Snoqualmie cracks down on junk cars

Published 12:55 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE – Snoqualmie residents who leave decrepit cars in their yards may want to put them in the garage.

At its Monday, Feb. 24 meeting, the Snoqualmie City Council passed an ordinance that re-worded an existing city code that regulated what kind of “junk” cars residents could have on their properties.

Under the old code, an automobile was considered a junk car if it met all five of the following criteria: The vehicle had to be more than 2 years old; have extensive damage; be apparently inoperable; be without a valid registration plate; and have a fair market value equal only to its value as scrap.

The new law says a vehicle is junk if it meets three of four similar criteria: The vehicle has to be more than 3 years old; have extensive damage’ and be apparently inoperable and have a fair market value equal only to its value as scrap.

In addition to the new criteria for junk cars, there was also a new clause that said a junk car could be kept on a property if it is hidden from public sight either in a garage or behind a fence or landscaping, which is similar to a state regulation that protects scrap yards and body- shop businesses.

For the complete story, pick up a copy of this week’s Valley Record