Problem neighbours

    Ever since my family moved to a new house next door to a couple of moaners we have been plagued with problems. We are a quiet normal family. No noise, loud music, parties, late nights etc.
We have a severely disabled family member. A US veteran who needs nurses and carers to help us look after her. The moaners even complained to the police when a doctor parked her car in the road outside our house. The police said that there was nothing to complain about, but they keep on moaning and look for more things to complain about.
The latest fiasco is that they complained to the authorities that our Mini Coopers S is currently not used because l am not there. I use it when l am in the US.
The car is parked on the other side of our property from these miserable people. Off the road completely.
We let the insurance lapse because the car is not used for long periods. We renew it when l go back.

The guy who came from the local authority said that we had ten days to get the car insured other wise there would be a fine…
Why?.

Many people have an unused car parked at the side of their property. Either not needed, or being restored.
Ours is not a banger or a wreck. It is in perfect condition, but just not needed right now.

We are in Tampa. Hillsborough to be exact.
l am not even sure that insurance is mandatory in this area?

What are the rules and laws concerning an uninsured car. Not used. Not on the highway. Under a cover.
Any help and advice would be really appreciated

Thanks

Nick
   

    -@baliniere

If the car has a registration (license plates) then it must be insured continuously (but it can be suspended to lower costs while not in use).  Even if the car is parked and not used, things could still happen to it when it is parked, such as fire, theft, vandalism, flood, etc. 

Also, you might need to contact Tampa's city ordinance officer to see if there is a local ordinance you are not following...which sounds like is the case if you have been given 10-day notice of a fine.  You might consider that your neighbor (and the city) thinks unused parked cars are an eyesore to the community and that's why they complained.   If this is the case, you may need to consider a storage unit for the vehicle.

If a particular neighbor makes repeated complaints which either the police or city do not substantiate, you could consider making a record of the person/complaints to counter-complain for harassment.  Police and city officials don't like having their time wasted on frivolous complaints from people with too much time on their hands.

Romaniac

Hi

Thanks for your imput.

The car is a black Mini Cooper S in perfect condition so it is certainly not an eyesore.

lt is just not being used right now and unfortunately the garage is used for our disabled family member.

There are other cars in the street parked off road not being used or have the tag on the plate, but they are not targetted, which is why we think that this is the result of an individual complaint

l have been told that all complaints must be registered now and that someone cannot make an anonymous complaint, so we are considering finding out and taking action against this miserable pair..

    Hi
Thanks for your imput.

The car is a black Mini Cooper S in perfect condition so it is certainly not an eyesore.
lt is just not being used right now and unfortunately the garage is used for our disabled family member.

There are other cars in the street parked off road not being used or have the tag on the plate, but they are not targetted, which is why we think that this is the result of an individual complaint

l have been told that all complaints must be registered now and that someone cannot make an anonymous complaint, so we are considering finding out and taking action against this miserable pair..
   

    -@baliniere

Keep in mind, just because others do it, doesn't make it correct.  Also from a code enforcement perspective, your household situation is of no relevance nor does it excuse you not to follow ordinances, if in fact you've been notified of an infraction.   I would advise against taking retributory action against your neighbor, you might be inviting an escalation in the situation.   Instead, how about having a calm adult conversation with them, or sending them a letter explaining your circumstances? They might not be aware, and they might be more understanding if you just communicate with them.  If you're not violating any ordinances or laws, you might let them know that you will not tolerate being harassed.  If you have violated the ordinance or law, rectify the problem and move on.

We are aware that we may be in the wrong in this matter and dont need to be lectured to, but as new  owners to this area we are happy  to comply with the local requirements.

What we dont like is that other people in the area are allowed to flout these regulations and we get targeted .  Why?

As for having a calm adult conversation with these people, that is impossible.

When they make threats and tell a disabled persons nurse that they wish she would just die l think that a calm adult converstion is beyond them. When they call the police when a car is parked outside our house legally, clearly they are beyond the norm..

l would be happy to take legal action against them, but the family are reluctant.

Maybe the press and TV would be a better option.

Harassment of a severely disabled veteran is high on the social scale of things not to do.

We are law abiding citizens and will deal with it.

l originally only asked for advice on the area where we now live and provided some background information.

As an ex law enforcement officer l do not need you to tell me what course of action to take or how to ”move on”..

As l said we are fully competent to deal with it.

    We are aware that we may be in the wrong in this matter and dont need to be lectured to, but as new  owners to this area we are happy  to comply with the local requirements.
What we dont like is that other people in the area are allowed to flout these regulations and we get targeted .  Why?
As for having a calm adult conversation with these people, that is impossible.
When they make threats and tell a disabled persons nurse that they wish she would just die l think that a calm adult converstion is beyond them. When they call the police when a car is parked outside our house legally, clearly they are beyond the norm..

l would be happy to take legal action against them, but the family are reluctant.
Maybe the press and TV would be a better option.
Harassment of a severely disabled veteran is high on the social scale of things not to do.

We are law abiding citizens and will deal with it.
l originally only asked for advice on the area where we now live and provided some background information.
As an ex law enforcement officer l do not need you to tell me what course of action to take or how to ”move on”..
As l said we are fully competent to deal with it.
   

    -@baliniere

No, you're not a law-abiding citizen.  You've been told by authorities you have 10 days to resolve an infraction regarding your vehicle, which means you violated a law/ordinance.  Also in a post you made 2 weeks ago, you said you were going through the immigration process.  Now, you've just falsely claimed to be U.S. citizen, which can be a felony offense, which can result in immigration penalties (including barring of naturalization), fines, and imprisonment.  Not a smart move for someone who claims they are ex-law enforcement.  It's also surprising that an "ex-law enforcement" person doesn't know how to look up car insurance requirements for where they reside.  Even a call to the insurance company would have solved your question.

You want to call the press over this trivial matter?  They won't be bothered over it.  You want to sue neighbors because something offends your sense of entitlement, I'm betting that attorney also has better things to do.

Surprise surprise. The man who has to have the last word…

Be very careful as your comments are both liable and slander.

The term ’we’ is inclusive as we are all family..

Nowhere in my correspondence did l say that l was a US. Citizen, or reside in the US. So once again your comments are legally lible to be sued for accusing me of criminal activity.

l am trying to sort this out and seek advice on behalf of my family who own the car and do not know what to do.

Contrary to  your  Assumptious  comments l AM a law abiding citizen and served law enforcement in Europe, which is why l am unsure as to the requirements in the US.

l tried to seek help from this site, but what l got was a self opinionated jumped up barrack room lawyer, full of his own importance.

Do not ever contact me again…

PS

Oh dear… A lawyer has already agreed to act for us on the grounds of harassment…

Firstly, I did not contact you.  You posted in a public forum and I responded with well-reasoned advice and factual information.  My comment(s) are neither libelous nor slander.  Please go look up what they mean before throwing them around, and looking to litigate against someone you cannot even identify.  I know very well that "we" is inclusive, which means YOU also, so my comment stands.   

Your story keeps changing to suit your agenda of victimization, so good luck with it.   Your esteemed lawyer is at the ready for you

Hello everyone,

Please note that we are closing this thread temporarily for review.

Please bear with us.

Regards

Bhavna

[Topic Closed]