Junk and dead cars in Carrollton

Who the rule reaches

Section 50-52 makes it unlawful to wreck, dismantle, abandon or disable a car on someone else's land, or to "suffer, permit or allow junked motor vehicles to be parked, let or maintained on his own real property." It does not matter whether the lot is occupied or empty, built on or bare.

Two kinds of cars are exempt: any car in an enclosed building, and any car on property used for repairing vehicles in line with the city's zoning ordinance. Under Section 50-54, the officer and his agents may enter private or public property to examine a junked car or find out whose it is.

Ten days' notice, then the hearing

Section 50-57 requires notice "no less than ten days before the hearing." It goes to the landowner on the city's tax digest, or to the occupant if the owner is not living there, and to the car's last registered owner. The notice reaches Carrollton owners by hand or by certified mail, return receipt requested. When no owner turns up, Carrollton can tape the notice to the car and pin a copy at city hall.

At the hearing, the officer listens to the facts about the car's condition and location. He may push back the removal date "if in his opinion circumstances justify it." A removal order names the car, its identification number and its tag number, if available.

Thirty days to buy it back

After the city removes a car, Section 50-60 lets the owner redeem it by paying the chief of police the cost of removal and storage. If that does not happen "within 30 days," the chief of police may sell it at public or private sale. The money pays removal, storage and sale costs first.

Downtown parking limits

Section 90-59 caps parking at two hours on listed blocks, such as the east side of Bradley Street from Adamson Square to Mill Street and the east side of Harris Street from City Hall Avenue to Newnan Street. Section 90-3 bars leaving a truck of one ton or more for an hour or longer between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on any street 31 feet wide or less.

The tag office on College Street

We looked up the Carroll County Tax Commissioner office at 423 College Street, phone 770-830-5826. Measured straight, it sits less than a mile east of downtown Carrollton. The Georgia Department of Revenue owns the title system; the county tag office handles the counter work.

To sell, turn over the original title and print and sign in the Seller spot. Any joint owner signs too, and the miles go down with no tenths. Afterwards, end the registration by DRIVES e-Services or Form MV-18J. The plate stays with you. Emissions testing does not apply here, since Carroll is not on the state's list of 13 metro Atlanta counties. Form MV-1 gets you a new title for $8.00 if yours is lost.

Getting an offer

Reach us online or at (877) 421-6008 with the car's year, make, model, mileage, starting condition and title status. Pickup can be at a house near Adamson Square, a repair shop or a lot at the edge of town. Villa Rica lies 13.9 miles off. For statewide rules, see the Georgia page.