WM junk car numbers dwindle

WM junk car numbers dwindle

City seeing marked improvement after sweep of

neighborhoods

news@theeveningtimes.com

There are fewer junk vehicles in West Memphis.

After spending half the year warning residents about disabled vehicles in yards and lots around the city, police reported substantial strides before newly approved fines for inoperable vehicles goes into effect.

During initial sweeps of the city junk cars were placarded and warning letters sent to vehicle owners.

In all 600 cars were tagged after police took over the code enforcement from the planning and development department. Vehicle owners have fixed or disposed of 390 vehicles.

Police Captain Joe Baker manages code enforcement and was pleased to report, during the June Public Works Commission meeting, a lot of compliance by residents after the initial sweep of the city.

“We started June 4 with another sweep of the junk cars,” said Baker. “Initially we tag 600 vehicles and we are now 65 percent compliant. We are placarding the remaining 35 percent one more time in order to do everything we can so when the new fees go into effect so we can tell the judge, they weren’t warned just one, or warned twice, but were warned three times.

We will have a picture of all of them so the judge won’t have a problem levying the fine against them.”

The increased fines took 30 days to go into effect.

District court will begin to hear the first cases under the increased penalties in the middle of June.

The whole patrol division will issue tickets. The grace period is over.

“We had confusion on the fine schedule going up,” said Baker. “The first round of ticketing we did got lucky and paid the old fee instead of the new fee. We will write tickets beginning June 14, when the new fine will be in effect. We won’t just use a code enforcement officer, will use the entire shift. They’ll have lists of what’s in their area. They’ll go by there and ticket.

Hopefully within a few days we will blanket the city.”

Public Works Chairwoman Ramona Taylor said her constituents noticed the improved appearance of the city.

“I’ve had several compliments about how pleased the public is about code enforcement and the compliance approach,” she said.

“Thank you,” said Baker.

“I think we can all sleep good at night knowing we gave them six months and providing resources like wrecker companies to address the issue.”

By John Rech