Wood County Summer Sweep targets out-of-state plates, junk cars

Cooperative effort among Wood County, cities

PARKERSBURG -- Officials in Wood County, Parkersburg, Vienna and Williamstown announced Thursday they will join forces for a "Summer Sweep" to address some of the biggest complaints they receive from citizens -- junk vehicles and cars improperly bearing out-of-state plates.

During a press conference at the Parkersburg Municipal Building, Mayor Tom Joyce said the effort is aimed at "doing a better job to make our neighborhoods cleaner, safer."

He was joined by Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp, Williamstown Mayor Jean Ford, Wood County Sheriff Steve Stephens, Wood County Assessor David Nohe and several others.

Municipal police, code officials, sheriff's deputies and deputy assessors will emphasize compliance with city and state code relating to vehicles over the months of June, July and August.

Nohe said state code allows the assessor's office to charge someone who hasn't registered their car in the state but is required to for up to five years of back taxes. For the next 60 days, the office will cut folks a break.

"If you'll come forward now and you'll come to the assessor's office and register your car, we'll only go back (to) the current year," Nohe said.

The office receives numerous reports from citizens who believe someone in their neighborhood is improperly displaying out-of-state plates, Nohe said, adding he understands their frustration. They are paying their taxes, while someone nearby might not be, depriving the county of money, most of which goes to the school system.

"When you run out-of-state plates, you're cheating our kids and you're being unfair to your neighbors," Nohe said.

People are required to register their vehicle in West Virginia:

* within 30 days of taking up residence.

* if they have a child enrolled in a public school in the state.

* if they are registered to vote in the state.

* if they receive any form of public assistance from the state.

* if they have accepted employment in the state.

* if they have filed for the homestead exemption.

* if they receive mail in the state.

* if they have a utility in their name.

Deputy assessors will initially tag cars that have been reported, giving the owner a chance to call in with an explanation (for example, if the individual is a caregiver to a West Virginia resident but lives in Ohio, Nohe said). Information about violators will be shared with local law enforcement to issue citations, once it's verified they don't have a valid reason for having the out-of-state plates, he said.

Assessor's personnel will not go out specifically to search for out-of-state plates, but will make note of suspicious ones parked long-term in residential areas.

"It'll just be a part of our everyday work," Nohe said.

Joyce and Parkersburg City Councilman John Reed said the cooperative effort grew out of an attempt earlier this year for the city to address vehicles creating eyesores in neighborhoods. A proposed ordinance prohibiting motor vehicles, boats, vacation trailers and the like from being in yards unless they were on parking pads meeting standards determined by the city engineer didn't make it out of committee.

"Let's just enforce the current laws we have," Reed said.

With school out for summer, prevention resource officers can be out on patrol, providing additional manpower to address problem vehicles, Joyce said.

"Any vehicle that's parked on a public street must be in working and operational condition, properly registered, and if they are not, they will be towed at the owner's expense," Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin said.

Vehicles on private property must be registered and have an up-to-date inspection sticker or placed in an enclosed structure, he said. Otherwise, a sticker will be placed on the car, giving the owner 30 days to remove it or bring it up to state standards.

"On day 31, we'll come back and make sure they're in compliance," Martin said. If not, the vehicle will be towed.

Reed noted that a car with an up-to-date inspection sticker can still be towed if it could not currently pass inspection.

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To report vehicles that have been parked in residential areas with out-of-state license plates for several days, that have expired or no registration or that appear to be unable to pass state inspection:

* Wood County Assessor -- 304-424-1875

* Wood County Sheriff -- 304-424-1834

* Parkersburg Police -- 304-424-8444

* Vienna Police -- 304-295-8563

* Williamstown Police -- 304-375-4935