LAKE COUNTY — Merriam-Webster defines the word amnesty as “the act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals.” So in the case of vehicle amnesty, from what, exactly, are we being pardoned?
According to county Code Enforcement Officer Larry Fabisch, quite a lot.
In an effort to dissuade people from storing old, dilapidated vehicles on their properties thus creating a nuisance county Code Enforcement holds vehicle amnesty days to encourage people to drop them off at designated wrecking yards free of charge.
The second of a series of three this month is happening in the Lower Lake, Middletown and Clearlake Oaks area, with the drop-off point at Middletown Towing and Vehicle Dismantlers in Middletown from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.
If the vehicle can be driven, dropping it off is free of charge, noted Fabish. If it cannot be driven, local tow companies may offer discounts. While he didn”t want to give names, he recommended calling one out of the phone book and asking if they offer a vehicle amnesty discount on the day of the event.
“This is a way to get rid of cars, whether they”re running or not running, without proof of registration, or if they”ve lost the pink slip or don”t have it,” explained Fabisch. There will be forms to fill out on-site asking for basic information, such as name and address.
Normally, he added, someone wishing to get rid of an old car would have to pay the junkyard if the appropriate paperwork such as title and registration was not in place. “If you bring it (an old car) in without paperwork, they”re going to charge you because they have to do a lien sale on it, they have to store it for 30 days, and then it becomes theirs. That costs the wrecking yard time and money,” said Fabisch.
California Highway Patrol volunteers will be on-hand to check license plates to ensure the cars brought in were not stolen, said Fabisch. Officials will also be checking for a valid California I.D. But even that”s negotiable, he said.
“We”re just looking at the vehicle trying to get the VIN number and such. We”re not concerned how they get ”em there,” said Fabisch.
If someone were to drop off a car at a dismantler with all the appropriate paperwork, there would usually be no charge, said Fabisch. In some cases, the car”s owner might even get a small amount of money out of the deal, but usually only if the vehicle is in working condition and “in-demand,” he said.
None of the vehicles he sees at amnesty days go back on the street, he said. In fact, some are just chassis. Parts brought to the events, whether enclosed in a framework or not, are recycled, including all fluids, batteries, mercury switches and lead tire weights. Most of the cars are crushed, said Fabisch.
Speaking of tires, no extras are allowed, according to information from Code Enforcement.
Next weekend”s event will be in Kelseyville, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kelseyville Auto Salvage.
Last year”s combined vehicle amnesty days brought in a total of 570 vehicles, said Fabisch.
For more information, call county Code Enforcement at 263-2309.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
