| Author | Message | ||
| teajay (Teajayphoto)
Registered Member Username: Teajayphoto Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 70.149.54.159 Rating: N/A |
i have had my converted 1978 superior shorty school bus for seven years now the city code enforcement office has recently given us notice to remove it from our property based on thier classification of it as a commercial vehicle i don't understand how the state can classify it as a recreational vehicle on it's registration, but not under thier rules we have an appointment on monday with the 'special magistrate' to decide the fate of my shorty do you have any experience with this type situation? please help teajay | ||
| J.C.B. (Eagle)
Registered Member Username: Eagle Post Number: 88 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 74.128.103.250 Rating: N/A |
Who did you make mad? | ||
| teajay (Teajayphoto)
Registered Member Username: Teajayphoto Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 70.149.54.159 Rating: N/A |
well, i think that they are "cleaning up" the neighborhood because of the high end developement that is going up behind my house gentrification, pretty much | ||
| Kyle Pesely (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 94 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 216.220.208.119 Rating: N/A |
I've been having this problem a lot lately it seems, so I defiently empathize. sacramento county code enforcement told me that no commercial vehicles are allowed to park on the street unless they are part of work being performed. ill be breif, but basically I told them that my "bus" isn't even really a bus anymore. on the title it is clearly printed "MH", for moterhome, or housecar if you will. and it isn't used for commercial purposes. its not for hire, and it doesnt make me a damn dime. be careful though, these are people that you really REALLY don't want to tick off. they can be your best friend or worst nemesis. kyle in norcal 1980 Eagle 10 #30223 | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 462 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
SURE hope you have it registered as a motorhome & if you do...take your title with you to the meeting, if not,get your ass down to the tag office & register it !!!!!!! | ||
| Kyle Pesely (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 95 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 216.220.208.236 Rating: N/A |
so I just called my DMV office, and they told me that as far as they're concerned, they treat motorhomes exactly like regular automobiles. no different. they're subject to the same laws, registration fees, etc. I'm not sure how FL is, but hope this helps. call your DMV and as them! kyle in norcal | ||
| jim morrison (Jim_morrison)
Registered Member Username: Jim_morrison Post Number: 35 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 72.142.29.218 Rating: N/A |
had the same problem here in Canada, told the guy to look at the tags then the title , then told him and the cop to look it up , motor home said my thanks and have a good day , turned out to be a goofy neighbor try'n to start problems , now the cops and bylaw guy don't respond to his calls | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Registered Member Username: Niles500 Post Number: 686 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 24.129.157.205 Rating: N/A |
Tesjay - I just reviewed the city of Ft. Lauderdale Municipal Code and could not any such refernce - by law they were are required to state the chapter and section of the alleged violation - If you could forward it to me I can review it for you - HTH | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 262 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193 Rating: N/A |
Take your registration to the meeting. Thake some interior pictures that show that it even looks like a motorhome inside. Also print out the section of the code they are referencing so you can hi-lite the section concerning RVs & cars. Also you do not have a school bus, IT IS A MOTOR HOME!!! OR A COACH!!! If anyone calls it a bus, politely correct them to the fact it is a RV. Now to another point. What does it look like on the outside? If it is still yellow & black with spraypaint over the school lettering. . . Come on, the code official visit is past due. . . If it is painted & has had the top flashing lights & stop sign removed, then your case will be much easier to make with the judge. Take some pictures with you of similar bluebird motor homes. You should consult several lawyers (the first call is free, so use it to your advantage with as many lawyers as you can - you will learn some good stuff). You may need to ask for a continuance so you can retain proper legal representation. You may get points with the judge if you offer to relocate your motorhome while this is decided. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 140 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.105.155 Rating: N/A |
Sooooooo......... From here: Fort Lauderdale Code Information, comes this: "Storage: Store furniture, building materials, junk, disabled or untagged automobiles, refrigerators, freezers and auto parts inside of a legally constructed, fully enclosed structure. No parking of commercial equipment (boat and trailer, utility trailer, camper, recreational vehicle) is permitted on the street or the City right-of-way. Some storage may be permitted in private yards under special conditions. Check with the Community Inspections Bureau for details. " It's that part that says: "Some storage may be permitted in private yards under special conditions" They gots ya' by the teenie-hairs! Be polite; don't argue... I'd have it parked well behind the front edge of the house, and I'd invest in a canvas cover, if possible.... Then some pictures of the nice, neatly parked and stored vehicle.... Lotsa' luck, ma'man!  (If needed: Fort Lauderdale bail bonds directory) | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 514 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 207.30.189.60 Rating: N/A |
