Junk and dead cars in Chino

The posted 72-hour notice

When an officer or designated city employee suspects a violation, 10.28.190 has them "post a notice on the vehicle stating that the vehicle must be removed within seventy-two hours of said notice." If it is still there at the time shown, "it will be removed at the owner's expense" by a peace officer or employee named in Vehicle Code 22651.

What Chino counts as inoperable

Section 8.50.030 covers far more than a dead engine. It calls a car an "Inoperable vehicle" if it is "abandoned, partially or fully dismantled, unregistered, unlicensed, nonfunctional (incapable of movement under its own power)," or can't be driven safely and legally. So a Chino car that runs perfectly but carries expired tags still fits the words.

Along Chino's roads, abandonment "is presumed" when a car lacks "an engine, transmission, wheels, tires, doors, windshield," or other needed equipment, and such a car "may be removed immediately upon discovery by a peace officer or other designated employee of the city."

The ten-day abatement notice

Under Section 10.60.050, Chino sends its abatement letter by registered mail to the car's owner and to whoever owns the land, unless the car has no readable ID numbers. Its wording: "You are hereby notified to abate this nuisance by removal of the vehicle (or parts of a vehicle) within ten days from the date of mailing of this Notice."

Hearings under 10.60.070 belong to Chino's special permit committee. Landowners may attend or submit a written denial with reasons. Where the car arrived "without the consent of the land owner and that he has not subsequently acquiesced in its presence," the committee "shall not assess the removal fee against the property." It "may delay the time for removal" if circumstances justify, and the California Highway Patrol hears about the hearing ten days or more in advance.

Commercial vehicles get up to a year

A wrecked or inoperative commercial vehicle at its operator's home may be stored under 10.30.030, but only in an interior or street side yard, screened from view, while "undergoing active and continuous restoration," two at most, and never beyond "three hundred sixty-five days" in total. Historical commercial vehicles under 8.75.020 follow the same limits. These sections give no such allowance to an ordinary passenger car.

Selling under California rules

The state DMV issues Chino titles, either through the mail or in a field office. As seller you sign the California title; your buyer files it. DMV's seller steps include no notary. Since Chino tracks unregistered cars, remember that DMV bills fees and penalties for each unregistered year. Only a REG 102 Planned Non-Operation filed on time avoids them. Selling for dismantling means no smog check. Within 5 days, file REG 138. Junk recording sends the plates back to DMV.

Getting an offer

Selling a Chino car? Call (877) 421-6008 or start on the form. We load from a Chino curb, driveway or side yard. Nearby: Chino Hills, Ontario, Eastvale and California.