Okay. In our continuing tour of The Twilight Zone:
The DDA has, much to our dismay, made contact with a judge. After discussing this situation at length, here is where we stand:
On one side, we have a DDA, his armed constable, and a Judge in a cell. On a cell. Phone. On a cellphone.
On the other side, we have the Sheriff, four of his Deputies, the tow truck driver, 41 neighbors, interested observers and rubberneckers. There were 42, but after hearing what I just heard, me and my 8 pound sledgehammer just had to walk away before the sledgehammer took it upon itself to hurt someone. And just where the hell is the reporter from the Elko Daily Free Press? I want pictures. I want documentation. 'Cause nobody with more than a 3rd grade education is gonna believe this!
Here’s the deal: Putting the car on the tow truck would constitute an impoundment. As I understand it, if understanding it is even possible, Nevada law makes no provisions for impoundment of vehicles on private property, except in the case of an abandoned vehicle, in which case the complaint must be made by the property owner.
This vehicle is clearly not abandoned (it has current tags, registration and insurance), and anyway, no complaint is forthcoming from the property owner due to the fact that he’s in Salt Lake with his dipshit teenaged son.
Soooo, the Sheriff can take no action until after 10:00 PM, at which time the nuisance noise ordinance will become applicable. Then, and only then, can the Sheriff or one of his deputies make forceable entry into the vehicle and disable the alarm. Oh, yeah, one more thing will have to happen: someone will have to call in a new complaint about the noise.
The fact that all of this started at 3:18 AM or so when the nuisance noise ordinance was in full effect appears to bear no relevance at all in this situation because the Judge did not render his opinion until after noon.
Until then, we’ll just have to ride it out. With ear plugs firmly in place. Oh, and just to be certain that no one will take the law into their own hands, the constable will continue to stand guard, cause that will cost less than leaving a Deputy behind. (Let me assure you that I sincerely pity that poor son of bitch. Hope he don’t have to pee … 'cause a more than just a few of us will be watching!)
Surely the battery will be dead by 10:00 PM. Won’t it? I know that if it was my car and I accidently left the lights on the battery would be dead in 15 minutes!
I’m telling you: Ya just can’t make shit like this up.
Here’s the really frustrating part about all this: the offending car is parked just 300 feet from my living room. My wife is in Salt Lake with the Jeep. The Nissan is buried in a 3’ snow drift, 60’ away from anything resembling dry land (We just don’t bother with it during the winter months. That’s what the Grand Cherokee is for …). My big truck is parked in town due to the fact that recent snow storms have made it impossible to bring the rig home. I’m basically a prisoner in my own home 'til my wife gets back tomorrow, so I can’t even leave to get away from this shit.
And, as a personal note to any law makers who may happen upon this: Why do you guys think it’s okay to be obnoxiously noisy until 10:00 PM??? Some people go to bed before 10 PM. In fact, some of us even try to go to bed as early as 8:00 PM (especially those of us who usually get up at 3:00 AM because we actually work for a living).
Dammmit! Nearly eleven hours now! I want that battery!
Lucy
[SIDEBAR] To Cheez-Whia: How nice of you to remember. However, the burn restrictions were lifted last fall, so it would make no difference - except for providing a small measure of warmth for the constable. For everyone else, I believe the reference is to the fact that some of my neighbors are idiots. I also believe I may have mentioned that before. At least that time I managed to get some documentation! [/SIDEBAR]
