By Alisa Arunamata

Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier

Town Crier Editorial Intern

Police remind residents of laws concerning idle cars, storage, vegetation

Unused cars growing cobwebs are left for weeks at a time on streets and front driveways. Pieces of wood, boxes, rusting machines, old furniture and even what any person would clearly call trash are stacked high in front of garages and on front yards. This is the scene, believe it or not, in some Los Altos neighborhoods.

“We are in constant frustration when we look around our vicinity. These homes with piles of mattresses, boxes and rubbish are prompting us to move out of our Los Altos house. We work hard to maintain our property. Why can’t these property owners do the same,” said one resident who wished to remain anonymous.

According to Paul Ray, code enforcement officer at the Los Altos Police Department, there are laws that make leaving unattended cars and personal items on the streets or in the front yards illegal.

“Every 72 hours, the owner of a vehicle that lies outside of 25 feet past the front property line must move the car at least 1,000 feet. This includes moving RVs and campers. Otherwise, the vehicle may be towed,” Ray said.

The 72-hour rule was created to discourage people from storing unwanted cars in the street. These cars, besides being aesthetically unpleasant, may pose a certain safety hazard as well by limiting viewing area of the street.

Similarly, all boxes, old furniture, and “rubbish” must be stored at least 25 feet within the front property line. If they are not, then the police department will request that the owner move or get rid of the objects within a certified time.

“After the given time, if the property owner has not moved anything, there is a city council hearing and ruling. A property owner may end up paying an incredible amount of money if the city decides to take control of the matter and hire workers to clean the property,” Ray said.

According to Rod Sayre, parking enforcement officer at the Los Altos Police Department, unused “junk” cars parked at the front of houses often are not towed because they are fully operative.

“If these cars are sitting closer than 25 feet past the property line and they start up at request, then there’s absolutely nothing we can do,” Sayre said.

On the other hand, the police department is able to get involved in many cases where a property is overflowing with trash. Driving past Pine Lane in Los Altos, dump trucks and workers are visible at a home that is currently being cleaned out.

Previously, the home was the site of numerous dilapidated wooden sheds, old paint cans, rickety cars, and overgrown plants.

Apparently, it took years of frustrated neighbors and countless interactions with the police department and various agencies before the homeowner was convinced that he was putting himself in a serious safety hazard by piling rubbish and letting the vegetation grow unattended.

“(People) bring down the value of the neighborhood by their thoughtless acts of public storage,” said another resident, requesting anonymity.

Although it may be frustrating for neighbors, these homes and homeowners with the right resources and means can rectify the situation, Ray said.

“The best feeling comes when you see that a home has completely cleaned up,” Ray said.