Had a similar problem years ago when we had our 4106. The inside was completely stripped except for the drivers seat. I happened to be home working on it when a county car pulled into the driveway. I met the man in the driveway and asked what he wanted. He informed me that I had 24 hours to move my "bus" because our property was not zoned for commercial vehicles. I showed him the title which said MOTORHOME. I invited him into the bus so he could see it obviously was not a "bus". I also showed him the plans I had drawn up for the conversion as well as a materials list and cost estimate I had done. He looked at me like I must be crazy to attempt a project like this and said "never mind and good luck with your project". I asked who complained and he said he was not allowed to say. As he was saying this he was looking down the street at the only house down there. It was a person who had moved to Florida from Maine and complained about everyone and everything in the neighborhood. He even complained about a basketball backboard that was 2 feet to close to the road about 2 miles from his house. Of couse, after that I always went past his house when leaving and double clutched in front of his house to shift (exhause was his side of the bus) He moved back to Maine in a few months. Just make sure you have all the documentation to prove you are not violating any codes. If you know you are in violation of a code(s), see what is neccessary to correct the problem. Jack | ||
| Dale Waller (Happycampersrus)
Registered Member Username: Happycampersrus Post Number: 285 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 66.82.9.62 Rating: N/A |
"Take your registration to the meeting. Thake some interior pictures that show that it even looks like a motorhome inside. Also print out the section of the code they are referencing so you can hi-lite the section concerning RVs & cars." Hell, Drive the converted bus down there and let the magistrate look at it. Then if the magistrate says you can't store YOUR rv on YOUR property, ask when all of the other rv owners in Fort Lauderdale will be contacted about moving their boats, rv's, campers, utility trailers. "No parking of commercial equipment (boat and trailer, utility trailer, camper, recreational vehicle) is permitted on the street or the City right-of-way. Some storage may be permitted in private yards under special conditions. Check with the Community Inspections Bureau for details. " A Bus Conversion, Motorhome, or RV is NOT a commercial vehicle unless you have it registered as such, so they don't have you yet. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member Username: Drivingmisslazy Post Number: 1774 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.108.82.163 Rating: N/A |
I guess it might be what the magistrate determines to be a commercial vehicle. When I lived in Pompano Beach, adjacent to Ft. Lauderdale, I had to build a 6 foot privacy fence at the front edge of the house and park the coach behind that fence. Of course you could see the coach over the fence, but that solved the problem. I actually originally had it parked on my driveway in front of the house, but that was not acceptable for an RV. A boat was acceptable. I never had any problem with the water way rules enforcers, so I do not know what their rules were. Richard | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 127 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 71.125.9.251 Rating: N/A |
Tough area in Fla. We got run out of Vero beach truck stop just getting fuel and wanting to park after to use the facilities. And Mr Conrad!You always seem so relaxed and nice! Way to go. Teajay, take the time to straighten up your area and get some 8' wood fencing panels if needed to help "hide" the coach. I put ours 8" off the ground to get a little more hidability and to let the dog show everyone thats he is on duty. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 357 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.126.56 Rating: N/A |
Just curious, it isn't still yellow, is it? | ||
| teajay (Teajayphoto)
Registered Member Username: Teajayphoto Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 70.149.54.159 Rating: N/A |
well, to be honest it was yellow until recently now, it is green we now call it kermit just to avoid calling it "the bus" the meeting is in the morning (i was wrong about the day) and i feel as ready as i can be we finally tracked down a title number, after two trips to the dmv and many many phone calls i finally found a second VIN on the engine it also was the wrong number of digits, but, it did match an old insurance paper that the former owner gave me i have changed the VIN on the insurance policy i recently purchased, printed my documents, even had a police officer come by and fill out a VIN verification form the former owner is meeting me at the DMV at 7:30 AM to (hopefully) make this baby legally mine i feel much better about going to the meeting, and negotiating a situation with the city wish me luck | ||
| teajay (Teajayphoto)
Registered Member Username: Teajayphoto Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 70.149.54.159 Rating: N/A |
hey guys!!!! just in case any of you have been waiting with baited breath to learn the fate of my shorty I CAN KEEP IT!!!! i finally went in early this morning to the DMV with all of the correct information i need i had also brought the photos of the interior of the bus the lady behind the counter asked me about the body of the vehicle i said, van, hoping to eliminate the word bus from the new title she said, oh, the last title record said bus that's when i showed her the interior photos and said that it had been converted into a rec vehicle she asked if it had pllumbing i said it had a portable chemical toilet so she changed the title to say motor home we took all of this paperwork to the hearing, and the city has dropped it's case if they had told me that this would save my bus i would have done it a long time ago now we just have to get the little sucker on the road so we can really enjoy all the time, effort and money we have put into it | ||
| teajay (Teajayphoto)
Registered Member Username: Teajayphoto Post Number: 5 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 70.149.54.159 Rating: N/A |
 | ||
| teajay (Teajayphoto)
Registered Member Username: Teajayphoto Post Number: 6 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 70.149.54.159 Rating: N/A |
/image{pictures of my shorty} | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 487 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
"if they had told me" "I" told you | ||
| jim morrison (Jim_morrison)
Registered Member Username: Jim_morrison Post Number: 40 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 72.142.29.218 Rating: N/A |
you tell'm bob lmao | ||
| teajay (Teajayphoto)
Registered Member Username: Teajayphoto Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 72.153.122.193 Rating: N/A |
you said SURE hope you have it registered as a motorhome & if you do...take your title with you to the meeting, if not,get your ass down to the tag office & register it !!!!!!! the deal maker was the fact that the title had been changed to a motor vehicle i had always argued that it would be registered as an R.V., to which they said it didn't matter because it had been built as a commercial vehicle and would always be one no matter what i did to it thanks all of you for your advice |