
A resident of the Glen Forest community complained about
people from the Culmore apartments parking on their streets. Gross responded
that anyone can park on any state road in Virginia, as long as the car is
legally registered. Homeowner associations that own their roads, however, can
restrict parking to residents and their guests.
people from the Culmore apartments parking on their streets. Gross responded
that anyone can park on any state road in Virginia, as long as the car is
legally registered. Homeowner associations that own their roads, however, can
restrict parking to residents and their guests.
Starkey called taxi cabs parked in neighborhoods “a
nightmare.” He often finds cabs registered in Maryland or D.C. parked in
Virginia. “If it’s in your driveway, and it’s your personal vehicle, we can’t
touch it,” he said.
nightmare.” He often finds cabs registered in Maryland or D.C. parked in
Virginia. “If it’s in your driveway, and it’s your personal vehicle, we can’t
touch it,” he said.
If you call in a complaint, you don’t have to give your
name, Starkey said. Gross said her staff doesn’t keep a message log because they
would have to turn over those records if someone files a Freedom of Information Act request.
name, Starkey said. Gross said her staff doesn’t keep a message log because they
would have to turn over those records if someone files a Freedom of Information Act request.
Parking on the wrong side of the street has become an
“epidemic,” Gross said. If you park on the wrong side of a street with a yellow
line, it’s definitely a violation, Starkey said. The law requires people to
park so the right-side wheels are facing the curb, but on streets without a
yellow line, he said, “it’s up to the officer’s discretion whether to write a ticket or
not.” He urged people to talk to their neighbors first, before
filing a police report.
“epidemic,” Gross said. If you park on the wrong side of a street with a yellow
line, it’s definitely a violation, Starkey said. The law requires people to
park so the right-side wheels are facing the curb, but on streets without a
yellow line, he said, “it’s up to the officer’s discretion whether to write a ticket or
not.” He urged people to talk to their neighbors first, before
filing a police report.
Starkey indicated there’s not much you can do about
“predatory towing” by apartment and condo managers. They have agreements with
private towing companies and impoundment lots and often charge large fees to
visitors who park there without permits. According to Starkey, housing
developments only need one sign at the entrance of the lot warning people not
to park without a permit.
“predatory towing” by apartment and condo managers. They have agreements with
private towing companies and impoundment lots and often charge large fees to
visitors who park there without permits. According to Starkey, housing
developments only need one sign at the entrance of the lot warning people not
to park without a permit.
Burglaries increased
The only crime that has risen last year in the Mason Police
District is burglary, the station’s commander, Capt. Gun Lee told the group.
The overall crime rate is down 8 percent from 2011 to 2012.
District is burglary, the station’s commander, Capt. Gun Lee told the group.
The overall crime rate is down 8 percent from 2011 to 2012.
Recently, Lee said, there have been some arrests for daytime
burglaries in the Mantua community in western Annandale. The thefts have been
carried out by an organized group looking for purses, cash, jewelry, and other
small items that could be pawned for money to buy drugs. In the past few weeks,
there has been a rise in thefts from cars
burglaries in the Mantua community in western Annandale. The thefts have been
carried out by an organized group looking for purses, cash, jewelry, and other
small items that could be pawned for money to buy drugs. In the past few weeks,
there has been a rise in thefts from cars
Burglaries are also on the rise in the Franconia Police District, said the commander, Capt. Jim Baumstark, commander of the Franconia
Police District. He had a recent case involving guns stolen from a house,
noting that prices of guns are rising with the threat of possible gun control
legislation.
Police District. He had a recent case involving guns stolen from a house,
noting that prices of guns are rising with the threat of possible gun control
legislation.
Crime prevention takes a partnership with the community, and
when Neighborhood Watch members report a suspicious event, “it makes a huge
difference,” said Lee. “We can’t do it without your support.”
when Neighborhood Watch members report a suspicious event, “it makes a huge
difference,” said Lee. “We can’t do it without your support.”
Gross urged people to go to the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)
meetings, which provide information about crime and police activities to local
residents. “You will learn a lot about what is going on in your neighborhoods,”
she said.
meetings, which provide information about crime and police activities to local
residents. “You will learn a lot about what is going on in your neighborhoods,”
she said.
The Mason Police District CAC meets at the Mason Government
Center on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30. Most of the Annandale/Mason area is
in the Mason Police District, but parts are in the Franconia or West
Springfield police districts.
Center on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30. Most of the Annandale/Mason area is
in the Mason Police District, but parts are in the Franconia or West
Springfield police districts.
The Franconia CAC meets on the third Wednesday of the month,
7:30, at the Franconia Police Station, 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria. The
West Springfield CAC meets at the West Springfield Police Station at 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield,
on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30.
7:30, at the Franconia Police Station, 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria. The
West Springfield CAC meets at the West Springfield Police Station at 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield,
on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30.
7 responses to “Police explain vehicle-related violations at Mason District meeting”
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What do you do about an abandonded car parked in the driveway of an abandoned house and the County refuses to do anything about it?
I have often wondered how come I see so many Maryland tags in Annandale. If you pay attention, they are everywhere. It is to the point where it is suspicious to me, and I wondered what the scam was, why would so many people here in Annandale being driving Maryland tagged cars? The kind police office gave me a piece of the puzzle in his interview above. That along with the concentration of Korean restaurants.
So as I read this article I hear once again there is not much we can do the citizen's are on their own. I do not understand why an officer can not go to a neighbor's house and look at their second story window. That is just absurd. When will the law be there to protect the law abiding citizen here in the County and not those breaking the law?
Sigh. Yes, unfortunately, the laws that were designed to protect those of us who are residents, are being used also to protect those who are not. There has to be probable cause when VA residents are driving MD registered vehicles to investigate further. I hope that the program mentioned in the article to help combat this works. I understand the need to not violate privacy, but the people who are here illegally, are benefiting from the county's fear of being accused of profiling, and our elected officials fear of being ousted from office, if they create policies that while good for the betterment of the district, might cause them to lose the next election.
In MD – you dont have to have a social security number to get a drivers lisence. That is a big reason why so many MD plates. Also – they are switching plates around among vehicles.
Regarding Ms. Gross' comment that anyone can park on any sate road in Virginia, as long as the car is legally registered, this is true, as is the fact that anyone can loiter on a public sidewalk. What she and our elected officials are not addressing is why we have so many cars and loiterers on our streets. Is it due to illegal boarding houses and overcrowding? If so, let's do something about it. While it may not seem like a nuisance to have cars parked everywhere, it does give neighborhoods a negative appearance, and decreases property values, because it is a sign of a much bigger problem.
The resident at the house in the photo above with the truck for sale has been selling vehicles on the property for over a year. When will the lawlessness end? When will the law protect his neighbors?
Should we contact the President of Mexico, maybe he can solve our woes?