Illegal to repair your own car in your garage

[maynard]

> California County Makes Certain Automotive Repairs in Your Own Garage Illegal <

 

[LarryK]

Still certified. If the inspector has less than five yrs. experience in auto, truck or farm equipment, he would never know what he's looking at and be up for joker of the year.

 

[John Turney]

Our city has a similar ordinance. I was able to do a complete restoration on my Healey without hassle.

 

[Basil]

“Using tools not normally found in a residence". Well, guess I won't be moving there anytime soon!

 

[DrEntropy]

“Using tools not normally found in a residence". Well, guess I won't be moving there anytime soon!

By whose judgement, what tools then are "acceptable"? Some bureaucrat who owns nothing but some knitting needles and a six-ounce claw hammer?

"You've got a Crescent Wrench!?! Ohm'god!! Send out th' Tool Cops!!"

I found the statement about: "insurance and tax obligations" particularly telling.

 

[Basil]

By whose judgement, what tools then are "acceptable"?

Those prescient beings who are smarter than the rest of us mere mortals.

 

[DrEntropy]

Apparently.

They protect us from ourselves.

 

[Sarastro]

I have never heard of anyone dinged for this in California. I've lived here 30+ years. If you look into it, you'll find that there are all kinds of absurd laws in your state, too. I think that the guy who wrote the article is reading too much into it.

A bigger problem I see here is the opposite: people drive cars that are clearly not street legal. Lack of correct lighting, missing wipers, missing instrumentation. When I bought my MG TD, it didn't even have a speedometer, yet the owner of 30 years had never been cited for it. California, despite the nose-in-the-air attitudes of some people, is actually more easygoing than most states about automotive laws.

 

[Basil]

Silly laws are silly laws - no matter where they occur (and we have our share in New Mexico)

 

[John Turney]

Reading the article, it seemed more targeted toward illegal chop shops. They just busted a group in the next town for running one in their residential garage.

 

[Basil]

I'd a thunk illegal chop shops were already illegal?

 

[AngliaGT]

I believe this was directed at people running unlicensed auto shops
out of their homes.Of course,all it takes is an overexcited government "official"
for things to get out of hand - or a neighbor who doesn't like cars.
When I lived in California,I had 13 cars,& a two car garage.We lived in
Humboldt County.As long as the cars were on private property,& off the street,
they wouldn't do anything.
Here in Virginia,they can cite you for having a car with expired plates in
your driveway,off of the street.I don't believe they enforce this unless they get
a complaint,or you have multiple junk vehicles on your property.

 

[JPSmit]

I believe this was directed at people running unlicensed auto shops
out of their homes.Of course,all it takes is an overexcited government "official"
for things to get out of hand - or a neighbor who doesn't like cars.
When I lived in California,I had 13 cars,& a two car garage.We lived in
Humboldt County.As long as the cars were on private property,& off the street,
they wouldn't do anything.
Here in Virginia,they can cite you for having a car with expired plates in
your driveway,off of the street.I don't believe they enforce this unless they get
a complaint,or you have multiple junk vehicles on your property.

I wonder if that is the point. I always get (got?) a kick out of the customs declaration on airplanes where they outright ask you if you are smuggling anything. (as if I would say yes )

But if you say 'no' and sign it and are later caught they also have you for lying.