A weird Minnesota state law has ruled a man’s collector cars sitting in his driveway are a public safety hazard.
Bob Collins of Minnesota Public Radio reports a man, John Krenik, challenged Minnesota’s law requiring collector cars to be “screened” in public after a neighbour complained about them. Krenik covered his collector automobiles under a tarp and had them shielded from view with fences. A Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled on Wednesday that Krenik’s method was not enough, and his challenge was denied.
Minnesota law states “pioneer, classic, collector vehicles, collector military vehicles, or street rods” may require “screening” so they don’t “constitute a health or environmental hazard.” If the cars aren’t covered by “screeners” such as fences, shrubs or trees, the owner may have his vehicle removed if someone complains.
The crappy thing for Krenik is this: he did meet the demands of his unhappy neighbour. He built a fence around his two cars and covered them with a tarp. His neighbour, who I’m sure is a delight, told the City Council the roofs of the cars were still visible from next door, so the city ruled Krenik was in violation. The ruling was upheld today.
“Moreover, Krenik’s claim that the legislature enacted section 168.10, subdivision 1e, solely for aesthetic purposes is unpersuasive in light of the scope of the statute. Krenik argues that in enacting the statute, the sole “mischief to be remedied” is hiding the appearance of an unsightly collector vehicle. See Minn. Stat. § 645.16(3). Such an interpretation, however, is unreasonable because the statute also encompasses vehicles that do not create an “eyesore,” such as a well-maintained Ford Model T registered as a pioneer vehicle.”
Basically, Krenik is getting screwed because his neighbor is a jerk and Minnesota state law doesn’t allow collector cars to be displayed without being “screened.” What’s the point of owning a collector car if you can’t show it off in your driveway?
I’d be very angry if I was Krenik. But, the law is the law, even if it’s patently ridiculous.
