Towing the Line on Vehicle Street Storage

Inoperable vehicles will be a bit more difficult to store on the streets of Ann Arbor, as a result of the city council’s final approval of ordinance changes on Dec. 3, 2012.

The city’s strategy – of placing notices on cars that give owners 48 hours to move their vehicles – was being thwarted by people who simply push their vehicles a few feet. The change in the ordinance addresses directly the issue of whether a vehicle is operable, in part by adding the following language: “If a vehicle appears to be inoperative based on outward appearance or otherwise appears to not have been driven after a 48 hour notice has been affixed to the vehicle pursuant to section 10:136, the city administrator or his/her delegate may demand that the registered owner demonstrate that the vehicle is operative. Failure or refusal to demonstrate that the vehicle is operative shall be considered conclusive proof that the vehicle is inoperative.”

Another amendment changed the title of the ordinance section from “Abandoned Vehicles” to “Storage of Vehicles.” The council had given initial approval of the ordinance changes at its Nov. 19, 2012 meeting.

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]